It is usually a test square, a 100-square-foot area where the adjuster counted hail hits. Adjusters mark one on each slope to decide which slopes have functional damage.
Get My Free Estimate →Chalk marks on your roof after an insurance inspection show where the adjuster tested for hail damage and what they found. A square outline is usually a test square, circles or arrows usually point to individual hail hits, and letters mark the slope or the type of damage.
There is no national standard for these marks, so each adjuster's shorthand can differ. The marks show what was inspected, while the decision on your claim comes in the adjuster's written estimate.
Buckshot inspects storm-damaged roofs for free and, with your consent, meets your adjuster on the roof. This guide explains the common marks, what they tell you and what to do before the weather fades them.
Why adjusters mark your roof
Adjusters mark a roof so the damage they count can be photographed and checked later. Each mark ties a photo in the claim file to a specific spot and slope.
Most marking happens during a hail inspection, where the adjuster has to show whether the shingles have functional damage. Wind damage, such as creased or lifted shingles, may be marked the same way.
Common roof markings and what they usually mean
| Mark on the roof | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Square outline, about 10 by 10 feet | A test square where hail hits were counted |
| Number inside or beside a square | The count of hits found in that square |
| Circle, slash or arrow on a shingle | An individual hail hit or spot of damage |
| Circle with a line through it | An area checked and found with no hail damage |
| HD or H | Hail damage |
| N, S, E, W or F, R | The slope the photos were taken on |
| Slope letter plus a code, such as NH | A damage type on one slope, such as hail on the north slope |
| FT | Damage from foot traffic, not hail |
| R&R or CUT | A shingle marked to be removed for testing |
| SPLT | A split shingle |
InspectAPedia, a building inspection reference, lists these codes and notes that no national standard for roof inspection markings exists. If a mark on your roof is not on this list, ask your adjuster what it means.
How test squares work
A test square is a 100-square-foot area, usually 10 by 10 feet, marked on each slope of the roof. InterNACHI's hail inspection guide says squares belong in the most damaged area of each slope, not under trees or anything else that sheltered the roof.
The adjuster counts the hits inside each square that meet the insurer's definition of functional damage. The number needed to replace a slope varies by insurer, as our guide to hail damage and insurance explains, and InterNACHI notes that eight hits is a common threshold.
Each slope is judged on its own square. That is why one slope can be approved and another denied, as our guide on why insurance approved only one slope explains.
What the marks tell you, and what they do not
The marks show where the adjuster looked and what they counted. They do not tell you the outcome, which comes in the written estimate or letter from your insurer.
Lots of marks do not guarantee a full replacement, and a few marks do not always mean a denial. A slope with no test square at all may not have been tested, which is worth asking about.
Adjusters also check soft metals such as roof vents, gutters and downspouts, where dents help show the size of the hail. Our guide to what size hail damages a roof explains why that matters for your claim.
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What to do after the adjuster marks your roof
- Photograph the marks. Take dated photos of every marked slope from the ground or a window, and stay off the roof.
- Get the written estimate. It lists what was approved slope by slope, and our guide to reading a roof insurance estimate explains the line items.
- Compare it with an independent inspection. A roofer's inspection checks every slope and the soft metals, so you can see whether anything was missed.
- Ask about untested slopes. If a slope had no test square, ask whether it was inspected.
- Request a re-inspection if you disagree. You can ask your insurer to inspect again, and having your roofer on the roof for it helps.
Our guide to documenting storm damage covers what photos to keep. If the claim was turned down, read what to do when a roof claim is denied.
Not sure what the marks on your roof mean for your claim? Our roof inspection is free, and with your consent we can meet your adjuster on the roof.
Free on-site inspection · Family-owned since 1979How Buckshot helps during a hail claim
Buckshot photographs and measures every slope and gives you a written damage report, so your insurer reviews a complete record. With your consent, we meet your adjuster on the roof to show the documented damage.
An adjuster's first estimate can miss items a full roof replacement needs, such as drip edge or ice and water shield. Our guide to roof insurance supplements explains how those items are added after the first estimate.
We work with any insurance carrier, as our insurance claims page explains. The repair or replacement itself is done through our residential roofing services.
Get your roof inspected before the claim is settled
Buckshot Exteriors is family-owned, has served homeowners since 1979, and has offices in Madison, Wisconsin and Centerville, Iowa. We inspect storm-damaged roofs for free and, with your consent, meet your adjuster on site.
Call (608) 909-9109 to schedule your free inspection, or send us a message and we will set a time. If you would rather check first, photograph the marks and compare them with the table above.
Get a straight answer on your Madison roof
Wisconsin storm season and insurance non-renewal letters do not wait. Get a free, no-obligation inspection and an honest assessment of exactly what your roof needs, even if the answer is to wait.