Adjusters are not the enemy. After a major North Texas hail event, a single carrier may dispatch one adjuster to 40 or more homes in a week. They climb roofs in 95-degree heat, often without ladders set by the contractor, and they're paid to make a decision quickly. Things get missed — not because anyone is dishonest, but because of how the work gets done at storm volume.
We've supplemented thousands of claims across DFW where the first adjuster's report missed real damage. Here's what they routinely overlook, why, and how to request a re-inspection without burning the relationship.
Why adjusters miss damage at storm volume
An average roof inspection takes a careful contractor 45–90 minutes. A volume-deployed adjuster after a major DFW storm may have 20 minutes per house. They're checking the obvious slopes, marking what's plainly visible, and moving on. That model works fine for a single-storm garage door dent. It works badly for asphalt shingle bruising spread across six roof planes.
Three structural reasons damage gets missed:
- Slope sampling. Most adjusters inspect 2 of 6 slopes and extrapolate. Hail moves directionally, and the windward slopes can be 3x more damaged than the leeward ones.
- Soft metals get skipped. Adjusters trained on the roof don't always inspect gutter aprons, drip edges, valleys, ridge caps, vents, and flashings.
- Older roofs are written off as wear. Granule loss on a 15-year roof gets categorized as age rather than storm event.
Things most commonly missed on asphalt roofs
- Ridge cap damage. Ridges take the most direct hail impact and are often replaced as a separate line item — when caught.
- Valley flashing fractures. Hairline fractures in valley metal show up as leaks 6 months later.
- Pipe boot and B-vent damage. Lead and rubber boots crack at much lower hail thresholds than shingles.
- Step flashing along walls and chimneys. Easy to miss from a quick ladder hop.
- Skylight kit damage. Curb flashing and the dome itself.
- Painted exterior collateral. Window wraps, garage door panels, fascia paint.
Things most commonly missed on metal roofs
Metal roofs are harder to evaluate at speed. Standing-seam panels can take significant cosmetic hail and continue performing watertight, while a small dent over a fastener can compromise the assembly. Adjusters frequently underwrite these claims because the damage isn't dramatic in photos.
- Dimpling around fasteners. Each fastener point is a sealing surface.
- Snow-guard and trim dents that change drainage geometry.
- Coating fractures on PVDF or SMP finishes — these void manufacturer warranties.
- Ridge cap and end-wall trim deformation.
How to request a re-inspection without making it adversarial
Re-inspections happen all the time and are a normal part of the process. The goal is to give the carrier specific, defensible reasons to send a second adjuster — not to argue with the first one's judgment.
The script we use with our customers' carriers:
- Call the claims line (not the adjuster's cell) and reference the claim number.
- Say: "My contractor's inspection identified additional damage not reflected in the initial scope of loss. I'd like to request a re-inspection with my contractor present."
- Attach the contractor's written report and photos as supporting documentation.
- Ask for a confirmation number and the name of the supervisor who approved it.
The phrase "with my contractor present" is the key one. It's standard practice and gives the second adjuster a knowledgeable guide for a thorough walk-through.
What a contractor's supplemental report looks like
A defensible supplement isn't a wish list — it's a line-by-line response to the carrier's scope of loss, with photographs and Xactimate-compatible line codes. Carriers respond to supplements that speak their language. Ours typically include:
- Hail-strike counts per 100 sq ft on each slope.
- Photos of every missed soft-metal component, scaled with a coin or quarter.
- Manufacturer documentation for any matching-shingle or code-upgrade requirements.
- Drone or eave-level photos for any access-restricted areas.
- A polite, factual cover letter — never adversarial.
We file these for our customers as a normal part of storm response. Walk through how we work with your carrier on our insurance claims page.
When to push, when to involve a public adjuster
If a re-inspection still doesn't capture the full scope, you have escalation options short of litigation: a written appeal through the carrier, an independent engineer's report, or — for larger losses — a Texas-licensed public adjuster. A reputable contractor can usually resolve the dispute without that step, and we'll tell you honestly when the situation calls for outside help.
If the first adjuster missed damage on your roof, request a free re-inspection with DKG. We're veteran-owned, North Texas based, and we'll either confirm the original scope was fair or help you file a properly documented supplement.
Emergency tarping and next steps
If your roof is leaking right now or you just spotted hail damage from the ground, do not wait on the insurance call to act. Our storm damage response page walks through the full North Texas emergency response — free same-day inspection, emergency tarping to stop active leaks, written damage documentation for your adjuster, and the insurance claim handled end to end.
DKG Roofing is veteran-owned and based in Aledo, TX, serving North Texas. Call (940) 497-2833 for emergency tarping, or request a free inspection online and an estimator will reach out the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Can I dispute my insurance adjuster's report without a contractor?
You can dispute the report on your own, but the success rate is much lower. Insurance companies respond to specific evidence: hail strike counts per slope, dated photos with scale, and matching soft-metal damage. An insured roofing contractor produces that documentation as part of a free inspection. The right order is: get an independent inspection report, then call the claims line and request a re-inspection with your contractor present.
Will my insurance company drop me for requesting a re-inspection?
No. Re-inspections are a normal, expected part of the claims process and are built into your policy. Insurance companies anticipate that 10 to 15 percent of storm claims will involve a supplement or re-inspection. Asking for one does not hurt your standing with the carrier and does not affect future premiums on its own.
How long does it take to schedule a re-inspection after a denied or low estimate?
After a major North Texas storm, expect one to three weeks for a re-inspection to be scheduled. During quieter periods it can happen in a few days. Your roofing contractor can often speed it up by coordinating directly with the adjuster's office and sending the supplemental documentation ahead of time so the second visit is focused and short.
What if the second insurance adjuster also misses damage on my roof?
At that point, ask the insurance company for an engineer's report. The carrier will dispatch a licensed independent engineer to make a final determination, and engineers apply industry-standard hail criteria more consistently than field adjusters. If the engineer also disagrees, the next steps are a Texas Department of Insurance complaint, the appraisal clause in your policy, or a licensed public adjuster for larger losses.
Does DKG handle the insurance claim process for me?
Yes. For our customers we document the damage, write the supplemental report, communicate with the insurance adjuster, meet them on the roof for the re-inspection, and stay on the file until the claim is closed correctly. You should not have to learn insurance vocabulary to get the roof you are entitled to. Start with a free inspection and we will tell you exactly where your claim stands.