How to Document Storm Damage for a Michigan Insurance Claim

Your insurance settlement for storm damage is based primarily on what was documented — not just what was damaged. Adjusters pay based on the scope they can verify. Damage that was cleaned up, thrown away, or never photographed often does not get included in the estimate.

Phase III Construction has reviewed thousands of adjuster estimates across SE Michigan. Here is exactly what you need to document and how to do it so nothing falls through the cracks.

Why Documentation Determines Your Settlement

When a Michigan homeowner files a storm damage claim, two things happen:

1. The carrier sends an adjuster to inspect and create an estimate
2. You (or your contractor) review that estimate and negotiate any missing scope

Adjuster estimates routinely miss items — not always intentionally, but because they inspect quickly, cannot always access every area, and work from what they can see. A licensed restoration contractor who knows what to look for and has your complete documentation can identify the gaps and supplement the estimate.

Without documentation, you cannot prove a line item was damaged. With documentation, you have evidence to support every item in the claim.

Exterior Documentation Checklist

Start with the overview:

• Four-corner shots of the entire home from each direction
• Full-length shots of each roofline from below
• Any areas where shingles or materials are visibly missing or displaced

Roof:

• Granule loss on shingles (shows as dark, mat-exposed areas or as granule accumulation in gutters)
• Cracked, split, or displaced shingles
• Impact dents on ridge caps and hip caps
• Any penetrations, pipe boots, or flashing damage
• Gutters and downspouts: dents from hail, separation from fascia from wind, granule debris inside gutters

Siding and exterior walls:

• Vinyl siding: cracks, holes, displaced panels, dimpling from hail
• Wood or fiber cement: impact craters, splintering, paint damage from hail
• Brick and stone: mortar cracks or spalling from impact

Windows and doors:

• Cracked glass, broken panes
• Dented or damaged frames and casings
• Damaged or missing screens
• Damaged storm doors, entry doors, garage doors

Other exterior:

• Air conditioning condenser units: hail dents on fins, coil damage
• Satellite dishes, antennas
• Fascia and soffit: damage or separation
• Fencing and outbuildings if they are covered structures
• Decks and porches: railings, decking, covers

Interior Documentation Checklist

• Any ceiling staining, water marks, or active leaks
• Wall staining or bubbling paint indicating moisture behind
• Flooring: warping, buckling, or staining from water intrusion
• Attic (if accessible): wet insulation, wet or darkened roof decking, daylight visible through roof
• Any personal property damaged by water intrusion
• HVAC vents and registers for signs of moisture or debris

Video Walkthrough Protocol

Photos capture individual damage points. Video captures the context and distribution of damage — how extensive it is, not just where it is. Adjusters reviewing your claim remotely rely heavily on video context.

• Walk the perimeter of the home continuously, narrating what you see ("this is the north face of the roof, you can see granule loss across the entire slope")
• Walk through the interior room by room, opening closets, checking ceilings
• Zoom in on specific damage points during the walkthrough
• Record the date verbally at the start of the video
• Upload to Google Photos, iCloud, or a similar service immediately so you have a cloud backup with timestamp metadata

What Adjusters Look For

Understanding how adjusters evaluate documentation helps you give them what they need to approve maximum scope:

• Distribution pattern: Storm damage distributes across the roof and exterior consistently with weather direction and intensity. Adjusters look for patterns that match the event. Random or isolated damage may be questioned as pre-existing.
• Impact characteristics: Hail creates characteristic dents and granule displacement. Wind creates directional tearing and lifting. Adjusters are trained to distinguish storm damage from normal wear.
• Age and condition correlation: A 25-year-old roof with granule loss may receive a different determination than a 5-year-old roof. Document the roof's general condition alongside the storm-specific damage.
• Unit counts: For siding, adjusters count the number of impacted panels. For roofing, they work in squares (100 sq ft). Close-up photos help them count.

Documentation Mistakes That Cost Homeowners

• Cleaning up before photographing: Sweeping granules out of gutters, removing fallen tree branches, or cleaning interior debris before documenting eliminates evidence.
• Throwing away damaged materials: Adjuster may want to inspect damaged shingles, siding panels, or windows. Keep them until the claim is settled.
• Not photographing the AC unit: Hail damage to the condenser is frequently covered and frequently missed. Always photograph.
• Only photographing from the ground: Ground-level photos of a roof show very little. A contractor with roof access can photograph from above; include that documentation in your claim file.
• Not documenting interior moisture: Interior damage from a roof breach is often a larger claim than the roof itself. Wet insulation, damaged drywall, and flooring replacement add up fast.
• Accepting the first estimate without review: The adjuster's first estimate is rarely their final word. A contractor who specializes in insurance restoration will find line items to add.

Frequently Asked Questions