Your insurance adjuster just scheduled a time to inspect your roof. Maybe a hailstorm rolled through last week. Maybe you noticed damage and filed a claim. Either way, someone from the insurance company is coming to your house to look at your roof and decide whether you get a payout.
That inspection is one of the most important moments in the entire insurance claim process. What the adjuster sees, documents, and includes in their report determines whether your claim gets approved, how much money you receive, and whether the scope covers what your roof actually needs.
After attending thousands of adjuster inspections alongside our customers over the past decade, we know exactly what adjusters are looking for. Here is the full breakdown so you can be prepared.
The Ground Level Walkthrough
Most adjusters start on the ground before going up on the roof. They walk the perimeter of your property looking at soft metals and other surfaces that show hail impact clearly. This includes gutters and downspouts, air conditioning condenser units, window screens, outdoor light fixtures, fence posts, and garage doors.
These ground level indicators help the adjuster assess the severity and size of the hail that hit your property. If your gutters are covered in quarter sized dents and your AC unit fins are flattened, the adjuster knows your roof took a significant hit even before they climb the ladder.
This is also why the documentation you do immediately after a storm matters so much. If you photographed hail on the ground, damaged vehicles, and dented soft surfaces right after the event, that evidence supports what the adjuster finds during their visit storm damage documentation guide.
The Roof Inspection Process
Once on the roof, the adjuster follows a systematic process. They are looking at specific things and documenting them for their report.
Hail Hits on Shingles. The adjuster inspects the shingle surface for impact marks. On asphalt shingles, hail damage shows up as dark spots where granules have been displaced, revealing the underlying mat. The adjuster may press on suspected impact sites to feel for soft spots in the mat, which indicates the fiberglass has been fractured beneath the surface. This is called bruising, and it is one of the most common types of hail damage that homeowners cannot see from the ground.
Test Squares. Most adjusters use a standardized method called a test square. They mark off a 10 foot by 10 foot section of the roof (100 square feet) and count the number of hail hits within that area. Insurance companies have internal thresholds for how many hits per test square justify replacement. If the count exceeds that threshold, the entire roof face is typically approved for replacement. The adjuster usually does multiple test squares across different slopes and orientations of the roof.
Ridge Cap and Hip Damage. The ridge cap (the shingles running along the peak of the roof) and hip caps (running along the angled ridges) are especially exposed to hail impact. Adjusters check these carefully because damage here often confirms roof wide exposure.
Vent and Flashing Damage. Metal vents, pipe boots, and flashing around chimneys and skylights are inspected for dents and displacement. Hail damage to these components is often included in the replacement scope.
Existing Condition. The adjuster assesses the overall age and condition of the roof. They note existing wear, granule loss from aging, and any maintenance issues. This matters because the adjuster needs to distinguish between storm damage and normal wear. If your roof is already at end of life, the adjuster may attribute some damage to aging rather than the specific storm event.
What Adjusters Document
The adjuster takes extensive photos during the inspection. They photograph the test square areas, individual hail hits, damaged components, and the overall roof condition. They note the roof dimensions, shingle type, number of layers, pitch, and complexity. All of this feeds into their damage estimate, which is typically generated using Xactimate software.
Xactimate is the insurance industry standard for estimating restoration costs. It uses regional pricing data and standardized line items to calculate the scope and cost of repairs or replacement. Understanding that your estimate is generated through Xactimate is important because it means the numbers can be reviewed, questioned, and supplemented if items were missed or underpriced.
Common Things Adjusters Miss
Adjusters handle hundreds of claims and work quickly. It is not malicious, but items do get missed. Common oversights include incomplete drip edge replacement, missing line items for ice and water shield in valleys, underlayment upgrades that current building codes require, starter strip at eaves and rakes, proper ventilation components, and flashing details at walls and penetrations.
Each of these items is a legitimate cost of a proper roof installation. When they are left off the estimate, the estimate is incomplete. This is exactly why having your contractor present during the adjuster inspection is so valuable. A knowledgeable contractor can point out these items in real time and ensure they get documented insurance restoration services.
Why You Should Have Your Contractor Present
We cannot stress this enough. Having your roofing contractor at the adjuster inspection is one of the single most impactful things you can do for your claim. Your contractor can walk the roof with the adjuster and point out damage that might be missed. They can discuss scope requirements and code compliance items. They provide a professional second set of eyes that keeps the process honest and thorough.
At Gates Enterprises, we attend adjuster inspections as part of our standard process at no charge. We have done this thousands of times across the Front Range and we know what adjusters look for, what they tend to miss, and how to document everything properly about Gates Enterprises.
After the Inspection
After the inspection, the adjuster writes their report and generates an estimate. This estimate goes to the insurance company for approval. You will receive a copy of the approved scope and a settlement check (minus your deductible).
Review the estimate carefully, or better yet, have your contractor review it. If items are missing or quantities seem low, a supplement can be filed to request additional coverage. Supplements are a normal part of the insurance restoration process and should not be viewed as adversarial. They are simply a request for the estimate to accurately reflect the full scope of work needed.
Preparing for Your Adjuster Inspection
Document all damage you can see from the ground and from inside your home. Clear access to the roof by moving vehicles, outdoor furniture, and anything blocking ladder placement. Have your contractor scheduled to be present. Know your policy number and claim number. Have any previous inspection reports available.
The adjuster inspection does not need to be stressful. When you understand the process and have professional support, it is just a step in getting your roof restored properly.
Gates Enterprises has navigated thousands of insurance restoration projects across the Colorado Front Range. Call us at (720) 766-3377 or contact us to schedule a free inspection. We will assess your damage, attend the adjuster inspection with you, and make sure your claim covers what your roof actually needs.