The adjuster's inspection is quite possibly the most important part of your entire claim. What gets seen, pointed out and written down that day shapes everything after it. You need someone on the roof who has already inspected your property, knows where all of the damage is, and can explain why each item is damaged.
Many homeowners think the adjuster's job is to find all the damage for them. It isn't. Under most property policies, the burden is on the policyholder to show that a covered storm caused the damage and to show what was damaged.
Courts have said the same thing. When a homeowner can't separate storm damage from old wear and tear, or can't tie the damage to a covered event, the claim can fail, even when the roof really was hit.
So the adjuster visit is not a formality. It is your best chance to put the evidence in front of the person writing the estimate.
"Under Texas law, the insured bears the burden of establishing that its claim is covered by the policy."
Summary of a Texas hail-claim ruling, Barry Zalma, insurance claims expertThe date of loss, the type of storm, and storm data for your address.
Damage that matches the storm, separated from age, wear, foot traffic and installation problems.
Every slope, every elevation, plus vents, flashing, gutters, metals and interior water stains.
A clear explanation of what the damage is and why it can't be repaired the way it is.
The adjuster sees what they find in the time they have. Having our team there means they see what we've already found.
The difference between "covered" and "wear and tear" often comes down to someone who can explain what a mark on a roof really is.
| Roof item | What can get overlooked | What we show the adjuster |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingles | Hail bruises look like normal spots from a few feet away. | Random impact marks across the slope, granules knocked away, and a soft or fractured mat where the hail hit. |
| Wind damage | A lifted shingle can lie back down and look normal. | Creased tabs, broken seal strips and shingles that lift by hand, on the sides that faced the wind. |
| Soft metals | Dented vents and gutters get treated as minor, separate items. | Dents on vents, flashing, gutters and AC fins that show hail size and direction and back up the roof damage. |
| Tile and slate | Cracks get blamed on foot traffic or age. | Fresh breaks and impact points that match the storm, inspected by people trained to walk tile. |
| Flat roofs | Hail strikes on the membrane are hard to see from above. | Fractured membrane, crushed insulation and anvil strikes found by checking the surface and what's under it. |
| Interior | Ceiling stains get written off as old leaks. | Where water came in, how it lines up with damage on the roof, and wet decking or insulation in the attic. |
Get these ready before the adjuster arrives. Tap each one as you go.
State insurance departments, including Maryland's, recommend being there for the inspection, bringing your photos and contractor information, and getting the adjuster's contact details before they go.
It's not always required, but it's strongly recommended. Being there lets you show the damage, answer questions and hear what the adjuster finds. If you can't be there, having our team on site makes sure someone who knows the roof is.
Yes. Homeowners commonly have their contractor present. Let the adjuster know when you schedule that your roofing team will be there to show the damage.
It depends on the size of the roof and the damage. A typical home can take under an hour; a large or steep roof, or a commercial building, can take longer. After a big storm the adjuster may be on a tight schedule, which is why having the damage already found and marked matters.
A test square is a marked section of roof, often 10 feet by 10 feet, where the adjuster counts storm hits. Many carriers use the count in those squares to help decide between repair and replacement. We make sure test squares are placed on every slope that took damage.
That's when an explanation on the spot matters most. We show why the damage matches the storm and not age. If damage is still missed, you can ask your insurer in writing for a re-inspection and send in additional photos and documentation.
Treat it the same way. Our documentation is built to prove the damage to anyone who asks, and we can be there for that inspection too.
Make reasonable emergency repairs, like a tarp, to stop more water from getting in, and keep the receipts. Your policy requires you to protect the property. Don't make permanent repairs or tear anything off until the damage has been inspected.
