Start with safety and a dated record
After hail, wind, or falling debris, protect people first and address active water entry with appropriate emergency measures. Record the date of the event, photograph visible conditions from safe locations, preserve relevant notices and maintenance records, and review the reporting requirements in the association's policy.
HOA boards and property managers should notify the association's insurer according to the policy and consult appropriate professionals. A contractor can document exterior conditions and prepare a repair scope, but coverage and causation decisions belong to the carrier and its representatives.
What aerial photography adds
Drone photography can create an organized view of roof fields, elevations, gutters, flashing, rooftop equipment, and site conditions without requiring a person to walk every surface. Useful deliverables include overview images, close-ups tied to locations, a roof map, and a written finding log.
The record is strongest when each finding names the building, elevation or roof area, observation date, image reference, and recommended next step. Avoid labeling an observation as storm-caused unless the evidence and qualified review support that conclusion.
What thermal imaging can—and cannot—show
Infrared cameras measure surface temperature patterns. Under suitable weather and building conditions, an anomaly may help identify an area that deserves closer investigation for moisture, missing insulation, air leakage, or another cause.
Important limitation: thermal cameras do not see through shingles, membranes, walls, or snow. A thermal pattern is not a moisture reading by itself. Findings should be correlated with visual inspection, construction details, weather conditions, and appropriate confirmation methods.
A board-ready documentation package
- Property and building identifiers, inspection date, weather, and inspection scope.
- Overview photography and a location map.
- Finding-by-finding photos with neutral descriptions.
- Thermal images paired with visible-light images and stated limitations.
- Safety concerns, temporary measures, and recommended follow-up.
- A repair scope that separates observed conditions from assumptions.
Keep pre-storm and post-storm records separate
A condition baseline created before severe weather gives the board a dated reference for maintenance and future comparison. A post-event inspection records current observations. Keeping both records, along with invoices and prior repairs, makes the property history easier for the board, contractors, and insurer to review.
Build a clearer property record
Hoyt Exteriors can help Twin Cities associations organize aerial, thermal, and written findings into a board-ready condition record. No inspection can promise coverage or a claim outcome.
See the Property Baseline Program