When a storm claim gets filed, your carrier sends an adjuster — and the outcome turns largely on what that insurance adjuster roof inspection finds. Knowing how the inspection works takes the mystery out of the process, helps you prepare, and makes it far less likely that legitimate damage gets overlooked.
Cannon Roofing has stood on North Texas roofs alongside adjusters since 1994, from Decatur to every corner of Wise County. Here is what they are trained to look for, slope by slope, and how to make the visit go well.
The Test Square: Where the Insurance Adjuster Roof Inspection Starts
On shingle roofs, adjusters typically chalk off a test square — commonly a ten-foot-by-ten-foot section — on each slope. Inside that square, they circle and count qualifying hail impacts. Carriers generally look for a minimum number of qualifying hits per test square before approving work on that slope; the exact threshold varies by carrier and policy, which is one more reason thorough documentation matters.
Slopes get evaluated separately because hail almost never hits them equally. A north-facing slope can qualify while the south slope shows barely a mark, depending on the storm's track and wind direction.
What Counts as a Qualifying Hit
Not every mark on a shingle qualifies. Adjusters are trained to separate storm damage from lookalikes:
- Hail bruises crush granules and fracture the fiberglass mat — the spot feels soft under thumb pressure.
- Blisters are heat- or manufacturing-related pops with intact mat beneath; they do not qualify.
- Mechanical damage from foot traffic, tree limbs, or tools reads differently than random impact scatter.
- Wind creases qualify under wind rather than hail, with folded tabs and torn seal strips as the tell.
An experienced eye separates these in seconds. A rushed one can go either way — which is why a second set of trained eyes on the roof during the visit protects everyone.
Collateral Damage Tells the Story
Good adjusters read the whole property, not just shingles. Dented ridge vents, box vents, and turbine caps; dinged gutters, downspouts, and fascia wrap; torn window screens; hail-peppered AC condenser fins; splatter marks on fences — all of it corroborates the storm's date, direction, and intensity.
Freshness matters too. Bright, clean dents suggest a recent event, while oxidized, weathered dents point to an older one. That is part of how an adjuster connects the damage on your roof to your specific date of loss rather than some storm from years back.
Beyond Shingles: Flashing, Vents, and Accessories
A complete scope includes everything the storm touched: pipe boots and their caps, skylight and chimney flashing, valley metal, drip edge, ridge caps, gutters, and downspouts. On older roofs, adjusters may also weigh brittleness — shingles too dried-out to lift without breaking cannot be repaired cleanly, which can shift the conversation from patching toward replacing a slope.
When those line items get missed, the approved scope comes up short, and shortfalls tend to surface mid-project — exactly when they are hardest to fix.
Why Your Roofer Should Be at the Adjuster Meeting
Ask your contractor to attend the adjuster's visit. It is normal, adjusters expect it, and it works in everyone's favor: your roofer can walk steep slopes safely, point out damage on every slope, and talk through findings on the spot so the write-up reflects what is actually up there.
That is how Cannon Roofing approaches insurance-claim help: we document the damage during our own roof inspection first, then meet your adjuster and work alongside them. We do not negotiate your claim — we make sure the evidence is complete and clearly presented, and the decisions stay between you and your carrier. Our storm damage roof inspection guide shows what that documentation looks like, and if you are unsure what kind of damage you are seeing, start with hail vs. wind damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a test square in a roof inspection? A marked section of roof — commonly ten feet by ten feet — where the adjuster circles and counts qualifying hail impacts. Each slope gets its own count, and carriers generally want a minimum number of qualifying hits before approving that slope. Thresholds vary by carrier.
How many hail hits does it take for a slope to qualify? There is no universal number. Each carrier sets its own threshold for qualifying hits per test square, and policies differ. What matters most is that real damage — fractured mat, crushed granules — is found, marked, and photographed.
Should my roofer be there when the adjuster inspects? Yes, and adjusters expect it. Your roofer can point out damage slope by slope, walk steep sections safely, and discuss the scope on the spot, which helps the write-up reflect the roof's true condition.
Adjuster visit on the calendar? Call Cannon Roofing at (940) 627-1045 or request a free quote. We will inspect first, document everything, and be there when it counts.