When does insurance pay for a roof replacement after hail damage?
Short answer. Insurers pay for full replacement when hail damage is spread across enough of the roof that repair is not reasonable, typically when most slopes meet the carrier's hit count in a test square, or when the shingles are too brittle to repair or cannot reasonably be matched. Otherwise they approve only the damaged slopes or a repair.
How the decision is made
- Hit counts by slope: many carriers approve a slope at around 8 to 10 functional hits per 100 square foot test square. If most slopes qualify, replacement follows. See test squares.
- Repairability: if lifting a shingle to replace its neighbor breaks it, a repair is not practical.
- Matching: if the shingle is discontinued or a replacement would look clearly different, the case for a wider replacement grows, though Georgia has no matching statute.
- Roof size and layout: on a small roof, approving three of four slopes often leads to approving the fourth.
What a replacement estimate should include
- Tear off and disposal of every layer.
- Underlayment, plus ice and water barrier where required.
- Shingles with waste, starter and ridge cap.
- Drip edge, flashing, pipe boots and vents.
- Steep and high charges where they apply.
- Code-required items, if you carry ordinance or law coverage.
Payment
On replacement cost coverage, you receive actual cash value first and the withheld depreciation after the new roof is on. An older roof on a payment schedule gets a percentage. See when insurance covers roof replacement.
When only part is approved
Request a reinspection with slope-by-slope photos of the remaining hits, brittleness tests and product information. Evidence, not argument, is what changes a partial approval. Robust Roofing's guide to partial repair versus full replacement covers the matching side.