After hail: organize roof questions without climbing

Begin with the event and the property

Write down the event date and the observations made at your home. A regional weather report provides context, but it does not establish damage to a particular roof. Keep existing roof records and earlier repair information separate from new observations so the assessment can distinguish known conditions.

Photograph from safe positions

Use ground-level views and safe indoor photographs if water has appeared. Do not climb a ladder, walk on the roof or handle loose material to create evidence. Describe the location of each photo and when it was taken. Keep originals so you can provide a consistent record if a contractor or insurer requests it.

Ask for a documented finding

Request an explanation of the observed condition, proposed work and any uncertainty. A recommendation should be tied to the property, not just a statement that a storm affected the neighborhood. If replacement is proposed, ask why repair is insufficient and compare the written options.

Keep the insurance question separate

Ask your insurer about its process and the documents it needs. This website does not determine coverage, interpret a policy or promise claim approval. A roofing scope and an insurance decision are separate records. Avoid approving work based on an unsupported promise that an insurer will pay.

Keep the Seattle weather report separate from roof evidence

Use the event date as an organizing label, not a conclusion. A report from elsewhere in the Seattle region cannot establish what happened at your address. Record the observations you can make safely: a new indoor mark, visible debris on the ground, or an apparent change in a surface visible from a public or safe ground position. Include “not assessed” beside anything you cannot identify. Keep previous maintenance records in a separate group so new and pre-existing conditions are not accidentally presented as the same event. Ask the contractor to explain which observations support each finding and which remain uncertain.

Connect the roof findings to the actual address

Seattle SDCI separates permit-exempt roof work from projects that change a building’s structure or envelope. Keep covering, sheathing and structural work distinct in the assessed scope. For a property outside Seattle city limits, ask the responsible city or King County authority about that same written description. Keep insurer decisions separate from the contractor’s findings and project approvals.

A Seattle-area check before authorizing work

Use Washington L&I’s Verify tool to check the actual business, then use the physical address to identify the building authority. Keep the finding, included roof components and exclusions in writing. A contractor registration search does not replace your assessment of the proposed work.

Local project sources

Checked October 11, 2026. Confirm current requirements for the actual address and scope.

Seattle SDCI: check the project and permit requirements ↗

Washington L&I: compare scope and verify the business ↗

Storm documentation checklist