A nor'easter doesn't usually do one big thing. It does a dozen small ones: a few shingles gone, a gutter pulled loose, a section of siding cracked, a limb that came down across the front walk. In the days after, the urge is to clean up and get things back to normal. That's understandable, but the order you do things in can affect how well you can show what happened.
This post lays out one sensible order for documenting damage to the roof, siding and hardscape. It's general, educational information only, not legal or insurance advice. Your policy and your insurer set the actual rules. When you're ready for repairs, our storm damage repair page explains the work we do.
Step 0: safety before photos
Nothing in this list is worth getting hurt over.
- Stay away from downed wires and anything touching them. Report them to the utility.
- Don't walk under hanging limbs or lean ladders against a damaged gutter.
- Don't go on the roof. Photos from the ground, from a window or with a zoom lens are enough to start.
- If water is coming in near electrical fixtures, keep clear and shut power off only if you can do it safely.
Step 1: the wide shots
Before close-ups, walk the property and take wide photos and a slow video from each corner of the lot. These set the scene. They show where trees and limbs fell, how debris is spread, and the overall condition of the house.
The NY Department of Financial Services advises taking photos and videos showing the extent of damage before cleaning anything up. Make sure your phone records the date and time, and don't edit or crop the originals. Keep them as they came off the camera.
Step 2: the roof, from the ground
Work from the top down. From the yard, the street and any upstairs windows, look for:
- Missing, lifted or creased shingles.
- Shingles or ridge caps lying in the yard. Photograph them where they landed before picking them up.
- Damaged flashing around chimneys, vents and skylights.
- Limbs resting on the roof.
Use zoom, but take one wider shot with each close-up so it's clear where on the house the damage is.
Step 3: gutters, siding and windows
Next, go around the walls at eye level.
- Gutters and downspouts: pulled away, bent, or full of shingle granules or debris.
- Siding: cracked, missing or loose panels, and any punctures from flying debris.
- Windows and doors: broken glass, damaged screens, frames knocked out of square.
- Fences and sheds: downed sections, posts snapped at the base.
Take each item from two distances: close enough to see the damage and far enough to see where it is.
Step 4: walks, stoops, driveway and deck
Hardscape damage is easy to miss and easy to dispute later, because concrete and pavers often already had some wear. Be thorough and honest.
- Photograph limbs where they landed before cutting them up. A shot showing the limb on a walk or stoop, and a second showing the impact point after it's moved, tells a clear story.
- Use something for scale. A tape measure laid across a crack or a gap, or a coin beside a chip, makes size obvious.
- Show both sides of a crack. If one side is now lower than the other, photograph it at a low angle.
- Note what was there before. If you have older photos of the walk, stoop or driveway from a listing, a past project or just everyday pictures, find them now. They help separate older wear from new storm damage. Don't present existing wear as storm damage.
- Check the pool deck and coping if a tree or debris hit near the pool.
If the stoop took a hit, our guide to reading the cracks in an older stoop explains the difference between surface damage and movement.
Step 5: inside the house
Water from a storm sometimes shows up later. Check:
- Ceilings and the tops of walls on the top floor for new stains.
- The attic, with a flashlight, for wet insulation, daylight through the roof deck or dripping nails.
- Basement walls and floors, especially below damaged gutters or downspouts.
- Window sills and the floor under windows that faced the wind.
Photograph anything you find, and recheck after the next rain.
Step 6: stop further damage, and keep receipts
DFS says property owners are responsible for protecting their property from further damage after a loss. That typically means temporary steps like:
- Tarping a damaged section of roof.
- Boarding a broken window.
- Moving belongings away from a leak.
- Drying wet areas.
Photograph the damage before you cover it, then photograph the temporary fix. Save every receipt, including for tarps, plywood, fans and any help you paid for. Before permanent repairs, ask your insurer what they need to see first. Older DFS storm guidance advised against permanent repairs until the insurer had assessed the damage.
Step 7: keep a log and file promptly
DFS recommends filing claims as soon as possible after losses occur and asking your insurer exactly which documents and forms they need. It also suggests keeping a record of every call, including the agent's name and the time and date, and following up conversations and adjuster visits in writing.
A simple log can be a note on your phone with:
- Date and time of the storm and when you first saw each problem.
- Every call or email with the insurer, with names.
- Every temporary repair, with the receipt number.
- Every visit from an adjuster, contractor or inspector.
A few things that are different
- Flood is separate. DFS notes that flood damage is typically only covered by flood insurance, through the National Flood Insurance Program.
- You can get your own estimate. DFS says you may get an estimate from your own contractor to compare with the insurer's estimate.
- Major losses. For big losses where settlement stalls, DFS mentions consulting an attorney or a licensed public adjuster.
- Declared disasters. DFS operates a Disaster Hotline at (800) 339-1759 when disasters are declared, and its disaster page lists insurer contact information.
Related reading
If storm debris landed near the pool, checking pool deck joints before winter covers what to look for around coping and joints. For a cracked or shifted stoop, start with rebuild or resurface? Reading the cracks in an older stoop.
Once your damage is documented and you're ready for repairs to your roof, siding, walks or stoop, call JDG Concrete & Construction at (631) 672-1618 or request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Should I clean up before or after I take photos?
After. The NY Department of Financial Services advises taking photos and videos showing the extent of the damage before cleaning anything up. Make only the emergency moves needed for safety or to prevent further damage first, and photograph those too.
Can I make repairs before the adjuster comes?
DFS says property owners are responsible for protecting their property from further damage after a loss. Temporary measures like tarping or boarding up generally fall in that category. Ask your insurer before making permanent repairs, and keep every receipt.
Is a cracked walkway or stoop covered by homeowners insurance?
It depends entirely on your policy, the cause of the damage and any exclusions. Some policies treat detached structures differently from the house. Read your policy and ask your agent or insurer. This post is not coverage advice.
What if the damage is from flooding?
DFS notes that flood damage is typically only covered by flood insurance, usually through the National Flood Insurance Program. If you have a flood policy, file that claim with the insurer that sold it to you.
Can I get my own contractor's estimate?
Yes. DFS says you may get an estimate from your own contractor to compare with the insurance company's estimate. The insurer still decides what the policy covers.
