After the Hail Stops

Welcome to this month’s editorial series, "After the Hail Stops." When the sky clears and the noise dies down, the real work begins, and for adjusters that work is rarely simple. Roofing and hail claims sit at the intersection of weather science, building practice, contractor economics, and policyholder emotion, which makes them some of the most contested files any adjuster will ever touch.

This series digs into the parts of roofing claims that cause the most friction. We will work through matching disputes and the question of how much roof actually has to be replaced, how to inspect and document a roof so your findings hold up, the storm-chasing contractor ecosystem that descends on neighborhoods after every event, and the stubborn gray area between genuine hail damage and ordinary wear. We will also look at how to build a scope you can defend without turning every roofer in the county into an adversary.

Through field-tested methods, candid examples, and practical guidance, these articles are written for adjusters who want to handle storm season with more confidence and fewer reopened files. The goal is steadier footing on the roof and a clearer head when the supplements start arriving.