Start with the whole building
Photograph each accessible elevation from the ground, showing the relationship between the roof and the building. Record the overall color blend, course rhythm, roof forms and visible alterations. Add dates and viewpoints to the file names or photo index. A collection of close-ups without locations is much harder to use when planning repairs.
Add a mapped detail record
Ask the specialist carrying out safe access to document eaves, ridges, hips, valleys, wall intersections, ornaments and representative damaged areas. Match images to a simple roof plan using stable location labels. Include any areas that could not be examined. Do not present a limited visual survey as proof of the condition beneath every tile.
Capture decisions during the work
Keep photographs before removal, after concealed conditions are exposed and after repairs are complete. Link them to approved changes, replacement tile samples and relevant drawings. Store original image files rather than only a compressed presentation. Give the owner a copy of the record, so future maintenance can distinguish original features, retained material and newly repaired details.
Further reading & technical sources
Consult the current product documentation and local requirements for your project. These introductions are not installation specifications.
More tile roofing guides
- White deposits on clay tile roofs
- Crazing, chips and spalling on clay tile
- Reading historic clay tile maker’s marks
Tile Roofing USA editorial guide · Published October 28, 2026.