First-Pass Roof Inspection Checklist After Severe Hail Warnings

Start with the roof that can be inspected fastest

After a severe hail warning, the first pass should not begin with the most damaged home. It should begin with the roof that gives you the cleanest read in the shortest time. In small-town Texas markets, that usually means a low-slope structure, a simple gable, or a roof with clear ground access and no tree cover. The goal is to separate obvious loss from borderline calls before the weather, light, or crew fatigue starts slowing the day.

Dickens, Texas saw hail measured at 5.0 inches in the broader event data. That size sits at the far edge of what contractors will see in a field season. In practical terms, it means the first pass needs to be disciplined. Cosmetic bruising, broken soft metals, lifted ridge caps, and fractured accessories can appear across a wide area, but not every roof will need a full climb on minute one. A fast filter matters.

NOAA severe thunderstorm warnings are broad warning areas. They show where the storm threat existed, not where every roof took the hit. Use the warning area to plan routes. Use field evidence to decide which roofs get ladders first.

Build the route around roof access, not claim volume

Small-town Texas markets often have fewer crews on the ground, longer drive times between addresses, and more roofs with mixed construction types. A first-pass route should be built on access and inspection speed.

Start with:

• Single-story homes with open yard access
• Straight-run roofs with visible slopes from the ground
• Structures with obvious impact indicators on soft metals
• Homes near the centerline of the warning area, if local field reports support it
• Buildings with recent replacement dates that may still carry matching issues after hail

Hold back:

• Steep roofs with no safe tie-off point
• Complex hips, valleys, and dormer clusters until the faster reads are done
• Roofs with heavy tree cover that block ground-level screening
• Properties where solar, metal awnings, or dense utility lines slow access

In towns like Dickens and Sharon, Oklahoma, fast route decisions matter more than dense territory planning. The crew that gets the first clean look on 20 roofs usually closes more work than the crew that spends the same time on six difficult climbs.

What to check before anyone climbs

A first-pass inspection starts at the curb. The curb view tells you whether the roof deserves a climb, a drone pass, or a second look later in the day.

Check these points before roof access:

• Shingle field for dark impact marks or random bruising patterns
• Ridge caps for splits, scuffs, or displaced tabs
• Soft metals at vents, flues, gutters, downspouts, and chimney wraps
• Window screens, fence tops, garage doors, and exterior AC fins for cross-check damage
• Fresh debris on the ground, including granules and metal chips
• Siding dents on the windward side of the storm path

If the roof is low-slope and visible, a clear pattern on the perimeter metal can support a quick claim path. If the curb read is clean but nearby properties show metal damage, keep the roof in the second group. A roof without visible collateral can still have hail damage, but the curb stage can save time on the worst climbs.

Use the roof planes in a fixed order

Once on the roof, work the planes in the same order every time. That keeps notes consistent across the crew and reduces missed areas.

1. North or windward edge first, if the storm track and roof orientation line up.
2. Primary slope with the longest run.
3. Valleys and transition points.
4. Ridge line and ridge caps.
5. The opposite slope.

This sequence helps when the field is busy and the roof is hot. It also keeps your observations tied to the structure rather than the inspection mood of the day. In a market like Greenville, Missouri, where hail reached 4.0 inches in the event set, roof variance can be wide from one block to the next. A fixed inspection order makes the results easier to compare.

Track the damage features that decide the next step

The first pass is not a full estimate. It is a decision tool. Look for the features that tell you whether to stop, document, or escalate.

Prioritize:

• Bruised or shattered asphalt mat exposure
• Creased or torn shingles at impact points
• Loss of protective granules in concentrated patterns
• Soft-metal punctures, dents, or fractures
• Ridge cap displacement
• Nail pops, lifted tabs, or seal strip failure tied to impact
• Matching damage on vents, flashing, and accessories

Do not spend the first pass writing long descriptions of every mark. Capture the exact slope, the exact plane, and the exact material. If the roof is obvious, move on. If the damage is mixed, mark the area for a deeper pass or a second opinion.

Sharon, Oklahoma saw 4.5-inch hail in the background data. Hail of that size often leaves a mixed field of obvious and subtle impact points. That makes roof-plane notes more useful than generic comments. Write where the damage is, not just that it exists.

Separate hail from wind and wear

A contractor checklist only works if it sorts hail from the things that can mimic it. On first pass, pay attention to the pattern and the spread.

Hail damage often shows:

• Random distribution across multiple planes
• Repeated impact marks on soft metals
• Matching collateral damage on vents, screens, and trim
• Fresh fractures on brittle components with no long-term weathering pattern

Wear and age often show:

• Uniform granule loss along high-traffic or south-facing edges
• Oxidation, chalking, or sun cracking that follows exposure rather than impact
• Old mechanical dents with rounded edges and dirt buildup
• Localized damage near ladders, foot traffic, or previous repair points

Use the surrounding exterior to support the roof read. If gutters, screens, and trim show fresh impact but the shingles look only weathered, take a closer look before closing the file. If the roof shows random bruising and the collateral is quiet, document the roof plane carefully and move on.

Keep a short field note format

Long notes slow the day. A short format keeps the crew aligned and gives the office a usable record.

Use this structure:

• Address or job name
• Roof type and slope
• Inspection time
• First-pass result
• Main impact area
• Collateral damage observed
• Next action

Example:

• Single-story gable, asphalt, low slope
• First pass complete at 2:10 p.m.
• Impact marks noted on south and east slopes
• Soft-metal dents at vents and gutter line
• Recommend full climb and photo set

Keep the language plain. Do not mix roof findings with sales language. A field note should read the same whether it is being reviewed by a project manager, adjuster prep team, or canvass lead.

Use NOAA warnings as the routing frame, not the verdict

NOAA warning polygons and local warning areas give the starting frame. They help define where to send the first crew blocks and which towns need fast screening. They do not replace field inspection.

In a market with large hail like Dickens, the warning area may cover more roofs than a crew can climb in a day. In another market like Switz City, Indiana, where hail reached 4.0 inches in the event set, the better move may be to screen for collateral first and reserve ladders for roofs with visible impact markers. The warning area tells you where the storm moved. The roof tells you what happened to that property.

End the first pass with a clear decision

Every roof on the first-pass list should end in one of three buckets:

• Full inspection needed
• Documented and hold
• No further action for now

If the crew cannot state the bucket in one sentence, the pass was not complete. Small-town work moves faster when the field team leaves each property with a decision, not a pile of open questions.

The same checklist applies whether the storm crossed Dickens, Sharon, Greenville, or a smaller Texas town outside the main route. The field work stays the same. Start with access. Screen the collateral. Inspect the planes in order. Write the result in plain language. Then move the crew to the next roof.