Why roof claims turn into disputes
Roofs are the single most common source of appraisal in North Carolina. Hail swaths from spring supercells cross Mecklenburg, Guilford, Forsyth and Wake counties, and wind-driven storms in summer lift shingles from Wilmington to the Blue Ridge. The disagreements tend to be the same:
- How many hits per test square are enough to call a slope damaged.
- Whether shingles can be repaired without breaking surrounding tabs.
- Whether a discontinued or color-matched shingle is available, and what happens to the rest of the roof if it isn’t.
- Measurements, waste, starter, ridge, drip edge and ice-and-water shield.
- Steep and high charges on the two-story, 8/12-and-up roofs common in newer Triangle and Charlotte-area subdivisions.
What roof and hail damage appraisal involves
We walk the roof, mark test squares on each slope, photograph functional damage to shingles, vents, flashings, gutters and soft metals, and measure every facet. We also note brittleness and repairability, because a roof that can’t survive a repair attempt shouldn’t be scoped as a repair. That documentation goes into a slope-by-slope estimate that compares directly with the carrier’s.
Metal, tile and specialty roofs
Standing-seam metal is popular in the mountains and on the coast, and cosmetic-damage exclusions on metal roofs are common. We read that endorsement first, then document whether the damage is functional, such as dents that affect seams, fasteners or water shedding, or purely cosmetic.
Check the math first
Before calling anyone, run your roof through our roof area and pitch estimator and compare the squares with the carrier’s estimate. A measurement gap alone can be worth thousands.
Questions about roof & hail loss appraisal
The carrier says the hail damage is cosmetic. Can appraisal fix that?
It depends on your policy. If a cosmetic-damage exclusion applies, that’s a coverage question. If the carrier simply underestimated functional damage, appraisal can value it.
How many hail hits make a roof a total loss?
There’s no single statewide rule. Carriers often use about eight to ten functional hits per 10×10 test square on a slope, but policy language, repairability and matching all matter.
Can you match my discontinued shingles?
We research availability and document the closest match. If no reasonable match exists, that becomes part of the valuation and the scope discussion.