How Insurance Adjusters Inspect Roofs After a Storm
If you have filed a roof claim, an insurance adjuster will come to inspect your home. Most homeowners have never been through this before and are not sure what to expect. Knowing how the process works helps you make sure you get a fair outcome on your claim.
Who Adjusters Are
An insurance adjuster works for the insurance company. Their job is to evaluate your loss and determine what the policy will pay. Most are professional, fair, and trying to do their job correctly. They are also looking at hundreds of roofs and yours is just one of them.
Adjusters can be staff adjusters who work directly for your insurance company or independent adjusters that the insurer brings in during high volume periods after major storms.
What They Are Trained to Look For
Adjusters are trained to identify storm related damage that is covered by your policy. The main types of damage they assess are:
Hail strikes. They look for round bruises, granule loss, and fractured shingle mats. Most adjusters use a method that involves marking off a 10 foot by 10 foot test area on each slope of the roof and counting the number of identifiable hail hits in that square.
Wind damage. Missing, lifted, creased, or torn shingles. They check the seal on shingles to identify ones that have been broken loose by wind.
Damage to other structures. Gutters, siding, fascia, soffit, fences, decks, and outbuildings are typically inspected too.
Cause of loss. They distinguish between storm damage and pre existing wear. Wear and tear is generally not covered. A 25 year old roof at the end of its life is not usually replaced under an insurance claim.
The Test Square Method
Most insurance carriers use a standard inspection method that includes counting hail hits in a defined area on each slope of the roof. The number of hits required to count the slope as damaged varies by carrier. Some require eight or ten hits in a square. Others use different thresholds.
If a slope meets the threshold it is approved for replacement. If not, the adjuster usually proposes repair only or no payment.
Why Having Your Roofer Present Matters
This is one of the most important parts of the process. When your roofer is on the roof with the adjuster, two things happen.
First, your roofer can point out damage that the adjuster might overlook. Especially in marginal cases, having an experienced eye there to make sure nothing gets missed makes a real difference.
Second, your roofer can document everything. Photos, measurements, and written notes from your side become part of the record. If something gets disputed later, you have backup.
Adjusters generally welcome having the roofer there. It speeds up the process and helps prevent disputes after the fact.
What Happens After the Inspection
The adjuster writes up a Scope of Loss document that lists everything the insurance is agreeing to pay for. This usually arrives within a few days. It is itemized and includes line items for shingles, accessory products, labor, and other costs.
Your roofer should review this document with you. Sometimes things are missing. Common omissions include drip edge, ice and water shield, code required upgrades, ventilation, and tear off for second layers. If items are missing, your roofer can submit a supplement to the insurance company to add them.
Understanding the Payments
Most policies pay in two parts.
The first check is the Actual Cash Value, which is the cost of the roof minus your deductible and depreciation. Depreciation accounts for the age and condition of the roof at the time of loss.
The second check is Recoverable Depreciation. This is released after the work is completed and the invoice is submitted. Together with your deductible, the two checks should equal the full Replacement Cost Value of the roof.
What Can Go Wrong
A few things commonly go wrong in claims.
The adjuster misses damage. This is why having your roofer present matters.
The adjuster denies the claim or approves only partial payment. If you disagree, you can request a re inspection or escalate within the insurance company.
The Scope of Loss leaves out items that are needed for a proper installation. Supplements correct this.
A delay in releasing depreciation. Once the work is done and the invoice is submitted, follow up if the depreciation check does not arrive.
How Roofing Georgia Helps
We meet with adjusters every week. We know how the process works, what to look for, and how to document damage so it gets approved. We also handle supplements and follow up so you do not have to navigate the insurance side alone.
If you have storm damage and need help with a claim, call Roofing Georgia at 770-874-7663 or visit roofinggeorgia.com.