Inspection Protocol
An inspection protocol is the standardized, step-by-step procedure followed during a property damage assessment to ensure thorough, consistent, and defensible documentation of all damage and conditions.
Systematic Damage Assessment
An inspection protocol is the defined sequence of steps an inspector follows when evaluating storm damage on a property, ensuring that every component is examined, every finding is documented, and the resulting record is thorough enough to support the claim through any level of review. Without a protocol, inspections become inconsistent. One inspector checks the roof but forgets the gutters. Another photographs damage but skips the test squares. A protocol eliminates those gaps by creating a repeatable process.
Contractors who follow a consistent inspection protocol produce better estimates and win more supplement disputes.
Standard Roof Inspection Steps
A thorough roof inspection protocol moves from the general to the specific. Start with a ground-level walk around the property, photographing all four elevations and noting soft metal damage on gutters, downspouts, and vents. Access the roof via ladder or drone. Perform test squares on each slope, documenting hits per square with chalk and photos. Inspect all penetrations (pipe boots, vents, skylights, chimney), all flashing points, all edges (drip edge, rake, eave), and all transitions (valleys, hips, ridges). Move interior to check for water stains, moisture damage, and active leaks.
Finish with a summary of findings that connects exterior damage to any interior impact.
Documentation Standards
The protocol should specify documentation requirements at each step: overview photos, area photos, close-ups, measurements, material identification, and written observations. Every photo should be identifiable by location and what it shows. The result is a complete claim file that can stand on its own, even if the person reviewing it was not present during the inspection. A complete inspection file with 75 to 150 organized, labeled photos is far more persuasive than 30 random images with no context.
Frequently asked questions
A standardized protocol ensures nothing gets missed during the inspection. It produces consistent documentation regardless of who performs the inspection. And it creates a defensible record if the scope or damage findings are later challenged.
A typical protocol includes: ground-level overview and photos of all elevations, ladder or drone access to the roof, test squares on each slope, inspection of all penetrations and flashings, gutter and soft metal examination, interior inspection for water damage, and documentation of pre-existing conditions.
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