Working with Insurance Adjusters for Roof Damage

When you file a roof damage claim, an insurance adjuster will be assigned to inspect and evaluate the damage. Not all adjusters are the same, and understanding who you are working with helps you navigate the process more effectively.

Staff adjusters are full-time employees of your insurance company. They handle claims exclusively for their employer—companies like State Farm, Erie Insurance, Allstate, and Nationwide all employ staff adjusters in Pennsylvania. Staff adjusters tend to be experienced and familiar with their company's specific policies and procedures, but they represent the insurer's interests, not yours.

Independent adjusters are contracted by insurance companies to handle claims on their behalf, especially during periods of high claim volume after major storms. When a nor'easter or hailstorm sweeps through Monroe, Northampton, or Lehigh County and generates hundreds of claims simultaneously, insurers bring in independent adjusting firms like Crawford & Company or Sedgwick to handle the overflow. Independent adjusters are paid per claim or per day, which can sometimes mean faster but less thorough inspections.

Public adjusters work for you, the policyholder—not the insurance company. They are licensed by the PA Insurance Department and typically charge 10-15% of your claim settlement. Public adjusters are particularly valuable for large or complex claims, disputed claims, or situations where the insurance company's offer is significantly below your contractor's estimate. In eastern PA, public adjusters are commonly retained for claims exceeding $15,000-$20,000 where the difference between the insurer's estimate and the actual repair cost justifies the fee.

The adjuster inspection is not something you should approach passively. Proper preparation significantly improves your chances of a fair settlement. Here is a comprehensive checklist for homeowners in the Poconos and Lehigh Valley.

Gather your documentation:

• Your homeowners insurance policy declarations page showing coverage limits, deductibles, and whether you have RCV or ACV coverage
• Photos and videos you took of the damage immediately after the storm
• Weather reports confirming the storm event (NWS storm reports for eastern PA, local news coverage, or NOAA radar data)
• Your contractor's written damage assessment and estimate—Amero Exteriors provides these at no charge
• Any prior roof inspection reports that establish your roof was in good condition before the storm
• Receipts for emergency mitigation work (tarping, temporary repairs)

• Clear access to all damaged areas including the attic if there is interior water damage
• Ensure the adjuster can safely access the roof—move vehicles from the driveway if ladder placement requires it
• If damage exists on multiple sides of the house or on outbuildings, make sure paths are clear to every affected area

• The single best thing you can do is have your roofing contractor present during the adjuster's inspection. Amero Exteriors attends adjuster meetings throughout Monroe, Northampton, Lehigh, Carbon, and Pike counties at no additional cost
• Your contractor knows exactly what to look for and can point out damage the adjuster might miss, especially subtle hail impacts, compromised flashing, or damaged underlayment only visible from certain angles
• Your contractor can discuss repair scope and methodology in technical terms the adjuster understands

Understanding the adjuster's inspection methodology helps you ensure nothing is overlooked. Adjusters follow a systematic process when evaluating roof damage claims in Pennsylvania.

On the roof:

• Shingle damage: Adjusters look for missing shingles, creased or broken shingles, lifted tabs, and exposed fiberglass mat. For hail damage specifically, they look for circular impact marks where granules have been displaced, exposing the dark underlayment beneath
• Soft spots in decking: Walking the roof surface, adjusters feel for areas where the plywood decking has softened from water saturation—common after ice dams in Pocono homes
• Flashing condition: Every roof penetration (chimneys, vent pipes, skylights, wall-to-roof transitions) is checked for compromised flashing, failed sealant, or storm displacement
• Ridge and hip caps: These are the most wind-vulnerable components and adjusters specifically check for lifted, cracked, or missing cap shingles
• Ventilation components: Ridge vents, box vents, and turbine vents can be displaced or damaged by high winds

• Granule accumulation in gutters as evidence of shingle deterioration or hail impact
• Gutter and downspout damage including dents, separation at seams, and pulled hangers
• Siding and window damage that occurred during the same storm event

• Water stains on rafters and decking indicating active or recent leaks
• Daylight visible through the roof deck where shingles or underlayment are missing
• Mold or moisture suggesting chronic water intrusion

Nearly every insurance adjuster in Pennsylvania uses Xactimate software to generate damage estimates. Xactimate is an industry-standard tool that prices repairs based on local labor and material costs. Understanding how to read and challenge these estimates is essential to getting a fair settlement.

How Xactimate works:

• The adjuster inputs the type and extent of damage, roof measurements, material specifications, and required labor
• Xactimate generates a line-item estimate based on regional pricing data for your area
• The estimate includes line items for material, labor, overhead, and profit (O&P)

• Missing line items: Adjusters frequently omit legitimate items like ice and water shield, drip edge, starter strip, pipe boot replacements, step flashing at walls, and ridge vent replacement. Each of these is a separate Xactimate line item that adds to your claim total
• Incorrect measurements: Roof measurements should be verified against your contractor's measurements. Discrepancies of even a few squares (100 sq ft each) can mean hundreds of dollars
• Wrong material grade: If the adjuster prices 3-tab shingles but your home has architectural shingles, the estimate is undervalued. "Like kind and quality" replacement is your right under PA policies
• Missing O&P (Overhead and Profit): Some adjusters exclude the standard 10% overhead + 10% profit markup, arguing it only applies when a general contractor is involved. Most PA contractors legitimately include O&P, and you should push back if it is excluded on a full replacement project

• Request the full Xactimate report (not just the summary) from your adjuster
• Have your contractor review it line by line against their own estimate
• Submit a written supplement request with specific Xactimate line item codes for missing items
• Amero Exteriors has extensive experience with Xactimate and prepares supplement documentation for homeowners across the Poconos and Lehigh Valley

Most roof damage claims in Pennsylvania are settled fairly through the standard process. However, there are situations where bringing in professional help is warranted and can significantly increase your settlement.

Consider a public adjuster when:

• Your claim exceeds $15,000-$20,000 and the insurance company's estimate is significantly lower than your contractor's
• Your claim has been partially denied and you believe covered damage was excluded from the settlement
• You are dealing with complex damage involving multiple components (roof + siding + gutters + interior) from the same storm
• The adjuster's Xactimate estimate is missing numerous legitimate line items
• You do not have time or confidence to negotiate directly with the insurance company

Consider an attorney when:

• Your claim has been fully denied and you believe the denial is improper
• The insurance company is acting in bad faith—unreasonably delaying, lowballing, or misrepresenting your policy language. Pennsylvania's bad faith statute, 42 Pa. C.S. Section 8371, allows policyholders to recover interest, punitive damages, court costs, and attorney fees if an insurer acts in bad faith
• You are being pressured to accept a settlement that does not cover your documented damage
• The insurer is claiming your damage is from wear and tear when you have documentation proving it was storm-caused

At Amero Exteriors, we have built our insurance claims process around one principle: the homeowner should receive every dollar they are entitled to under their policy, and the repair should be done right. Here is exactly how we work with adjusters on roof damage claims across Monroe, Northampton, Lehigh, Carbon, and Pike counties.

Before the adjuster arrives:

• We perform a comprehensive free inspection using ground-level assessment, ladder inspection, and drone photography
• We provide you with a detailed written report including measurements, damage photos, and a line-item repair estimate
• We help you organize your documentation and prepare specific talking points for the adjuster meeting

• An Amero Exteriors representative meets the adjuster on-site at your home
• We walk the roof with the adjuster, pointing out every area of damage and discussing repair methodology
• We ensure the adjuster accounts for all necessary components: ice and water shield, starter strip, drip edge, flashing, ventilation, and proper material matching
• We provide our measurements for comparison against the adjuster's measurements

• We review the adjuster's Xactimate estimate against our own assessment
• If line items are missing or underpriced, we prepare and submit a supplement request with supporting documentation and correct Xactimate line item codes
• We communicate directly with the adjuster or insurance company on your behalf regarding scope and pricing discrepancies
• We keep you informed at every step so you always know the status of your claim

Call (570) 791-2020 to schedule a free storm damage inspection or to discuss an existing claim. We serve homeowners throughout the Poconos and Lehigh Valley and are available for same-day emergency inspections after major storm events.