After a hurricane, the hardest question an adjuster asks is simple: what did the roof look like before? If you can't show them, it's your memory against their judgment. A good set of pre-storm roof photos for insurance takes about 30 minutes in Miami, needs nothing but your phone, and is done entirely from the ground. By the end of this guide you'll know exactly what to shoot, how to make the photos hold up, and where to keep them so they survive the storm too. Hurricane season runs through November 30, so if you haven't done it this year, do it this week.
Quick answer: Walk around the house and photograph every roof slope from the ground — a wide shot and a zoomed close-up of each — then film a slow narrated video of the outside and inside, including every ceiling and the attic. Make sure the date and time are recorded, back everything up off the phone, and repeat it once a year. Never climb onto the roof to get the shot.
What you'll need
- A phone with a decent zoom (or a camera)
- Binoculars, to spot details worth zooming in on
- A flashlight for the attic and closets
- A cloud account, or a second device, for the backup
- Optional: a drone, if you already fly one legally
That's it. No ladder is required for this job.
Step by step
- Check the phone's settings first. Make sure the date and time are correct and that photos keep their date and location data. That metadata is what shows when a photo was taken.
- Start with an establishing shot. Stand at the street and photograph the front of the house with the house number visible. This ties every photo that follows to your address.
- Walk the perimeter clockwise. At each corner and the middle of each side, take one wide shot showing the whole roof slope, then zoom in on the tile field, the ridge and hips, the edges and any valleys. Clockwise every year means the photos line up when you compare them.
- Get the flat sections. The flat roof behind a parapet or over a Florida room or carport is where most Miami leaks start, and it's the part nobody photographs. Shoot it from an upstairs window, a neighbor's second floor with permission, or a drone. If you can't see it without climbing, note that and have a roofer photograph it.
- Photograph the details that fail first. Ridge caps and the mortar under them, flashing where the roof meets a wall, vent pipes and their boots, skylights, gutters, downspouts and scuppers, and the fascia and soffits.
- Record a narrated video. Walk the outside slowly and say what you see: "North side, concrete barrel tile, no visible cracks, gutters clear." Then go inside.
- Shoot every ceiling. Room by room, including closets, the garage and the porch ceilings. A ceiling with no stain today is strong evidence if a stain appears after a storm.
- Do the attic from the hatch. With a flashlight, photograph the underside of the roof deck and any old water marks. Stay on the floored area or the hatch; don't step between joists.
- Back it up the same day. Copy everything to a cloud account and to a second device. A phone in a flooded house or a dead battery after a week without power is not a backup.
- Write a short note. Date, roof type, your roof's approximate age, your policy number and your agent's and carrier's claim numbers. Save it in the same folder.
What a useful roof photo shows
Insurers and adjusters each work differently, and we can't tell you what yours will accept — that's a question for your agent or carrier. But a photo is far more useful when it shows something specific than when it's just a pretty picture of the house.
| Shot | What it should show | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Street view | Whole house, house number | Ties the set to your address |
| Each roof slope, wide | Full plane edge to edge | Shows overall condition and layout |
| Each slope, zoomed | Tile rows straight, no cracked or missing tiles | Baseline for wind damage |
| Ridge and hips | Caps seated, mortar intact | Ridge caps are often first to lift |
| Flat sections | Surface, edges, drains, debris | Most common Miami leak point |
| Flashing and penetrations | Metal flat and sealed, boots intact | Where wind-driven rain gets in |
| Gutters and scuppers | Clear and attached | Blocked drainage causes overflow leaks |
| Every ceiling | No stains | Proves interior damage is new |
| Attic deck | Dry, no daylight | Proves the deck was sound |
Why this matters more in Miami
Two things make before photos especially valuable here. First, wind-driven rain. In a Miami storm, water moves sideways and gets pushed under a lifted tile or flashing joint that never leaked in normal weather, so the damage can be small and easy to dispute. Second, tile roofs hide their problems. The underlayment beneath the tile does the waterproofing, and from the ground you only see the tile. A clear record of straight, intact tile rows is the best evidence you have that something changed.
Roof age also comes up constantly with Florida insurers. The permit history is the most reliable record of when your roof was installed. Miami-Dade County lets you look up permit history online through its building permit search, and cities like Miami, Coral Gables and Miami Beach run their own portals. Add a screenshot of the roof permit to your folder.
The insurance timing you should know
The Florida Department of Financial Services, in its 2026 hurricane preparedness tour, advises homeowners to do a home inventory with photos and video of the inside and outside of the house before a storm, and to log their agent's and the claims line's contact details.
On timing, Florida Statute 627.70132 (2025 version) bars a property insurance claim unless notice is given within one year after the date of loss, and a supplemental claim within 18 months. Your policy may set shorter notice rules of its own. This is general information, not insurance or legal advice — confirm with your agent, your carrier or your policy. The state's consumer helpline is 1-877-MY-FL-CFO.
Safety first
Everything in this guide is done from the ground. Never climb onto a roof to take a picture, and never walk on tile — it cracks, and you create the leak you were trying to document. If you use a ladder for any reason, set it on firm, level ground at a 4-to-1 angle, extend it 3 feet above the edge, keep three points of contact and have someone hold it. No ladders in wind, rain or lightning, or when surfaces are wet. Stay well clear of power lines and the service drop. If you fly a drone, check the FAA's rules before you fly — much of Miami-Dade sits near busy airports. Do this early in the morning; Miami roof surfaces can exceed 150°F.
Stop and call a licensed roofer if…
- Your photos show cracked, slipped or missing tiles, or ridge caps that have moved
- The mortar at the ridge or hips is cracked or crumbling
- Flashing is bent, rusted or pulling away from a wall
- A flat section is holding water, blistered, split or curling at the edges
- You see water marks on the attic deck or a ceiling stain you can't explain
- You can't see a flat section at all without climbing
- Your roof is near the end of its life and you aren't sure it will take a storm
Photos only record condition — they don't fix anything. If your photos show a problem, a professional roof inspection will document it properly and tell you whether it's a repair or something bigger. Most roof repairs in Miami-Dade need a permit and HVHZ-approved materials; our HVHZ building code guide explains why. If replacement is on the table, see our Miami roof cost guide for planning ranges.
FAQ
How often should I take pre-storm roof photos?
Once a year, ideally before June 1, and again after any roof work. If a named storm is forecast and your last set is old, take a fresh set while it's still safe.
Do I need to get on the roof for insurance photos?
No. Wide and zoomed shots from the ground, an upstairs window or a drone cover nearly everything. For a flat section you can't see, ask a roofer to photograph it during an inspection.
Is a video better than photos?
Do both. A narrated video shows the whole house in context; still photos are sharper and easier to point to. The Florida Department of Financial Services recommends photos and video of the inside and outside.
Where should I store the photos?
In at least two places off the phone, such as a cloud account and a second device or a relative's email. Keep your policy number and claim contacts in the same folder.
What do I do after the storm?
Take the same photos from the same spots so they compare directly, then follow our guide on how to check your roof after a hurricane. For the rest of your storm list, see the hurricane season roof prep checklist.
Get a professional baseline
If you'd like a licensed roofer to document the parts you can't see — the flat roof behind the parapet, the underlayment at the edges, the flashing up close — book a free roof assessment or call 305-419-0890. We'll tell you plainly what's fine and what isn't.
Sources
- www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/627.70132
- www.myfloridacfo.com/news/pressreleases/press-release-details/2026/06/03/chief-f
- www.myfloridacfo.com/docs-sf/insurance-consumer-advocate-libraries/consumer-aler
- www.miamidade.gov/permits/library/permit-information-at-your-finger-tips.pdf
- www.nhc.noaa.gov/
MIA Roofers · Roofing performed by Premier Group, Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC1332855. This guide is general information, not an inspection of your roof.