After hail hits your home, collect a clear record of what you observed, where you observed it, and when. You do not need to climb a ladder or decide whether your roof needs replacement to make that record useful.
A scattered phone gallery becomes difficult to explain once inspection photos, estimates, and messages start arriving. Put everything in one folder named for your property and the storm date. These ten items give a roofer useful context and help you keep track of an insurance conversation if one becomes necessary.
Wait until it is safe to look outside. The National Weather Service's post-storm guidance advises checking for damage after the severe-weather threat has ended, staying away from damaged buildings, and reporting downed power lines to authorities. A photograph is never worth approaching an electrical hazard.
1. A short record of the storm you experienced
Write down the date, approximate time, property address, and what you personally noticed. Distinguish your observations from information someone else supplied.
“Heard hail against the west windows around dinner” is useful. “Baseball-sized hail destroyed the roof” combines an unverified measurement with a diagnosis. If you were away, say so. Save the message or weather report that alerted you, including its source and date.
For a seasonal property near the Brainerd Lakes Area, also record when someone last visited and when the condition was discovered. Discovery date and storm date may be different.
2. Wide photographs that identify each side of the house
From safe ground, take a photograph of each accessible side. Include recognizable features such as the garage, front door, deck, or chimney. These views help someone place later close-ups.
Use everyday labels: front, driveway side, backyard, or lake side. Compass directions are helpful if you know them; guessing introduces confusion. Include detached structures in separate photographs and label them by name.
Do not step beneath hanging limbs or loose exterior materials to complete a perfect set. Mark that side “not photographed safely” and let the inspector know why.
3. Paired photographs of reachable marks or dents
For something accessible from the ground, take one photograph showing its location and another showing the detail. A close-up of a dented downspout is easier to understand when the matching wide shot shows which downspout it is.
Keep your original files. If you add a circle or arrow, save the marked version as a copy. Avoid image filters that alter texture or color. Do not press, scrape, bend, or disassemble a surface to make a mark more visible.
Your caption can stay neutral: “Three marks on garage-side downspout, noticed the morning after the storm.”
4. Hail photographs you could obtain safely
If hail remains after the danger has passed, a photograph beside a familiar measuring reference can document what was present when you took it. Include the time and whether the stones had already been melting. Never go outside during a storm to collect them.
Keep the limits of the photo attached to it. The largest stone you found does not establish every impact your roof received, and a neighbor's photograph belongs to their location.
If you have no hail photograph, leave the item blank. A missing picture is better than borrowed evidence presented as your own.
5. Interior observations with room names and dates
Record new staining, dripping, or other changes from a safe position inside the living space. Include the room and a wider image that locates the mark relative to a wall or fixture. Add when you first noticed it and whether it changed during later rain.
Avoid declaring the cause in the caption. “New ceiling stain in upstairs bedroom” leaves the diagnosis open. A stain found after hail still needs investigation.
Do not enter an unsafe attic, stand beneath a sagging ceiling, or approach wet electrical fixtures. Tell the contractor about urgent conditions when you call.
6. Older photographs and roof records
Look for a previous inspection report, roof invoice, repair receipt, or photograph that shows the same area. Ordinary family pictures sometimes contain a useful view of the gutter or siding in the background. Preserve the original date and explain what the picture shows.
These records help separate an old concern from a newly discovered one. Label uncertain dates as approximate. If a roof was installed before you bought the house, write “installation date unconfirmed” until you find documentation.
Put roof records in a separate subfolder so they cannot be mistaken for photographs of the current event.
7. The roofer's findings, including inspection limits
Request the inspection photographs and a written explanation of the findings. Ask the contractor to identify the photographed roof area and explain what supports each recommendation.
Also ask what could not be inspected. Limited access, weather, or an obstructed view belongs in the record. A report stating that no issue was observed in an inspected area differs from a statement covering the entire roof.
Save the original report and any revisions with dates. If a later visit changes the recommendation, keep both versions and the explanation rather than overwriting the earlier one.
8. Temporary-protection records and receipts
If the home needs temporary protection, obtain help appropriate to the hazard. Roof tarping belongs with a qualified professional, not a homeowner carrying supplies up a wet ladder.
Save the invoice, description of the temporary work, and any available before-and-after photographs. The Minnesota Department of Commerce's residential claim guidance advises documenting damage, keeping expense records, and obtaining the insurer's instructions about repairs and discarded materials. Ask your insurer what it needs before permanent work; do not assume every expense will be reimbursed.
9. A contact log that captures the next action
A useful log has four fields: date, person, subject, and next action. Add the company and contact method when several people are involved.
For example, use a blank entry like this:
Date: ___ | Person/company: ___ | Discussed: ___ | Next action and owner: ___
“Waiting on information” is difficult to follow up. “Contractor to send the rear-slope photographs” identifies the missing piece. Save important written messages with the log. After a phone conversation, note your understanding while it is fresh and ask for clarification if instructions conflict.
10. An index with unanswered questions
Create a one-page note listing the folder contents and what remains unresolved. Possible questions include which roof areas were inspected, whether a gutter concern needs separate work, or which estimate version everyone is reviewing.
Use simple filenames such as backyard-wide, garage-downspout-detail, and roofer-report-date. Back up the folder somewhere you can access if your phone is lost. Share relevant documents directly with the people working on the property rather than posting personal claim information publicly.
If you have ground-level photos and need the roof evaluated, request a free inspection from Committed 365 Roofing. Mention any active leak when booking and ask how to send your documentation before the visit.