Field Standards for the Working Contractor
Published by Phase III Construction LLC | phase3construction.com
Not all hail hits are the same — and not all inspections are equal. Here is the methodology that separates functional damage documentation from guesswork.
Functional damage — the kind that shortens roof life and triggers insurance coverage — requires specific criteria: bruising pattern, granule loss depth, and impact density per 10-square-foot test area. A hail hit that indents soft metal but does not compromise the shingle mat is cosmetic. A hail hit that fractures the mat, displaces granules, and exposes the asphalt substrate is functional. The distinction determines whether a claim is viable and how the scope is written.
The field assessment begins at soft-metal targets: HVAC fins, gutters, downspouts, and painted cap metal. These surfaces dent predictably and provide an independent record of storm severity that exists apart from the roofing surface. Document them first with measurements of dent diameter and density. This establishes event severity before you ever step on the roof.
On the roof surface, work in 10-square-foot test sections distributed across each slope. Count impacts per test section, note whether granule displacement exposes mat, and photograph each confirmed hit against a chalk circle with scale reference. Carriers require this structure because it converts a subjective assessment into a reproducible measurement. Build your photo set with this standard from the start and supplementing becomes straightforward rather than adversarial.
Class 4 impact-resistant shingles carry premium discounts from most Michigan carriers, but the material upcharge and installation complexity change the math on every job. The discount benefit flows to the homeowner, not the contractor — so the specification decision must be driven by job economics, not carrier incentives.
We break down the cost-benefit calculation, which manufacturers are holding IRC compliance, and when the IR upgrade is worth specifying for storm-prone Michigan installs where the upgrade genuinely extends service life.
Get Phase III Specs →Ice dams aren't a roofing failure — they're a building envelope failure that manifests at the roof line. Inadequate attic ventilation and insufficient insulation at the eave line create the thermal gradient that freezes meltwater at the drip edge before it can drain.
This issue covers the attic inspection sequence — air sealing, insulation depth, ridge and soffit ventilation ratio — and the permanent fix that stops the cycle rather than treating its symptoms with heat cables or membrane patching.
Call Phase III →Step flashing, counter flashing, and valley metal account for a disproportionate share of leak callbacks on residential steep-slope roofs. Improper lap dimensions, missing sealant at terminations, and galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals are the three most common failure modes.
We cover proper installation sequences for each flashing type and the inspection points that separate an adequate installation from one that will generate a callback within two Michigan winters.
Consult Phase III →Phase III Construction holds Michigan General Contractor license #262000615 and operates across Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, and Monroe counties. Our field teams follow manufacturer installation requirements, Michigan Residential Code, and insurance documentation protocols on every job without exception.
Every roof we install or restore is documented with pre-work, in-progress, and post-completion photography. This documentation protects homeowners, supports insurance claims, and gives manufacturers the evidence they need to honor material warranties without dispute when problems arise years later.
Published quarterly. Free to working contractors, inspectors, and restoration professionals. For field consultation, call (734) 237-7322.
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Published quarterly by Phase III Construction LLC — 37600 Ford Rd, Westland MI 48185