The Adjuster Is Coming: What to Photograph Before Anyone Touches the Roof

Photograph everything before you clean up anything, because moving debris removes the evidence the adjuster needs. Work wide to close: all four exterior elevations, then close-ups of damaged shingles, flashing, gutters and vents, then interior staining with something for scale, then the attic — wet sheathing, water tracking down rafters, and any daylight visible through the roof deck. Shoot a narrated video walkthrough alongside the stills.

Why This Matters More Than Homeowners Expect

The adjuster is going to spend a limited amount of time at your home, form an opinion, and write a scope. Everything that follows — what gets repaired, what gets paid, what you argue about later — flows from that visit and from the documentation supporting it.

The homeowners who do best are not the ones who argue hardest. They are the ones who arrive with a clear, organized record of what happened, taken before anything was touched.

The Golden Rule: Photograph Before You Clean

Your claim begins the moment the damage occurs. Every piece of debris you move, every tarp you place, every branch you drag to the curb changes the scene the adjuster will evaluate.

That does not mean leaving water pouring into your living room while you wait. It means documenting first, then mitigating — and photographing the mitigation too.

The Shot List

Work outward to inward, wide to close. On a phone, this takes fifteen minutes.

Exterior, wide

• All four elevations of the house from the property line
• The damage in context — you want shots that show where on the structure it sits
• The source if visible: the fallen limb, the tree, the direction of the wind damage
• Street view showing neighboring properties, which helps establish a regional storm event

Exterior, close

• The point of impact or the torn-off area, from several angles
• Lifted, creased, or missing shingles — creasing is subtle and photographs poorly, so get close
• Exposed underlayment or decking
• Damaged flashing, gutters, fascia, vents, skylights
• Granules accumulated in gutters or at downspout outlets
• Debris on the ground: shingle pieces, broken limbs, displaced material

Interior

• Ceiling stains, with something for scale — a hand or a ruler in frame
• Active drips, ideally on video so the rate is visible
• Wet insulation, drywall damage, bubbled paint
• Damaged belongings, individually
• Any flooring damage beneath the entry point

Attic

This is the set most homeowners miss, and it is often the most persuasive. With a flashlight: wet or dark sheathing, daylight visible through the roof deck, water tracking down rafters, saturated insulation, and any point where you can see sky that should not be there.

Video Walkthroughs Beat Stills for Context

Alongside the photos, shoot a continuous walkthrough narrating what you are seeing and when it happened. "This is the northwest corner, the limb came down during the storm on the night of the fourteenth, this is where water is coming into the upstairs bedroom." It is unedited, timestamped, and hard to dispute.

What Else to Have Ready

• Date and time of the event. Be specific. Regional weather records can corroborate it.
• Maintenance records. Prior roof work, moss treatments, gutter service, inspection reports. This is your evidence against a wear-and-tear finding.
• Any prior inspection report, particularly one predating the storm that shows the roof was sound.
• Receipts for emergency work. Tarping, board-up, water extraction.
• Your policy, or at least your declarations page with deductible and coverage limits.
• A contractor's written assessment, if you have one.

Organize it into one folder — physical or on your phone — before the visit. An adjuster working from a clear record writes a different scope than one working from memory and a walk around the yard.

During the Visit

A few things that help:

• Walk it with them. Point out everything, including damage that seems minor.
• Mention what you cannot see. If you suspect decking damage under an impact zone, say so, and ask how it will be evaluated.
• Have your roofer present if possible. A contractor and an adjuster looking at the same roof together resolves a lot of disagreement before it becomes a dispute.
• Ask what is excluded and why. Get it in plain language while they are standing there.
• Take notes. Name, date, what was discussed, what they said would be covered.

What not to do: guess at causes or dates you are unsure of, minimize damage to seem agreeable, or agree verbally to a scope before you have seen it written down.

After the Scope Arrives

Read it against your own documentation. The gaps that most often need discussion on Eastside roofs are decking and underlayment replacement, matching into existing roofing, ventilation and code-required items on a partial replacement, and interior work beyond the obvious stain.

If your contractor's assessment and the adjuster's scope differ materially, that is a normal conversation to have, not a fight — supplemental claims exist precisely for what gets discovered once work begins.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I photograph before an insurance adjuster comes?

Wide exterior shots of all elevations, close-ups of every damaged area including shingles, flashing, gutters and vents, interior damage with something for scale, attic sheathing and any daylight visible through the deck, damaged belongings, and the debris itself. Do all of it before cleanup, and photograph any emergency work you perform.

Should I clean up storm damage before filing a claim?

Document thoroughly first, then take reasonable steps to prevent further damage such as tarping. Policies generally require mitigation, but moving debris before photographing it removes the evidence the adjuster needs to assess the full scope.

Can my roofing contractor meet with the insurance adjuster?

Yes, and it is often the most useful thing you can arrange. A contractor can point out damage an adjuster may not identify from the ground and explain what will be found once the roof is opened up, particularly regarding decking.

What if the adjuster's estimate is lower than my contractor's?

This is common and usually resolvable. Have your contractor provide a detailed written scope showing what is included and why, and submit it for review. Items discovered after work begins, such as rotted sheathing, are typically handled through a supplemental claim.

Need Someone on the Roof Before the Adjuster Arrives?

We will inspect, document what we find in writing, and meet your adjuster on site if that helps. No charge for the inspection and no pressure either way. Roof4Life has served Kirkland, Bellevue, Redmond and the Seattle Eastside since 2012. Call (425) 207-3500.