What should a roof inspection letter for insurance include?
Short answer. A roof letter for insurance should identify the property, the roof's material and age, its current condition, any damage or defects found, and an estimate of remaining useful life, signed and dated by the roofer or inspector with contact details. Attach labeled photos and keep the wording factual, because insurers look for specifics they can verify rather than general statements that the roof is fine.
Two kinds of roof letters
- Condition or certification letter: for an insurer deciding whether to write or renew a policy, usually on an older roof.
- Damage letter: supports a claim by explaining what the storm did and why a repair will or will not work.
What a condition letter should contain
- Property address, inspection date, and the inspector's name, company, phone and signature.
- Roof material, number of layers and approximate size.
- Installation year and how it was confirmed: permit, invoice or warranty registration.
- Condition of shingles, flashing, vents, pipe boots, valleys and gutters.
- Repairs made, with dates.
- Estimated remaining useful life, given as a range of years.
- Labeled photos of each slope.
What a damage letter should add
- The date of loss and the type of storm.
- Hail hit counts per test square on each slope, or a description of wind damage.
- Collateral damage to vents, gutters and other metals.
- Why a spot repair is or is not workable, such as brittle shingles or no available match; see matching and partial replacement.
- Code requirements that apply to the repair; see code upgrades.
What to leave out
Coverage opinions, demands about what the insurer must pay, and anything the writer cannot support with photos. Insurers discount letters that read like sales pitches, and overstating condition on a certification letter can backfire at claim time. If you are writing your own letter to the insurer about a claim, keep it short, include the claim number, list exactly what you are asking for, and attach the evidence.