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Storm and Wind Roof Inspection in Columbus, GA

A written roof inspection after a storm in Columbus and the towns around it, with the damage separated from wear and recorded.

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  • Roof repair and full replacement
  • Storm and tornado roof damage
  • Phenix City and Fort Benning area

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Storm Inspection

Storm and Wind Roof Inspection: what it covers

Quick answer

A storm inspection is a dated look at the roof after a named storm, done to record what the wind did and to separate that damage from wear. The roofer checks the covering, the soft metal, the flashing and the attic, and writes down what is and is not storm damage.

Storm and Wind Roof Inspection illustration for Columbus, GA

A storm inspection is the first step after a storm that has passed over a property. The purpose is to find out whether the roof was damaged, what was damaged and what was already worn before the storm. That answer is what a homeowner needs for a repair, a claim or a decision about the roof's future.

Columbus has a documented history of tornado-strength wind, and the Muscogee County record includes events in 1997, 2007 and 2009. A storm inspection after any named event follows the same method: the roof is checked on the roof, the findings are recorded with dates, and the record is given to the homeowner in writing.

This page explains what an inspection covers, how it is recorded and what it cannot tell the homeowner. The roofer decides the scope on the roof, and nothing here promises a finding in advance.

Service area
Columbus & Muscogee County
Availability
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Warning signs

Signs you need storm and wind roof inspection

Do not climb a roof to check for storm damage, especially after wind or rain. Look from the ground and from the attic, and let the roofer do the close inspection with fall protection.

  • Dents on the vent caps, gutters, downspouts or flashing on the side of the house the storm came from
  • Shingles lifted, creased or torn on the slopes facing the wind
  • Granules in the gutters or a bare patch on the covering that was not there before
  • A ceiling stain, a wet attic beam or daylight at the decking after the storm
  • Debris on the roof, such as branches, sheet metal or pieces of another roof
  • A neighbour's roof with damage on the same side of the street
Options

Types and options for storm and wind roof inspection

Quick storm check

A short look soon after a storm to record the first damage while it is easy to link to the event.

Full storm inspection

A complete check of the covering, the soft metal, the flashing and the attic, with a written record for use with a claim or a repair.

Re-inspection after a repair

A check made after the repairs are finished, to confirm the damage was addressed and to record anything still open.

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What does a storm inspection actually record?

The date, the slopes checked, each finding with its photograph, the damage judged to be storm-related, the damage judged to be wear and the areas that could not be reached.

A good record is short and specific. It names the storm, the slopes that were checked and the method used. Each finding is listed with a photograph and a note of its position. The record separates the damage the roofer judges to be storm-related from the wear that was already there, and it says where the judgement is uncertain.

A record that says the roof is damaged with no detail gives a homeowner nothing to use. The specific list is what an adjuster will read, and it is what a repair contractor will need.

  • The storm date and the slopes checked
  • Each finding with a photograph and a position
  • Damage judged to be storm-related, kept apart from wear

How does a roofer tell storm damage from age?

By the pattern and the freshness of the damage. Storm marks cluster on the exposed slopes and look fresh; age and sun spread across the roof and look worn.

Storm damage tends to be concentrated on the slopes that faced the wind and to look sharp and fresh. Lifted tabs are creased in a line, and the marks on soft metal are recent. Age wear is more even across the roof and follows the orientation of the slopes, with the sunnier faces most worn.

A roofer compares the storm side with the sheltered side. A difference between them is a strong sign of storm damage. Where the difference is unclear, the record says so rather than deciding for the homeowner.

  • Compare the exposed slope with the sheltered slope
  • Look for creased or fresh tears rather than general wear
  • Record unclear marks as unclear

What can a storm inspection not tell you?

It cannot promise a claim, a payout or the future life of a covering. It also cannot see inside a covering that has not yet failed.

An inspection describes the roof on the day it is done. It does not decide what a policy pays, and it does not forecast how long a bruised covering will last. Those questions belong to the policy and the insurer, and the Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance handles homeowner complaints about claim handling.

It also cannot see everything. A covering that is bruised but not yet cracked may fail under the next storm. The roofer says where the uncertainty lies, so the homeowner knows which areas are worth checking again.

  • It is a dated look, not a forecast
  • The insurer decides under the policy
  • Uncertain areas are named for a later check

What should you do with the inspection record?

Keep it with the storm date and the photographs, send a copy to the insurer if you make a claim, and keep the original for any later repair or sale.

Keep the original record with the date the inspection was done, the photographs and the list of areas not reached. If a claim is made, send the insurer a copy and keep a copy of everything sent. Ask the roofer to sign or date the summary, so it can be checked later.

The record also helps with a later roof decision. A roof that has had a documented storm inspection is easier to price and easier to sell, because the history is written down.

  • The record kept with the date and the photographs
  • A copy of everything sent to an insurer
  • A signed or dated summary from the roofer
Our process

How our storm and wind roof inspection visit works

  1. Record the storm and your first observations

    Write down the date and time of the storm, the wind you saw or heard, and any damage you noticed. Photograph the yard, the gutters and the roof edges from the ground before clearing anything.

  2. Check the soft metal and the flashing first

    Vent caps, flashing and gutters are checked for dents and lifted edges, because soft metal shows storm impact clearly and quickly, and it is a fair guide to the covering above.

  3. Check the covering on each slope

    Each slope is checked, with the storm-facing slopes first. Lifted, creased or torn covering is counted in marked areas and compared with the sheltered side of the roof.

  4. Check the attic and the decking

    The attic is checked for daylight, wet insulation and staining under the damaged slopes, because a roof can be damaged below the covering before any leak shows.

  5. Write and photograph the findings

    The record separates storm damage from wear, names the areas that could not be reached and gives each finding a photograph with a scale and a slope label.

Muscogee County

Why storm and wind roof inspection is different in Chattahoochee Valley

The Muscogee County tornado record in the FACTS sheet covers 13 March 1997, 1 March 2007 and 19 April 2009. Each is sourced to the National Weather Service in Birmingham.

The inspection method is the same in Columbus and in the Alabama towns across the river, but the roofer confirms the local permit rules on the Alabama side before any repair.

Dates on this page are record dates only. The inspection is done on the roof after the storm, not on the basis of the record.

Where we work

Storm and Wind Roof Inspection across Muscogee County

Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.

Related

Tornado Roof Damage Repair

Repairing roofs damaged by tornado-strength wind in Columbus, Muscogee County and the Chattahoochee Valley towns around it.

Flashing and Chimney Repair

Repairing the flashing at chimneys, walls, vents and skylights in Columbus, where wind and storm debris most often open a roof.

Guides

Read before you book

The Columbus Tornadoes and What They Did to Roofs

The National Weather Service record for Muscogee County lists three tornado events that matter to roofs: an F1 on 13 March 1997, an EF-2 on 1 March 2007 and an EF-2 on 19 April 2009 that crossed from Phenix City.

FAQ

Storm and Wind Roof Inspection FAQs

How soon after a storm should I book an inspection?

Soon, while the damage is easy to link to the event. A dated record made close to the storm is worth more than one made months later.

Will an inspection tell me if the roof is still safe?

It describes the roof's condition on the day. Ask the roofer to name any area that needs a further check.

Does the inspection cost anything?

The roofer confirms the cost in writing before the visit, and it is quoted by the roofer, not by this site.

Can the record be used with my insurer?

Yes. It can be sent as a record. Whether it supports a claim is decided by the policy and the insurer.

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