Your approach is pretty solid, but one thing I'd add is checking for hidden or secondary damage—like moisture trapped behind walls or under shingles. Seen it happen plenty of times...surface issues seem minor, but underneath it's a whole different story. Better safe than sorry.
Good call on the hidden moisture—ever had to rip open a wall and find a mini swamp back there? Not fun... Insurance fine print can be brutal, but sounds like you're covering your bases pretty well.
Insurance fine print is definitely a beast sometimes. Had to help a buddy tear into his kitchen wall once, and yeah—full-blown swamp ecosystem back there. Tadpoles could've thrived, I swear. But honestly, covering your bases beforehand, taking pics and documenting everything... that's the smartest move. Too many people underestimate how nitpicky insurers can get over tiny details. Better safe than sorry when it comes to their rulebook maze.
Yeah, insurers can be sticklers for sure. Had a client once whose roof got wrecked by hail—adjuster tried claiming it was "normal wear and tear." Luckily, we had drone footage beforehand... saved the day. Documentation is king with these guys.
Couldn't agree more, documentation really is your best friend with insurance claims. Had a similar situation a couple years back—one of our projects had a green roof severely damaged after a nasty storm. The insurer tried to argue it wasn't properly maintained and thus excluded from coverage... which was ridiculous, given that we'd been meticulous with upkeep.
We ended up using maintenance logs and photos we'd taken throughout the year as proof. Even then, it was a headache getting them to budge. It taught me that insurers often rely on vague wording in their fine print to dodge responsibility. Since then, I've been advising everyone to keep thorough records—not just drone footage (though that's super handy)—but also regular inspection notes, timestamps, and even quick smartphone pics whenever they notice anything unusual.
One thing I'd add: don't underestimate the power of persistence. It's frustrating, but sometimes you just have to push back politely yet firmly. Adjusters will often reconsider if they realize you're not easily brushed off and you have solid evidence backing you up.
I've also found it useful to get familiar with the specific exclusions in the policy ahead of time, especially for green roofs or other specialty installations. Knowing exactly what's covered—and what's not—can help you preemptively document things in ways that insurers can't easily dispute later.
Insurance can be incredibly valuable when it works like it's supposed to, but unfortunately, getting there usually requires some extra legwork on our end.
