What does a free exterior inspection check?

The roof, the gutters and downspouts, and the siding. The inspector looks for wind and hail damage such as lifted or creased shingles, hail bruising, dented or sagging gutters, granules at the downspouts, and cracked, chipped or holed siding, then documents everything with photos.

Why check gutters and siding, not just the roof?

Hail and wind hit the whole house. Dents in gutters and damage to siding are often the easiest evidence of a storm, and they point to roof damage that is harder to see from the ground.

Which side of my house should I check first after a storm?

The side that faced the storm. Storms in NW Pennsylvania usually move from west to east, so west and southwest facing walls, gutters and roof slopes tend to take the most hail.

Does the inspection decide my insurance coverage?

No. The inspection documents the condition of your roof, gutters and siding with photos. Your insurance company decides what your policy covers.

Free exterior check · In your area this week

Roof, Gutters and Siding: What a Free Exterior Inspection Checks.

This week I'm out with The Exterior Company (TEC) inspecting homes around Greenville, Mercer County and Venango County. Here's exactly what we look at, and what you can check yourself before we get there.

Published October 6, 2026 by Bret Ruth, TableTurn Digital. This guide is general information. It does not diagnose a specific home or determine insurance coverage.

Roof, gutters, siding. What a free exterior inspection checks. Partnered directly with The Exterior Company (TEC).

Last week I wrote about storm damage that hides until winter. The most common question I got back was simple: "If you come out, what are you actually looking at?"

The short answer is the whole outside of the house, not just the shingles. A storm that dents a gutter or cracks a piece of siding almost always reached the roof too. Checking all three gives you, and if it comes to it your insurance company, the full picture.

Why we're in your neighborhood

On April 15, golf ball sized hail (about 1.75 inches) was reported near Greenville, Orangeville and Reynolds Heights. Then on September 3, a severe thunderstorm warning covered Venango, Mercer and parts of Butler, Clarion and Forest counties with 60 mph gusts and small hail, and the National Weather Service warned of damage to roofs and siding.

Plenty of homes in those areas haven't been looked at since. I've partnered directly with TEC, a reputable exterior company that handles roofing, siding and gutters, so this week we're working through those neighborhoods doing free inspections before the snow comes.

The three things we check

1. The roof

Lifted, creased or missing shingles from wind. Bruised spots and missing granules from hail. Lifted flashing around chimneys and vent pipes. Wind can break a shingle's seal and let it lie back down, so it looks fine from the street.

2. The gutters

Dents along the front edge and on downspouts. Sections that sag or pull away from the fascia. Piles of sandy granules at the downspout outlets, which usually means the shingles above took a beating.

3. The siding

Cracks, chips and holes in vinyl. Dings in aluminum. Loose or missing pieces. Damage to window wraps and trim. Siding is often the easiest place to see that hail hit the house at all.

Start with the side that faced the storm

Our storms usually roll through from the west, and the April 15 storm tracked east. That means the west and southwest sides of a house tend to take the hardest hit. If you're doing a walk around before we come out:

Stand back from the west and southwest walls and look at the siding in good light. Morning or late afternoon sun shows dents and cracks best.
Look along the front edge of the gutters on that side for a row of small dents.
Check the ground under the downspouts for dark, sandy grit.
Look at soft metal like vents, the AC unit cover, mailbox and light fixtures. If those are dented, the house was hit.
Stay on the ground. Please don't get on a ladder or the roof. That's our job, and it's free.

What the visit looks like

I introduce myself as a project manager with TEC, ask what you've noticed, and then check the roof, gutters and siding. I take clear photos of anything I find and walk you through them in plain language. If there's no damage, I'll tell you that too.

No pressure and no same day contract. If the work fits TEC, they're the team I trust for roofing, siding and gutters. If it doesn't, because I'm independent, I'll point you to a local crew that fits the job better.

One thing I'll always be straight about: I document the damage, but your insurance company decides what your policy covers.

If someone knocks on your door

Storm season brings a lot of knocks. Whoever it is, me included, you're right to ask a few questions:

What company are you with, and where are you based?
What is your Pennsylvania home improvement contractor registration number?
Can I see photos of anything you find before I decide anything?

Pennsylvania law generally gives you three business days to cancel a home improvement contract. A good company won't rush you. Learn more from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.

Get on the schedule while we're in your area

Tell me your town and what you noticed and I'll fit you in this week. Or call (814) 209-8304.

Book a free exterior inspection

Free to homeowners. No obligation. Not an insurance company or public adjuster.

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