Good documentation turns "I think the hail got my roof" into something an insurer can check. It is the first piece of the roof insurance claim help we offer in Irving, TX, and it comes before everything else: before you file, before the adjuster meeting on your roof, and long before anyone talks about a re-inspection after a denied claim.
What goes into our storm damage roof documentation
Every report covers the same ground, and each close-up is tied to a slope, a direction and a storm date; a photo an adjuster cannot place is easy to set aside. We also tell you what to keep beside our report: tarp and repair receipts, a log of calls with your insurer, the NOAA storm listing for your date, and any earlier inspection showing the roof's prior condition.
- A roof diagram with each slope labeled by compass direction, and wide, medium and close photos of every slope so a reader can place each close-up.
- Chalk test squares on hail-facing slopes with the hits counted and recorded.
- Soft-metal checks: vent caps, pipe jacks, flashing, drip edge and gutters, where dents show hail size better than shingles do.
- Collateral evidence on the ground, such as spatter on fences, torn window screens or dented mailboxes.
- Attic or ceiling observations if you report a leak.
- A clear note on anything we see as age, blistering or installation trouble rather than storm damage.
Roof damage photos for insurance: how we shoot them
- Street view first. We photograph each side of the house so the slopes in later pictures have context.
- Slope by slope. On the roof we work one plane at a time, shooting wide, then medium, then close.
- Scale in every close-up. A tape or blank card sits beside each hit, so size is obvious without guesswork.
- Test squares. Where hail is the question, we chalk a square, circle each hit inside it and photograph the count.
- Metals and edges. Vents, flashing and gutters get their own shots, since dents there support the shingle findings.
- Review with you. Before we leave, we go through the set with you, and the files and written report follow.
Why does the date of loss matter on a roof claim?
Your claim is tied to one storm. The date of loss tells the insurer which event you are claiming, and it has to fit the weather record. North Texas gets several hail days in a busy spring, with May typically the wettest month in Irving, so two storms can land on the same roof weeks apart. We compare what we find with NOAA's Storm Events Database and National Weather Service storm reports, then tell you which date the evidence supports. A wrong date can confuse a claim that would otherwise be clear.
That is also why timing matters. Book documentation as soon as it is safe after a storm that leaves dented gutters, granules at the downspouts, shingles in the yard or a new ceiling stain, before anyone tarps or cleans up. Irving's housing skews older (median build year 1986, per Point2Homes), so many roofs already carry wear, and photos taken while the damage is fresh are the clearest way to show what the storm added.
What makes a hail damage report in Texas hold up?
The reports that work are specific, consistent and honest. Specific means hit counts and locations, not adjectives. Consistent means the shingles, the metals and the yard all tell the same story about hail size and direction. Honest means wear and old repairs are labeled for what they are.
Texas has seen what large hail can do, from the Fort Worth Mayfest storm of May 5, 1995 to the softball-size hail that hit Wylie on April 11, 2016. Big stones leave obvious marks; smaller storms are where careful counting matters. The owner put it this way, from our replies to Google reviews: "Our goal is that every customer has the peace of mind that their roof was properly checked after the storm damage and that their claim with the insurance is well backed up."
Questions about storm damage documentation? Talk to us.
Call for a free inspection and a written estimate. Hablamos español.
- 5.0 on Google (33 reviews)
- Free inspections & estimates
- Se habla español
- Workmanship guaranteed in writing with every contract
What does documentation cost, and who keeps the report?
The inspection that produces the report is free, and so is the estimate if you decide on repairs or replacement. You keep the photos and written report whether or not you hire us. What changes the depth of the work is the roof itself: steep or two-story slopes, multiple layers, tile or metal, and an attic leak check all take longer.
The report shapes later costs in quieter ways. Your deductible stays the same whatever we find, and your declarations page decides whether the roof is paid at replacement cost or actual cash value. What complete documentation does is put every damaged item in front of the adjuster, so vents, ridge caps, drip edge or gutters are not simply missed. If repairs follow, the City of Irving re-roof permit adds a fee, published by Smart Roofing Calculator at $125–$325 and set by the city.
Texas rules that shape a storm damage report
On the legal side, we stay within Texas Insurance Code Chapter 4102: we provide the evidence and you, or a licensed public adjuster you hire, handle the claim. We also never touch your deductible, which Chapter 707 bars any contractor from paying or waiving. No Texas state license exists for roofing work, so a report's value rests on its photos, not a credential. Irving asks contractors to register with the city each year; check that before letting anyone on your roof after a storm. Any re-roof that follows needs an Irving permit, while small repairs up to 100 square feet are exempt under its residential handout.
Why owners have RJ Premium Roofing document their roofs
- Free roof inspection, with photos and a written report you keep.
- Fast response after storms, with photos taken before tarps or cleanup.
- If you ask, we can be on the roof when your adjuster inspects, pointing out the damage we documented.
- Service in English and Spanish, including walking you through every photo and each page of the written report.
- Reviewers mention crews who explained each step and helped them understand insurance coverage before filing.
- A 5.0-star Google rating built on 33 reviews (November 2026 count).
- If the claim leads to a new roof, our workmanship guarantee is in writing with your contract, alongside the manufacturer's coverage on the shingles.
Documentación de daños del techo near Irving
We document roofs from our base in Irving 75062 and across the area, including Coppell, Farmers Branch and Grapevine. Explicamos cada foto y cada parte del informe en español si usted lo prefiere. Call (725) 745-8803 to book an inspection.
