What to expect when the insurance adjuster inspects your roof
July 1, 2026 · Vlaag Roofing
Once you file a storm claim, your insurer usually sends an adjuster out to look at the roof. If you’ve never been through it, the visit can feel like a test you didn’t study for. It isn’t. Here’s what actually happens and how to be ready.
Quick note first. We’re a roofing contractor, not a public adjuster. We can be there to point out the storm damage we documented, but we don’t argue the dollar amount of your claim. That’s between you and your insurer.
Who the adjuster is
The adjuster works for your insurance company. Their job is to look at the roof, compare what they see against your policy, and decide what the insurer will cover. They’re not there to sell you anything or to be your enemy. They’re doing an assessment.
Some insurers send a staff adjuster, some send an independent one they’ve hired for the area after a big storm. Either way, the process on the day is similar.
What they do on the roof
Expect the adjuster to get up on the roof and look closely, not just glance from the ground. They’re checking the slopes that faced the storm, looking for bruising and granule loss on the shingles, and checking soft metal like vents, flashing, and gutters for dents.
They’ll often mark a test area, like a ten by ten foot square, and count the number of hail hits in it to gauge how widespread the damage is. They’re trying to answer the same question your policy cares about: is this real storm damage that affects the roof, or is it wear, age, or cosmetic marking?
They’ll usually take their own photos and measurements for the file.
How your roofer fits into the day
This is where having your roofer present helps. We’ve already been on the roof and documented the storm damage with dated photos, so we can walk the adjuster to the exact spots we found and make sure nothing gets missed.
To be clear about the line: we’re showing the factual condition of the roof, the same damage and photos we’d show you. We’re not negotiating the payout. Pointing out real, documented damage so it gets a fair look is fair game. Arguing the claim amount is not our role, and in Georgia it’s regulated work anyway.
How to be ready
A few simple things make the visit go smoothly. Have your claim number handy. Have your own photos and notes from right after the storm. Make sure the roofer who inspected your roof knows the date and time so they can be there. And clear easy access to the attic in case anyone wants to check for interior signs of a leak.
You don’t need to make a case or use the right jargon. The documentation does the talking.
After the visit
The adjuster takes what they found back to the insurer, and you’ll get a decision on what’s covered and how it pays out. From there, if the claim is approved, you pick your roofer and schedule the work. That last part is what we handle start to finish with our own crew.
Have a storm claim and an adjuster visit coming up? Book a free inspection first and we’ll document the roof so you walk into that visit with a clear, dated record.