Roofer's Inspection
Identifies what the contractor believes should be replaced, then ties the finding to a repair or replacement quote.
Forensic Hail Damage Evaluation
The claim turns on causation
After a storm, the question is rarely whether hail struck. It is whether the hail caused functional damage, how much, and whether a repair or a claim can be defended on the evidence.
Everest Building Consulting Group sends licensed engineers to document the impact, separate genuine storm damage from ordinary wear and pre-existing conditions, and issue a signed report you can rely on with a carrier, a contractor, or a court.
An Engineering Evaluation
More Than a Roofer's Inspection
The difference is purpose. A contractor inspection is built around replacement work. A forensic hail damage evaluation is built around causation, scope, and a defensible engineering opinion.
Forensic Engineering Evaluation
Establishes what hail actually did, what it did not do, and what the building requires as a result.
Same Discipline at Any Scale
The evaluation applies to a single-family roof, a condominium or HOA with many buildings, or a commercial property. The scale changes; the discipline does not.
What We Evaluate
What a Hail Evaluation Establishes
Each finding connects roof conditions to a defensible causation opinion, so the claim, repair scope, or replacement decision rests on documented evidence.
Causation: Storm Versus Wear
We distinguish impact damage from blistering, foot traffic, manufacturing defects, mechanical wear, and prior repairs.
Extent and Scope of Damage
We document impact density and distribution across roof slopes, elevations, soft metals, vents, condenser fins, gutters, and cladding.
Functional Versus Cosmetic
We evaluate whether impacts fractured the mat, displaced granules, accelerated aging, or compromised water-shedding performance.
Repair or Replace
Where damage is established, we assess whether repair restores the system or whether replacement is warranted by the evidence.
How We Reach a Finding
Evidence, Not Assumption
Our methodology follows recognized forensic engineering practice. No single mark is treated as decisive. A finding rests on the convergence of independent indicators, which is what allows the conclusion to withstand scrutiny.
Observe the Totality
Field observations document roofing, exterior components, soft metals, interior water pathways, and visible impact indicators.
Test Causation Hypotheses
We compare predicted hail markers against what the roof actually shows, including competing explanations like age, wear, and defects.
Corroborate the Event
Where useful, storm data, weather records, aerial imagery, prior inspections, and estimates are reviewed independently.
Issue a Defensible Finding
The report states what the evidence does and does not support, including causation, scope, and repair or replacement recommendations.
When It's Warranted
When to Order a Hail Evaluation
An independent evaluation is worth ordering when any of these conditions are present at a residential, commercial, or multifamily property in Florida.
A Recent Storm With Visible Impact
Dented soft metals, spatter marks, dislodged granules in gutters, or damaged vents and HVAC fins warrant documentation before the evidence weathers away.
A Claim You Intend to File
A neutral forensic baseline establishes causation, date, and scope before a claim is submitted.
A Denied or Underpaid Claim
When a carrier attributes damage to wear, age, or a prior event, an independent engineering evaluation addresses that determination directly.
An Association or Portfolio Decision
Boards and owners facing replacement across multiple buildings need a defensible basis and a scope they can competitively bid.
The Deliverable
A Signed, Prescriptive Report
Most storm reports are descriptive. They record what the inspector saw and leave the rest open to interpretation, which invites supplements, disputes, and denials.
Everest issues a report signed by a licensed Professional Engineer that establishes causation and defines scope, so the claim or the repair that follows rests on an unambiguous baseline.
- ✓Whether the documented damage was caused by hail, with the basis for that determination stated.
- ✓The extent and distribution of damage across roof slopes, soft metals, and exterior components.
- ✓Whether the damage is functional or cosmetic, and how it bears on service life.
- ✓A reasoned recommendation on repair versus replacement, documented with photographs and measurements.
- ✓Where replacement is indicated, a planning-level estimate can support budgeting and competitive bidding.
Who We Serve
A Neutral Baseline Creates Certainty
For Homeowners
Know whether you have a real claim before you file, and enter the process with an engineer's documentation rather than a contractor's estimate.
For HOAs, Associations, and Property Managers
A defensible building-by-building assessment supports replacement decisions and documents roof condition before funds are committed.
For Public Adjusters and Attorneys
A conflict-free PE-signed report addresses causation and scope on evidence built to withstand scrutiny in a disputed or denied claim.
For Contractors and Restoration Companies
An independent causation and scope determination gives the work a defensible basis and reduces friction when a carrier contests scope.
Our Team
Veteran Storm Damage Investigators
Licensed Professional Engineers
Florida-licensed Professional Engineers direct every evaluation and sign every report.
Building Envelope Specialists
Credentialed professionals understand roofing and cladding systems from installation through failure.
IICRC Certified
Restoration-trained professionals read the path of water through the building assemblies below.
Catastrophe and Storm Experience
A team retained across storm-damage matters statewide, familiar with Florida weather and construction patterns.
Xactimate Certified Estimators
Trained professionals translate documented scope into an industry-standard planning estimate.
Forensic Engineering Practice
A repeatable, evidence-driven methodology supports each loss under scrutiny.
Do you perform the roof repair or replacement?
No. Everest is strictly a diagnostic and forensic engineering firm. We never perform the repair or replacement we evaluate, which keeps our reports anchored to engineering evidence rather than a financial interest in the work.
How is this different from a roofing contractor's inspection?
A roofer identifies what to replace and quotes it. Our engineers establish whether hail caused functional damage, distinguish it from wear and pre-existing conditions, evaluate scope, and issue a signed report.
My claim was denied as wear and tear or age. Can you help?
Often, yes. That determination is exactly what a forensic evaluation addresses. We document whether the evidence supports hail causation or the carrier's attribution to wear, then state the basis in a signed engineering report.
Can you evaluate an entire community or portfolio?
Yes. The same discipline applies at any scale, from a single roof to many buildings across an association or portfolio. For larger properties we assess building by building and can develop a planning-level estimate.
Will the report hold up with an insurer or in litigation?
The report is prepared and signed by a licensed Professional Engineer and built to serve as a defensible baseline on causation and scope. Because Everest has no interest in the repair, the findings carry no built-in bias.
Is it too late if the storm was months ago?
Often not. Hail leaves durable markers, and storm data and imagery can corroborate the date. Documenting sooner is always better before evidence weathers or is disturbed by repairs.
Get Started
Don't Guess. Know.
Whether you are filing a claim, contesting a denial, or planning a replacement across many buildings, a forensic hail damage evaluation in Florida gives you causation, scope, and a defensible recommendation delivered by engineers with no stake in the work that follows.