How do adjusters determine roof damage?

Step 1: Is there a covered event?

Before anyone climbs, the adjuster checks the reported date of loss against hail and wind data for your address. A claim with no storm on record gets closer scrutiny.

Step 2: Evidence on the ground

Soft metals tell the story. Dents in gutters, downspouts, box vents, AC fins, mailboxes and window wraps show hail size and the direction it came from, which tells the adjuster which slopes should show the most damage.

Step 3: The roof itself

• Hail: on each slope the adjuster marks a test square, commonly 10 by 10 feet, and counts hits that bruise or fracture the mat or knock granules away down to the asphalt. Many carriers use a threshold number of hits per square to decide whether a slope is replaced.
• Wind: missing shingles, horizontal creases where tabs folded back, and broken seal strips. A creased shingle is damaged even if it now lies flat.
• Not storm damage: blistering, foot scuffs, manufacturing flaws, normal granule loss and old cracks are classed as wear or defects.

Step 4: Repair or replace, then price

The adjuster decides whether damage can be repaired, which depends partly on whether matching shingles are still made and whether old, brittle shingles can be lifted without breaking. The estimate is then built in software such as Xactimate with measurements, waste, accessories and labor. Field adjusters often recommend and a desk examiner approves. For the full checklist, see what roof adjusters look for.