Carrier-side experience. Independent perspective.

The experience most inspectors don't have

Our lead inspector spent 7 years working directly for an insurance carrier — evaluating properties from the carrier's perspective, understanding how damage is documented, and observing firsthand how claims are processed and disputed. That vantage point is rare among independent inspection services.

We know what adjusters look for, what documentation carries weight, and where property owner assessments typically diverge from carrier assessments. Our goal is the same as yours — an accurate assessment the insurance company can't ignore.

Hail inspections since September 2023

Our inspectors have been conducting hail damage inspections since September 2023, following a significant Midwest hail event that produced large-diameter hail across the region. The field protocols developed during that response — systematic damage documentation, directional pattern analysis, and collateral indicator inspection — are applied to every Chicagoland inspection.

Chicagoland's hail environment presents a distinct challenge: frequent 1–2 inch events that accumulate damage across multiple storms, often undetected until the roof reaches failure. Systematic documentation catches this before it becomes a crisis.

Storm & wind response since 2022

Since 2022, our team has worked storm restoration full-time, responding to large hail and wind events across the Midwest. That experience — high volume, compressed timelines, complex documentation — built capabilities that translate directly to Chicagoland inspections.

FAA Part 107 licensed drone operation

Our inspectors are FAA Part 107 licensed for commercial drone operation, enabling safe, legal aerial roof inspection. Drone-assisted inspection improves both safety and accuracy on steep, high, or inaccessible roofs, and allows us to document large commercial and HOA properties efficiently. Subject to airspace restrictions and weather conditions.

Thermal imaging

Our inspectors use thermal imaging equipment to detect moisture in interior ceilings and walls that isn't yet visible to the naked eye — particularly effective after rain events. When water has worked its way through the roof and into the structure, thermal imaging can reveal it before it appears as a stain or causes visible damage.

When attic access is available, we note any visible staining on the roof deck. Thermal imaging is applied to interior ceilings and walls — where early detection has the most practical value.

Roof, siding, and gutters — the full exterior

We inspect all three primary exterior systems as a unit. Siding damage from hail and wind is among the most commonly missed and most commonly denied — and among the most reversible when properly documented. Our inspectors assess all exterior elevations for impact patterns, fracture lines, and storm indicators alongside the roof and gutter systems.

What we are — and what we're not

Sentry Property Inspections is an independent storm damage inspection service. We document observable conditions, explain findings clearly, and walk property owners through what we found.

We are not licensed public adjusters or attorneys. We do not negotiate claims or represent insureds in disputes. When damage is found and the property qualifies, we refer you to vetted contractors and restoration specialists who handle the repair and claim management process.

Our job is to give you an accurate, independent picture of your property's condition — and to make sure the right people are in your corner when it matters.