What Your Insurance Adjuster Is Actually Looking For on the Roof

The adjuster who climbs on your roof after a hail claim is not running a free-form investigation. They are running a scripted inspection protocol that takes 30 to 60 minutes, follows a standard methodology, and produces a scoped estimate that either supports a repair, a partial replacement, or a full replacement. Knowing the checklist in advance means you know whether it was done correctly, and whether the resulting estimate is complete.

Here is what actually happens on that roof.

The Test Square Method

The industry-standard protocol for assessing hail damage on a sloped roof is the test square. The adjuster marks a 10-foot by 10-foot (100 square foot) area with chalk or spray paint on each slope and counts the number of hail impacts, or "hits," inside that square. The results on each slope are compared to a threshold, typically six to eight functional hits per square, to determine whether that slope qualifies for replacement.

The key word is functional. Not every round ding on a shingle is a qualifying hit. The adjuster is looking for:

• Granule displacement — a clear impact crater where the protective granules have been knocked off, exposing the asphalt mat underneath.
• Mat bruising — a soft spot on the shingle that feels spongy when you press on it, indicating the fiberglass mat has fractured.
• Fresh exposure — the underlying asphalt appears dark and unweathered, showing the damage is recent rather than from a previous storm.

A scuff from a branch, a manufacturing blister, an old hit from three years ago, or a boot mark from a previous roofer all look similar to an untrained eye but do not count as qualifying hail strikes. An experienced adjuster and an experienced contractor rarely disagree on this distinction, which is why your roofer should be on the roof with the adjuster if at all possible.

Every Slope Gets Its Own Test Square

A common myth is that if one slope has enough hits, the entire roof gets replaced. In practice, most carriers score each slope independently and will approve replacement of only the slopes that meet the threshold. A hail storm that hits your north and west slopes hard but barely touches the south and east slopes can result in a partial replacement scope.

Colorado has a matching statute (Division of Insurance Bulletin B-5.26) that addresses this scenario for homeowners. When a partial replacement would result in a roof that cannot reasonably match in color and appearance, carriers are generally required to provide coverage for uniform replacement. This is one of the most important dollar-impact items in a Colorado claim, and it is not always applied automatically. If you have a partial-replacement scope and the remaining slopes are old or discontinued product, raise the matching issue explicitly.

The Non-Slope Items That Often Get Missed

A thorough adjuster will also document and scope:

• Ridge and hip caps — these are separate from the field shingles and are priced separately.
• Pipe boots and flashings — hail cracks rubber boots and bends aluminum flashings. Replacing these at re-roof time is the right move regardless of claim scope.
• Gutters and downspouts — hail dents aluminum gutters, and functional damage (not just cosmetic dings) is covered.
• Fascia and soffit — aluminum fascia wrap dents like gutters do.
• Window screens — often punctured by hail, commonly missed.
• AC condenser fins — bent fins from hail are functional damage that covers fin-straightening labor or condenser replacement on older units.
• Paint and siding — vinyl siding fractures, wood siding dents, stucco chips. All scoped separately from the roof.
• Skylights — polycarbonate glazing cracks, acrylic shatters, and glass skylights chip.

A typical full hail-replacement claim on a Front Range single-family home will include line items across eight to twelve of these categories. If your estimate only covers the shingles and nothing else, it is incomplete.

The Interior Walk-Through

After the roof inspection, the adjuster will usually walk the interior to check for:

• Water staining on ceilings (any active leak from the storm).
• Drywall cracks that could indicate structural movement.
• Window damage from wind-driven hail.
• Interior components that suffered water damage if there was a leak.

An interior walk-through is also your chance to raise items the adjuster may not have prioritized. Mention anything even if you are not sure it is covered — the adjuster is paid to document, and documented items can become part of a later supplement even if they are not in the initial scope.

How to Prep Your Roof and Yourself

Before the Adjuster Arrives

Have the following ready:

• Your policy declarations page and claim number.
• Any pre-storm photos you have (see our pre-storm self-inspection post).
• A rough age of the roof and any recent repair history.
• A written or mental list of things you have already noticed (leaks, missing shingles, dented gutters, damaged screens, broken skylight).

During the Inspection

Have your contractor on site. This is non-negotiable for a clean claim. A contractor who knows the test square method, understands carrier scope, and can walk the roof with the adjuster is worth thousands of dollars in accurate scoping. Many adjusters actively prefer it because it reduces back-and-forth later.

Do not argue protocol or coverage on the roof. Document observations, take your own photos, ask the adjuster to point out the test squares and what they found, and wait for the written estimate before pushing back.

After the Inspection

Ask when to expect the written estimate (typically 3 to 10 business days). When it arrives, read every line item. Common gaps that trigger supplements: code upgrades (ice-and-water shield, drip edge, ridge vent), permit fees, disposal fees, tarp deployment, and matching. We cover these in detail in our supplements explainer.

When an Adjuster Inspection Goes Sideways

A denied or under-scoped claim is often recoverable. Documentation gaps, a new-hire adjuster, or a rushed inspection on a heavy-claim day all produce estimates that shortchange the homeowner. Your options include requesting a re-inspection, bringing in a second contractor for a competing scope, and if necessary escalating to the state Division of Insurance. Our insurance claim services include advocating through this process at no cost to you when we are the installing contractor.

Related Reading

• Understanding Your Roof Insurance Claim
• Storm Damage 101: Hail, Wind, and What Your Insurance Covers
• What to Do After a Hail Storm