Insurance Claims & Adjuster Disputes

Requesting a Re-Inspection When the First Adjuster Missed Hail

A re-inspection is a formal request, not a complaint. Here is the sequence that gets a second adjuster on the roof with your documentation in hand.

Written by Nathaniel Davis, owner of Roof Gutter Now — a licensed exterior restoration contractor in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. Updated August 2026

Short answer. First inspections get missed damage all the time — wrong slope walked, wrong weather, wrong test squares. The re-inspection process exists for exactly that, and it works when the request is specific.

The sequence

  1. Request in writing. Email the adjuster and the claims department. Verbal requests do not create a record.
  2. State what was missed and where. Slope, elevation, and the type of damage. “North and west slopes were not test-squared” is actionable.
  3. Attach the documentation. Marked test squares with hit counts, close-ups with a scale reference, and soft-metal corroboration from the same elevations.
  4. Ask for the contractor to be present. Propose dates. Being on the roof together resolves most disputes in an hour.
  5. Confirm the outcome in writing after the visit, including anything agreed verbally.
Marked hail test square on a residential roof slope
A chalked test square with hits circled and counted is the same method the adjuster uses, which is why it works.

What makes them say yes

Carriers grant re-inspections when the request identifies a specific gap rather than disputing the conclusion. Marked test squares are the strongest single exhibit: a chalked 10x10 with hits circled and counted is the same method the adjuster uses, which makes it hard to wave off.

Common questions

How long do I have to request one?

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It varies by carrier and policy, but move quickly — evidence degrades and deadlines run from the date of loss.

Will the same adjuster come back?

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Often a different one is assigned, which is usually to your benefit.

Does the contractor need to be there?

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It is not required, but it substantially improves the outcome. Nobody else can point at the finding on the roof.

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