WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
When your insurer sends an adjuster to assess storm damage, that report becomes the basis of your claim. Here’s what an independent HAAG certified roof inspection adds to the process and why getting one early can change the outcome of your claim.
In This Article:
When hail or wind damages your roof, your insurer sends an adjuster to do a roof inspection. That inspection determines what’s covered, and it’s often the only inspection a homeowner gets.
Getting a HAAG-certified inspector on your roof early, ideally before or around the same time as the adjuster visit, gives you an independent set of findings to work from. If the adjuster’s scope comes back short or a cause gets disputed, you’re not starting from scratch. You have your own documentation, built to the same standard the adjuster is trained in.
Most homeowners don’t realize they can choose their own contractor for roof replacement work in Manitoba and that the roofer they hire can be involved from the very beginning.
What’s Documented During a Roof Inspection?
A standard roofing estimate focuses on pricing the work. An inspection for an insurance claim focuses on documenting the damage.
A HAAG-certified inspector isn’t just measuring the roof and preparing a quote. They’re identifying storm-related damage, photographing affected areas, noting cause and extent, and producing a formal report. That report is what gives you something to work from if your insurance adjuster’s findings come back incomplete.
Depending on the storm and the roof, documentation may cover:
- Hail impacts on shingles, vents, flashing, and soft metals
- Wind damage such as lifted, creased, or missing shingles
- Damage to siding, soffits, fascia, and eavestroughs
- Measurements and diagrams showing affected areas
- Photographic evidence supporting the findings
The goal is an accurate, independent record that holds up if questions arise later about cause, extent, or scope.
What HAAG Certification Means
HAAG is a forensic engineering credential developed by practicing engineers and used across the roofing, insurance, and claims industries. Adjusters, engineers, and claims professionals are trained in the same standards, which is exactly why a report produced by a HAAG-certified inspector carries weight with insurance companies.
The training goes well beyond visual assessment. HAAG-certified inspectors are trained in roof systems, weather-related damage patterns, building codes, and standardized damage measurement methodology. When they write a report, they’re documenting not just that damage exists, but what caused it, where it occurred, how extensive it is, and whether it resulted from hail, wind, wear and tear, installation issues, or something else entirely.
That cause-and-extent documentation is what makes the report useful. Everyone involved in the claim is working from the same methodology. This leaves less room for interpretation and fewer grounds for dispute when you file a claim.
Why Cause Matters In a Roof Replacement Claim
Insurance policies cover sudden storm damage. They don’t cover roofs that have worn out over time. That distinction is often where claims get complicated.
A HAAG-certified inspector is trained to tell the difference between:
- Hail damage and normal weathering
- Wind damage and installation defects
- Storm-related impacts and manufacturing issues
- Recent damage and long-term deterioration
A homeowner who sees missing granules or damaged shingles might reasonably assume hail is responsible. Sometimes it is. But age, improper installation, or previous repairs can be the root cause of roof failure. An insurer will make that distinction when evaluating the claim.
A HAAG certified inspection doesn’t guarantee approval, but it does accurately record what happened and gives those findings a credible foundation to stand on. That report also stays on record. If questions surface months later about what was found or what caused it, the documentation is there.
Your Insurer Doesn’t Choose Your Roofer
Many homeowners assume they have to use a contractor their insurance company recommends. In Manitoba, you don’t.
Your insurer may provide a preferred contractor list, but the choice is yours. You can hire a roofing company you trust to inspect the damage, document findings, communicate with the insurer, and complete the repairs once the claim is approved.
Using the same contractor from inspection through completion means the team writing the report is the same team doing the work. There’s no handoff, no repeated explanations, and no gaps between what was documented and what gets repaired.
How New Heights Roofing & Exteriors Supports Your Claim
The process begins with a detailed inspection from Colin, our HAAG-certified estimator. He inspects the roof and exterior components, documents storm-related damage, photographs affected areas, and prepares a formal report for your insurance company.
Winnipeg’s weather creates specific claim patterns. Hailstorms, prairie wind events, freeze-thaw cycles, and ice damming all affect roofing systems differently, and each shows up differently in a damage report. We know what to look for and how to document it in a format insurers recognize.
From there, we make our documentation available to support your claim. If your insurer has questions about the findings or scope, we can help clarify. Once the claim is approved, we handle the repair or replacement work outlined in it.
One contractor. One point of contact. Start to finish.
Schedule Your Roof Inspection in Winnipeg & Area
Storm damage isn’t always visible from the ground, and the longer it goes undocumented, the harder it is to connect to the storm that caused it.
If your home has recently taken a hit from hail or wind, contact New Heights Roofing & Exteriors to schedule a roof inspection. We serve Winnipeg and the surrounding area.
Call or text 204-809-8501
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