What an Insurance Adjuster Looks For After Hail
How insurance adjusters typically inspect a roof after a North Texas hailstorm: test squares, soft metals, slope-by-slope checks, and how to prepare for the visit.
After you file a hail claim, your insurance company sends an adjuster to inspect the damage. Knowing what they typically look at helps you prepare and understand the report. This is general information: every insurer has its own procedures, and the adjuster works for the insurance company.
Test squares
Many adjusters mark a 10-by-10-foot test square on each slope of the roof and count the hail hits inside it. The number of hits an insurer treats as damage varies by company and policy. Slopes facing the storm usually take the most hits, so each slope is often checked separately.
What counts as a hit
On asphalt shingles, adjusters look for impacts that bruised the mat, fractured the shingle or knocked off granules down to the asphalt. Scuffs, blistering and normal wear generally aren't counted as hail damage, which is why a careful inspection matters.
Soft metals and collateral damage
Dents in gutters, downspouts, roof vents, window wraps and AC units help show the size and direction of the hail. Adjusters often note this collateral damage as supporting evidence and may include it in the estimate.
How to prepare
- Have the storm date and your claim number ready
- Gather any photos you've taken, including dented gutters or screens
- Know where interior leaks or stains are so they can be checked
- Make sure the adjuster can safely reach the roof and attic
- Ask what happens next and when to expect the estimate
Having your roofer there
You can have your roofer present to point out the damage they documented. The adjuster makes the coverage determination for the insurance company, and the claim decisions stay between you and your insurer. If you'd like us there, we'll walk the roof with your adjuster and share our photo report.