After a Nor'easter: documenting roof damage for an insurance claim

Wait until wind, lightning and falling debris have passed. Walk the property only where the ground and structure are stable. Do not climb onto a wet roof or lean a ladder against damaged gutters. If a tree is on the house, a ceiling is sagging, or water is near wiring, leave that area and call the appropriate emergency service. A damaged roof can look solid from the driveway while decking beneath it has moved.

Begin with a wide photo of each side of the home from the ground. Include the roofline, adjoining walls and enough surroundings to identify the location later. Then use camera zoom for close views. Take several angles because a lifted edge can disappear in flat light. Keep the original files with their time information. A folder named for the storm date makes the sequence easier to follow.

• Roof planes and ridge lines
• Gutters, downspouts, fascia and siding
• Fallen branches, loose shingles and visible debris

Look at top-floor ceilings, attic areas you can access safely, skylights, chimneys and exterior wall corners. Photograph new stains before wiping or moving anything. Take one room-wide view, then a close view that shows the edge of each stain. Note whether the surface is dripping, damp or dry. Water can travel along a rafter, so a ceiling mark may sit far from the opening above it.

If water is entering, move belongings out of its path and catch drips where it is safe. Do not touch wet electrical equipment. Keep photos of affected contents and any temporary drying work. A summer rental may be empty when the storm passes; ask the local contact to record when the damage was first found, not to guess when it began.

Write down the storm date and the first time you noticed damage. Add the date of each photo, phone call, inspection and temporary repair. Save public storm notices separately from your own observations. Distinguish what you saw from what someone else reported. A clear timeline helps a contractor understand the sequence and helps you answer an insurer's questions without relying on memory weeks later.

Keep a copy of the policy and your insurer's claim number with this record. Follow the insurer's instructions for reporting a possible loss and ask what documentation it wants. A contractor can describe roof conditions and price a repair. The insurer decides what the policy covers, including deductibles, exclusions and how the loss is valued. No photo or contractor estimate guarantees a claim outcome.

• When the storm passed and damage was discovered
• Where water appeared and whether it spread
• Who inspected or protected the roof, and when

If shingles, a branch or flashing have opened the roof, temporary protection can limit more water damage while a permanent scope is prepared. Do not try to place a tarp yourself on a steep, wet or unstable roof. Ask the crew to photograph the opening before covering it, the tarp after it is secured and any interior protection. Keep the invoice, work order and description of what was done.

Temporary work should be easy to separate from permanent repairs in your records. Save material and disposal receipts when available. If a contractor removes damaged pieces, ask for photos before they are discarded. Do not delay urgent measures only to collect a perfect photo set; personal safety and preventing more damage come first. The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance advises documenting damage and making reasonable temporary repairs while keeping receipts.

Ask for a written scope that identifies roof planes, missing or lifted shingles, flashing, vents, deck damage visible at inspection and related gutter or siding damage. Distinguish observed facts from work that might be needed after tear-off. For a shore house, include access constraints such as raised construction, narrow lots and limited summer parking when they affect staging. Manufacturer and workmanship warranties have sample terms in this demo; actual terms belong in a final proposal.

Send the insurer the materials it requests and keep copies of what you send. If an adjuster asks for another angle or a clearer measurement, add it to the same folder without replacing the original. Review proposed work against the insurer's written instructions before authorizing permanent changes. If a condition is concealed, the contractor may need to photograph it when the roof is opened and update the scope. Keep change orders and final photos alongside the original storm record.

Wind-driven rain, salt air and long storm duration make coastal roof failures hard to read from one photo. A missing shingle may be obvious; a broken seal, loose ridge cap or bent flashing may need professional inspection. Avoid assigning a cause you cannot verify. Describe the location and visible condition instead. That keeps the record useful whether the roof needs a small repair or a larger replacement.

This guide is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Coverage, claim deadlines and documentation requirements depend on the policy and the insurer. For a specific claim, use your carrier's instructions and ask a qualified professional to inspect unsafe or hidden areas. The goal is a factual record and a protected home, with each step dated and easy to understand.