How do you estimate hail damage for an insurance claim?
Short answer. The insurer's adjuster estimates hail damage by inspecting the roof, counting hits in test squares, measuring the roof, and pricing the repair in estimating software such as Xactimate. You can get your own documented estimate from a roofer first, but the claim is paid from the adjuster's estimate, so the goal is making sure that estimate is complete.
What the adjuster actually does
- Checks the soft metals first. Dents in gutters, vents, and downspouts help confirm hail size and direction.
- Draws test squares. Usually a 10 by 10 foot area on each slope, counting hits that bruise or fracture the shingle mat. Many carriers look for roughly eight to ten hits per square before calling a slope damaged, but practices vary.
- Measures the roof. Squares, pitch, ridge, valleys, drip edge, and every penetration become line items.
- Prices it. Each item is priced from a regional price list for your area and month, then depreciation and the deductible are applied.
How to get your own estimate
Before the adjuster comes, have a roofer inspect and photograph the damage and give you a written scope. A good contractor estimate lists the same things the insurer's will: tear-off, underlayment, ice and water barrier where code calls for it, starter, ridge cap, drip edge, pipe boots, vents, and step flashing. Comparing the two line by line is how missing items get caught.
Things hail estimates often miss
- Gutters, screens, window wraps, and siding hit by the same storm
- Steep and high roof charges on steep or two-story slopes
- Code-required items that your policy may cover under ordinance or law coverage
See how test squares work, how Xactimate roof estimates are built, and which hail sizes damage roofs.