Ladder Assist for Wind Damage Claims: A Complete Overview

Ladder assist is a specialized service designed to support insurance adjusters in conducting roof damage inspections following natural disasters, such as storms or hurricanes.

Instead of climbing dangerous or steep roofs themselves, adjusters can rely on trained professionals from ladder assist companies like Patriot Claims who have the proper equipment, safety training, and experience to conduct a thorough assessment.

These ladder-assist inspectors climb the roof, evaluate potential storm-related issues, take detailed photographs, and provide accurate documentation and a comprehensive report that helps adjusters make informed decisions about insurance claims.

By serving as the “eyes on the roof,” ladder assist professionals help reduce risk for adjusters while ensuring property owners receive fair claim evaluations.

• What it includes:
  • • Everything in the Standard Access service.
    • Full Roof Measurements: The technician will measure all roof facets, ridges, hips, valleys, and eaves, and calculate the total roof squares.
    • Pitch Determination: Using a pitch gauge, the tech will accurately determine the slope of all roof sections.
    • Damage Identification: The technician will walk the entire roof, marking up wind, hail, or other forms of damage with chalk.
    • Detailed Photo Documentation: This is a key feature. The technician takes high-quality photos of everything: overview shots, close-ups of damage, photos of all roof accessories (vents, flashing, pipe jacks), and any potential safety hazards or complexities.
    • Roof Diagramming: Many services will provide a detailed roof sketch or a digital diagram (like a Hover or EagleView report) that can be easily imported into estimating software.
• Best for: Adjusters managing a high volume of claims, those new to the field, or any professional who wants to maximize their time on the ground focusing on the homeowner and claim paperwork while a trusted expert handles the data collection on the roof.

• What it includes:
  • • Technicians with advanced safety certifications and training in rope access and fall protection systems.
    • Use of specialized equipment like ropes, harnesses, and anchors to safely navigate high and steep slopes.
    • All the measurement and documentation services found in the comprehensive package are performed in a high-risk environment.
• Best for: Properties with complex architectural designs, churches, A-frame houses, or any structure where the roof pitch exceeds safe walkability standards. This service is essential for mitigating risk and avoiding an “unscopeable” roof.

While many companies in our industry offer services across the board, Patriot Claims was founded with a single, clear mission: to be the dedicated, expert partner exclusively for insurance adjusters. Our entire process is built to support your specific needs, ensuring you receive objective, accurate, and defensible data for every claim.

Why We Focus Solely on Insurance Adjusters:

An adjuster’s primary role is to assess and validate a claim based on impartial evidence. By working only with adjusters, we ensure our findings remain completely unbiased, free from the influence of contractors or property owners. Our only goal is to provide you with the ground-truth data you need to close your file confidently.

Here’s how our adjuster-centric model benefits you:

• Unwavering Safety and Compliance: Our primary service is to ensure your safety. We take on the risk of accessing high, steep, and complex roofs so you don’t have to. You can manage the inspection safely from the ground, knowing our certified technicians are handling the dangerous work.
• Unmatched Accuracy for Your File: Our technicians are trained to document damage from an adjuster’s perspective. We provide detailed photo reports, precise measurements, and clear diagrams to support your claim decisions.
• Greater Efficiency and Productivity: Partnering with us enables you to increase your productivity significantly. While we handle the data collection on the roof, you can focus on interviewing the insured, scoping interior damages, and managing other critical claim tasks. This allows you to handle more claims per day with less personal risk.

For adjusters, ladder assist eliminates the hazards of climbing onto steep, slippery, or tall roofs. Wind-damaged roofing systems can be unpredictable, and even trained professionals face significant risks without specialized equipment.

By partnering with a ladder assist company like Patriot Claims, adjusters gain:

• Safety – Avoid the physical risk of falls or injuries.
• Time savings – Inspectors handle the climbing and documentation while adjusters focus on claim evaluation.
• Detailed reporting – Clear photos and notes ensure nothing is overlooked and claims decisions are backed by reliable evidence.

• Missing or torn shingles – High winds can lift or rip shingles off completely.
• Loosened flashing – Metal flashing around chimneys, vents, and skylights can be dislodged.
• Leaks and water intrusion – Even small gaps allow water to seep into the home, leading to mold or structural issues.
• Compromised roof decking – Extreme winds may loosen or damage the underlying structure.

Small cracks, lifted shingles, or minor punctures might go unnoticed without a close inspection. Unfortunately, these issues can worsen over time, leading to leaks, higher repair costs, and disputes between carriers and property owners.

Accurate inspections from ladder-assist companies help ensure that hidden damage is identified and properly documented, reducing the risk of missed claims or costly future repairs.

A professional ladder assist inspection follows a deliberate, structured process designed to ensure inspections are safe and results are reliable. Each stage matters in ensuring that wind damage claims are supported by accurate evidence.

1. Scheduling the Inspection
   After a storm or reported wind event, the adjuster or carrier contacts the ladder assist company to request support. This step ensures the right inspector is assigned based on the location, roof type, and claim needs.
2. On-Site Assessment
   Once on site, the inspector evaluates conditions before climbing. This includes checking the roof pitch, height, and access points. The inspector arrives equipped with professional climbing gear, fall protection equipment, and the tools needed for documentation. Safety is prioritized before anyone steps onto the roof.
3. Roof Inspection
   With precautions in place, the inspector carefully climbs and examines the roof. They check for visible signs of wind damage, such as lifted shingles, displaced flashing, or compromised seams. They also look for subtle issues that could lead to leaks or future structural problems. High-quality photographs and notes are taken at every stage to ensure nothing is overlooked.
4. Documentation of Findings
   All observations are compiled into a clear, organized report. This includes photographs, descriptions of damage, and notes about potential hidden issues that may require closer monitoring or repair. The goal is to give claims adjusters a full picture of the roof’s condition.
5. Reporting to the Adjuster
   Finally, the inspector provides the completed documentation directly to adjusters or insurance professionals. This report serves as the foundation for claim decisions, ensuring the adjuster has credible, unbiased evidence to support their evaluation.

Ladder assist plays a vital role in the claims process by ensuring inspections are conducted with precision, professionalism, and safety in mind. Instead of treating inspections as a quick task, ladder assist services bring structure and expertise that ultimately protect both the adjuster and the policyholder.

• Improved Accuracy
  Trained ladder assist technicians are skilled at spotting the full range of wind-related roof damage, from missing shingles and torn flashing to subtle issues like lifted seams or cracked sealants. This detailed attention reduces the chance of oversight and ensures claims are based on the actual condition of the property.
• Enhanced Safety
  Climbing onto a steep or storm-damaged roof poses real risks, even for experienced adjusters. Ladder assist allows inspectors with specialized safety training and professional climbing equipment to handle this responsibility, minimizing the likelihood of accidents or injuries when inspecting roofs.
• Reliable Documentation
  Ladder assist inspectors provide thorough reports that include high-resolution photos, measurements, detailed descriptions, and accurate results. This level of documentation creates a reliable record that supports fair claim outcomes and helps defend against disputes.

For adjusters, ladder assist delivers trustworthy support. Instead of worrying about personal safety or missing damage, adjusters can focus on their primary responsibility—evaluating the claim. Having certified inspectors gather accurate evidence allows them to make determinations with greater confidence and efficiency.

For insurance carriers, ladder assist provides consistency. When inspections follow a proven process and produce detailed reports, carriers benefit from standardized information across claims. This reduces disagreements, shortens resolution timelines, and strengthens trust with policyholders who expect a fair and thorough review of their property.

In widespread storm events, such as hurricanes or severe windstorms, roof damage often extends far beyond a single property. These catastrophe claims require prompt and reliable support to prevent further damage while inspections and claims are underway.

Patriot Claims offers a dedicated Emergency Tarp Service to secure damaged roofs safely. By installing heavy-duty tarps, our team helps prevent additional water intrusion and structural issues, giving adjusters and carriers the time they need to process claims without added complications.

Combining ladder assist inspections with emergency tarping ensures a complete solution, providing both accurate documentation of wind damage and immediate protection for affected properties during catastrophic events.

Key qualities to prioritize include:

• Certified Inspectors
  Credentials matter. HAAG-certified inspectors have undergone specialized training in roof damage assessment, giving their evaluations credibility within the insurance industry. Certification ensures inspectors understand how to distinguish between true storm damage and normal wear, which is critical for fair claims.
• Thorough Documentation
  A quality report should be more than a checklist. It must include high-resolution photos, detailed notes, and clear explanations of damage. Well-documented reports reduce disputes, provide transparency to property owners, and support the adjuster’s findings with undeniable evidence.
• Dependability
  Claims often need timely resolution, and delays can frustrate both carriers and policyholders. A dependable ladder assist company delivers inspections on schedule, communicates clearly with adjusters, and maintains consistent quality across every job. Reliability and exceptional service are just as important as technical skill.
• Tried and Proven Methods
  While some ladder assist companies are shifting to drones, AI tools, or remote assessments, these technologies often miss subtle damage or fail to provide the depth of information needed for a fair claim. At Patriot Claims, hands-on inspections remain the gold standard because they combine human expertise with direct observation, ensuring no detail is overlooked.

We pride ourselves on delivering more than just thorough roof inspections—we provide true support for adjusters and carriers navigating wind damage claims:

• Accurate Reporting
  Every inspection is documented with precision. Our HAAG-certified inspectors take high-resolution photos, provide detailed notes, and highlight both visible and hidden damage. This accuracy ensures that adjusters can make claim decisions with confidence, backed by reliable evidence that withstands carrier review.
• Safety-First Inspections
  Roof inspections carry real risks, especially after high winds. Patriot Claims prioritizes safety at every step, using professional climbing equipment and proven techniques to minimize hazards. By trusting us with the climb, adjusters avoid unnecessary risks while still receiving the thorough information they need.
• Reliable Partnership
  We understand that consistency matters in the claims process. That’s why we focus on clear communication, dependable scheduling, and uniform reporting standards. Whether it’s a single inspection or ongoing support, adjusters can count on us for the same high level of service every time.

Contact Patriot Claims today to schedule your ladder assist service and experience the difference of working with a team dedicated to professionalism, safety, and reliable results.