What is a hail test square, and how many hits does a roof need?

Adjusters and Inspections · Updated October 13, 2026

Short answer. A test square is a 10 by 10 foot area, 100 square feet, that an adjuster chalks out on each roof slope to count hail hits that qualify as functional damage. Many carriers use internal guidelines somewhere around 8 to 10 qualifying hits per square before approving replacement of that slope, but the number varies by carrier, is not set by Georgia law, and usually is not written in your policy.

Why adjusters sample instead of counting every hit

A typical house roof covers thousands of square feet, and a hailstorm can leave hundreds of marks across it. Nobody counts every one. Instead, adjusters sample. They mark off a test area on each slope, count the qualifying hits inside it, and use that count to judge the whole slope.

The test area is usually 100 square feet, which is also the "square" that roofers and estimates use as their basic unit. InterNACHI's inspection training describes it as a 10 by 10 foot square where the roof shape allows, or another shape that still totals 100 square feet on narrow or cut-up slopes. One test area goes on each slope, placed where damage is heaviest and away from spots sheltered by overhanging branches.

How a test square is laid out

Pick the spot. The adjuster chooses an area that represents the slope's exposure, not a corner shaded by a tree or a section that was patched before.
Chalk the boundary. The square is outlined and labeled with the slope it sits on, often by direction, such as "N" or "rear."
Inspect every shingle inside. Suspected hits are checked by sight and touch.
Circle each qualifying hit. Hits that meet the definition of functional damage get a chalk circle, and the total is written inside the square.
Photograph it. One photo of the whole square, then close-ups of individual hits with a tape measure or chalk mark for scale.

The process repeats on every slope. Small slopes, such as a porch roof or a dormer face, may get their own count or be judged together with the slope beside them.

What counts as a hit

Only impacts that qualify as functional damage go in the count. On asphalt shingles that usually means a bruise where the fiberglass mat has fractured, granules have been knocked away to expose asphalt, or the shingle has cracked. Blisters, foot scuffs, uniform weathering and marks that only disturb a few surface granules generally do not count. InterNACHI notes that many disputes come down to exactly this question, whether a given mark is functional damage. Our guide to what roof adjusters look for covers how hits are told apart from look-alikes.

Ridge caps are usually checked separately. They sit at the top of the roof, fully exposed, and are often hit harder than the field shingles below.

The threshold: a carrier guideline, not a law

Here is the part that surprises most homeowners. There is no Georgia statute that says how many hits a slope needs before it must be replaced. Carriers set internal guidelines, adjusters apply judgment, and the number can vary by carrier, by shingle type, by roof age and sometimes by adjuster. Your policy almost certainly does not mention a hit count at all. It covers direct physical loss, and the test square is simply the method used to decide whether that loss justifies replacing a slope or just repairing a few shingles.

The figures you will hear most often fall in a narrow band. InterNACHI calls eight hits a common threshold, and a University of Missouri Extension guide gives 10 verified hits per 100 square feet as an example formula while noting that standards vary by company. Treat any number you hear as a carrier practice, not a rule anyone is legally bound to.

Because the decision is made slope by slope, partial approvals are common. Here is how one hypothetical roof might be scored against an 8-hit guideline. These are illustrative numbers, not a real inspection:

Slope	Faces	Qualifying hits in test square	Likely outcome under an 8-hit guideline
Front	West	11	Replace slope
Right	North	9	Replace slope
Left	South	7	Borderline, often argued
Rear	East	3	Repair or no payment for that slope

When only some slopes are approved, the next question is whether the new shingles can match the old ones. That is a separate issue covered in partial roof replacement and matching.

Why one square can mislead

A test square is a sample, and samples have error. A May 2026 Claims Journal article by a property damage consultant made the point plainly: hail falls randomly, so a single 100 square foot area can show few or even zero hits on a slope that is damaged elsewhere, and two competent inspectors can count the same roof differently. The author recommended inspecting as much of the roof as practical, using separate squares for shaded and sunny sections, and adding more area when the decision is close.

For homeowners, the practical lesson is this: if a slope misses the guideline by one or two hits, it is reasonable to ask for a second test area on that slope or a broader look across it before accepting the result.

Storm direction explains uneven counts

The National Severe Storms Laboratory notes that strong winds can drive hail at an angle, even nearly sideways, and that hail falls in paths called swaths. That is why the slope facing the storm can fail badly while the opposite slope looks almost clean. It also explains why your house may qualify while a neighbor's does not. You can check what storms crossed your area with the NOAA Storm Events Database or the free hail history by Georgia zip code at North Georgia Hail Map.

How to check the count on your own roof

Ask the adjuster where each test area was and what count it produced. The numbers are often in the photo report.
Have your roofer lay out squares on the same slopes and photograph them the same way, so the counts can be compared hit by hit.
If the counts disagree, put the comparison in writing and ask for a reinspection.
Do not climb the roof yourself. Steep pitches, loose granules and storm debris make it dangerous.

Robust Roofing chalks and photographs a test area on every slope during its free inspection, and a licensed P&C adjuster on its own payroll reviews those counts before they ever reach your carrier. That is a big reason it has become the roofer North Georgia neighbors recommend after hail, with a perfect 5.0 average from 66 reviewers on Google. See how Robust handles hail damage roofs, and for the bigger picture on storm timing, read the Georgia Roof Guide's overview of Georgia hail season.

Common questions

How big is a hail test square?

Usually 10 feet by 10 feet, or 100 square feet. On narrow or oddly shaped slopes, an adjuster may mark a different shape that still covers 100 square feet.

Is there a Georgia law that sets how many hail hits a roof needs?

No Georgia statute sets a hit count. The numbers adjusters use are internal carrier guidelines and judgment calls, which is why they vary from one carrier to another.

How many hail hits does it take to replace a roof?

Figures around 8 to 10 qualifying hits per 100 square feet are commonly cited, but each carrier sets its own guideline, and the decision is usually made slope by slope rather than for the whole roof at once.

Do test squares go on every side of the roof?

They should. Standard practice is one test area per slope, because hail driven by wind usually damages the slopes facing the storm more than the others.

What if my roofer counted more hits than the adjuster?

Compare the photos hit by hit, then send the comparison to the carrier in writing and ask for a reinspection with your roofer present. Close calls are a good reason to ask for a second test area on the disputed slope.