Take Baseline Photos of Your Roof Before Winter
Why dated before photos of your roof, gutters and ceilings help with future storm claims, what to shoot from the ground, and how to store them.
The short answer: Photograph your roof, gutters, soft metals and top-floor ceilings now, while nothing is wrong, from the ground and the attic. Dated before photos make it much easier to show that future storm damage is new. Shoot every side, keep the original files, back them up, and update them once a year.
In this guide 11 sections
Most people only think about photographing their roof after something goes wrong. The hail has already hit, the shingles are already in the yard, and now the question is: was that damage from this storm, or has it been there for years?
A set of "baseline" photos taken now, while everything is fine, answers that question before anyone asks it. It takes about twenty minutes, costs nothing, and it's one of the most useful things you can have on file going into an Oklahoma winter and the spring storm season after it.
Why Baseline Photos Matter
- They show what "before" looked like. If a storm damages your roof, gutters or siding, dated photos of the same spots in good condition make it much easier to show the damage is new.
- They help with hidden damage. Some storm damage doesn't show up until months later. Baseline photos give you something to compare against.
- They track slow changes. Granule loss, a sagging gutter or a stain on the ceiling is easier to spot when you can compare this year to last year.
- They're handy when you sell. Buyers and their inspectors ask about the roof. A clean photo history helps answer those questions.
Stay on the Ground
You don't need to climb anything for baseline photos. Everything below can be shot from the yard, the driveway, a window or the attic hatch. Please don't get on the roof. Your phone's zoom is enough.
What to Photograph
Outside, from the ground
- Every side of the house. One wide shot of the front, back and both sides, showing the whole roof line.
- Each roof slope, zoomed in. Get as close as your zoom allows to the shingles on every visible slope.
- Gutters and downspouts. Full runs plus close-ups. Smooth, undented metal now makes hail dents later obvious.
- Soft metals. Roof vents, pipe flashing you can see, the air conditioner unit and any metal awnings.
- Window screens and siding on the side storms usually come from, which in Oklahoma is often the west and southwest.
- Chimney and skylights, with the flashing around them if you can see it.
- Fence, deck and outdoor furniture. These collect hail marks too.
Inside
- Ceilings in every room on the top floor, especially near exterior walls, chimneys and skylights
- The attic, if you can safely look in: the underside of the roof deck, any old water stains and the insulation
- Around windows and in closets on exterior walls
Clean ceilings in today's photos make it easy to show when a stain first appeared.
How to Shoot Them
- Pick a dry, clear day with decent light. Morning or late afternoon sun shows texture on shingles and metal best.
- Wide first, then close. A wide shot shows where you are; the close-up shows condition.
- Stand in the same spots each time. If you photograph from the same corners every year, the photos line up and changes jump out.
- Take a slow video walkaround of the whole house. It ties the photos together.
- Keep the original files. Don't crop or edit. Your phone saves the date and time inside each photo.
Where to Keep Them
Make a folder named something like "Roof baseline, October 2026." Back it up to the cloud or email it to yourself so it survives a lost phone. Keep it with your roof paperwork: the contract, warranty and any inspection reports. When a storm comes through, you'll know exactly where to find it.
When to Update Them
- Once a year, and fall is a good time: before winter and well ahead of spring storm season
- After any repair or replacement, so your baseline shows the new work
- Right after a big storm, to compare against the baseline
Want a Professional Baseline?
Ground photos can't show everything. The condition of the shingles up close, the seals on pipe boots and flashing, and soft spots in the decking can only be checked on the roof. A free RainTech inspection includes photos of every slope, taken on the roof, plus a straight answer on what it needs, if anything. Those photos make an even better baseline, and they come with someone telling you what you're looking at. Our guide on what to expect during a free inspection walks through how it works.
If a storm does hit later, our guide on photographing storm damage for an insurance claim picks up where this one leaves off.
Baseline Photo Checklist
- Wide shot of each side of the house
- Zoomed shots of every visible roof slope
- Gutters, downspouts and soft metals
- AC unit, screens, siding, fence and deck
- Chimney and skylights
- Top-floor ceilings and the attic
- Video walkaround
- Saved and backed up in one folder
Frequently Asked Questions About Baseline Roof Photos
Why should I photograph my roof if nothing is wrong?
So you have dated proof of its condition. If a storm damages it later, before-and-after photos make it much easier to show the damage is new.
How often should I take baseline roof photos?
Once a year is a good habit, plus after any repair or replacement. Fall works well because it's before winter and spring storm season.
Do I need to get on the roof?
No. Shoot from the ground with your phone's zoom, and from inside the attic if it's safe. Leave the roof itself to a professional inspection.
Will insurance accept my own photos?
Photos are helpful documentation, but your insurer will still inspect the damage. Baseline photos support your claim; they don't replace the adjuster's inspection.
Start With a Free Inspection
Get a professional baseline with photos from every slope. Book a free roof inspection, or learn more on our roof inspection page.
We inspect roofs across Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Owasso, Bixby, Jenks and Sand Springs.
Related Reading
- How to Photograph Storm Damage for an Insurance Claim
- Annual Roof Maintenance Checklist
- How to Prepare Your Roof for Storm Season
Schedule Your Free Roof Inspection →
Sources and disclaimer. Information in this article comes from public sources such as the National Weather Service, the Oklahoma Insurance Department, Oklahoma statutes and manufacturer documentation, plus RainTech’s own inspections and claims experience in the Tulsa area. It was current as of October 10, 2026; laws, insurance rules, manufacturer terms and prices change. This article is general information, not legal, insurance, tax or financial advice.
