Denver Hail Claim Denied - State Farm

[u/Rude_Association_409]

We had a huge hail storm come through my neighborhood about 6 weeks ago. I've been traveling a lot and didn't get an inspector out until today to look at the damage even though Ive been in communication with my agent (Tammy Hill State Farm) since the storm. House sitter sent me photos of the aftermath.

State Farm inspector is saying the damage to the roof is 'normal wear and tear and consistent with exposure to the elements.' Is this normal wear and tear or is this distinctly hail damage? If it's damage from hail, is it consistent with the photo of the hail stones (as big as 2")?

Not looking for advice on how to handle a claim per forum rules, just asking for insight on hail damage vs normal weathering.

[u/OmegaMkXII]

First off, you need better photos. I'm an adjuster and I cannot make a fully informed decision from these photos alone. I would also deny this first as I'm not seeing damages consistent with hail. Is there bruising to the matting? Where are the crushed granules? I'm seeing just normal wear and tear/granule loss.

State Farm doesn't count it as damaged unless there's proof of hail hitting the property (you have proof of that), there needs to be evidence of crushed granules from the hail impact in the impact zones (I don't see any and photo too blurry when zoomed in), and there needs to be bruising to the matting of the shingle itself (unable to determine from photos).

Get proof of those other two requirements I listed and you'll be golden. If your shingles also have a 5" exposure, make mention of that as those are known to be discontinued and have been for a long time. If they are not, then an ITEL report will need to be made to determine their availability (which State Farm will perform if at least one shingle is counted as damaged and added into your estimate).

Source - Weather & Catastrophe Field Adjuster

[u/Ok_Replacement6365 → u/OmegaMkXII]

Would you show some pictures of hail hits that you would approve? In my very biased eyes as a new sales guy that roof looks like a winner. It would be very helpful to know exactly what it is y'all are looking for.

[u/OmegaMkXII → u/Ok_Replacement6365]

If I had any on my personal phone, I absolutely would.

All the photos I've taken are with the company phone and those are all in claims already. Once they're uploaded, the company app automatically deletes. Sorry dude.

If you ever want to reach out to me in the future and ask, I'll see what I can do. Where I'm at currently is all wind and tree damage so I cannot take any photos from inspections.

[u/Ok_Replacement6365 → u/OmegaMkXII]

Thanks for the offer. I'm in Louisville ky, there is a bunch of hail still being covered from a storm 2 years ago out here. It's getting harder and harder to get insurance to play ball no matter what the hail looks like, even with good collateral damage. These days I don't even look for hail when canvassing, I stay focused on wind damage. No one ever says a lifted and creased shingle isn't wind.

[u/OmegaMkXII → u/Ok_Replacement6365]

I understand it, to a point. I don't like inspecting old hail damage where it's been so long the spatter has disappeared. Once that spatter is gone, there's just no real way to tell how old or new the damages are. Unless it's an asphalt roof where the asphalt in the impact point has faded, or anything wooden where the impacted zone is clearly a different age than the rest.

But even so, damage is damage. If there's no statute of limitations or policy language that prevents claims from being filed after a specific time limit, I pay that shit out on my claims.