Document damage by roof area and material
Build the inspection around roof sections, not a loose camera roll. Capture overview photos, directional photos for each slope or roof area, close-ups with scale, and material-specific indicators. On shingles, look for bruising, mat fracture, granule loss patterns, and collateral evidence. On metal, look for denting, coating damage, seams, trim, and soft metals. On single-ply, look for membrane punctures, displaced surfacing, damaged flashings, and rooftop equipment impact.
A useful field formula is: photo set = overview + elevation context + damage close-up with scale + surrounding condition photo for each material area. That structure lets the estimator separate hail impact from age, installation defects, foot traffic, ponding, or prior repairs.
Separate hail scope from pre-existing scope
A clean storm estimate states what is storm-related, what appears pre-existing, and what is unknown until tear-off or further review. That separation is not just administrative; it prevents the bid from turning into a catch-all repair list that the carrier, owner, or PM cannot reconcile.
For each roof area, write the scope in observable terms: damaged shingles on west slope, dented metal vents, punctured membrane near rooftop units, cracked skylight lens, or compromised flashing. Avoid stretching the language beyond what the photos and inspection notes support.
Turn documentation into a bid-ready scope
Once the damage map is clear, the estimate still needs quantities: affected roof area, replacement area, linear flashing, vents, pipe boots, gutters, trim, insulation or substrate assumptions, access, disposal, and any code-required upgrades. Storm documentation proves the why; the takeoff still proves the what.
Before sending, review the package as if someone else has to defend it without you present. The photo labels, scope notes, quantities, assumptions, and exclusions should tell the same story.
Questions commercial estimators ask
What happens to the numbers after the site visit, and which of them are yours.
I still walk the roof. What does this change?
The site visit still confirms the roof. What changes is what happens to the numbers after it.
The takeoff you trace becomes a priced estimate carrying the same line quantities. Your customer reviews the scope, line items and price on a link you share. Once the customer signs a contract, or you record their acceptance, the estimate converts to a job that keeps the sold line quantities and their measurement source.
You do not type the quantities again between those steps, and every number stays yours to edit before it goes to the customer.
On a flat roof, which quantities are measured and which do I enter?
Each priced line in a traced takeoff says where its quantity came from. Lines taken from your calibrated trace, such as field membrane, tapered insulation, cover board, fasteners and edge metal, read Measured, with the source named and a confidence where one was recorded.
Drain and pitch-pocket counts are not measured by the trace. Each reads Default, or Suggested when a source proposed a count, marked confirm before sending, until you enter or confirm the count. Then it reads Estimator entered.
Change any quantity on the estimate and that line reads Estimator entered. Each line also names whose rate priced it: your account rate, your catalog, or the MRG national default, which is marked confirm before sending.
What happens when the scope changes on the job?
A change order can carry a price only when it names what produced that price: measured quantity change, unit price times quantity, draw against an allowance, or supplier quote. A priced change order without one of those is refused.
A schedule-only change order carries no price and needs no basis.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as functional hail damage on a roof?
Functional damage depends on the roof material and whether the impact compromises performance, water shedding, membrane integrity, protective surfacing, seams, flashings, or service life. Cosmetic marks alone are different from punctures, fractures, displaced surfacing, broken accessories, or damaged waterproofing details. Document what you can observe and avoid overclaiming.
How many photos should a hail inspection include?
Use enough photos to make the scope understandable: overview, each roof area, each damage type, close-ups with scale, and relevant collateral evidence. The right count varies by roof size and complexity; the goal is a complete, organized record, not a fixed number.
How do contractors avoid storm scope disputes?
Separate storm damage from pre-existing conditions, label photos by roof area, use material-specific observations, and make assumptions and exclusions explicit. A scope dispute is easier to resolve when the estimate traces every line item back to documented roof conditions.
Can an AI roof analysis replace an adjuster inspection?
No. AI and aerial review can help organize a first-pass scope and measurement context, but storm claims still require human inspection, documentation, and review by the responsible parties.
Start a free address takeoff for your next bid
Enter a property address for the aerial measurement first. A Professional plan can then attach photos to deepen the estimate before estimator review.