Can you record a roof insurance adjuster when a hail inspection turns into a dispute over chalked dents? At a church with a metal roof, an adjuster marked test areas at zero even though dents were visible inside the chalked areas. He said he did not believe the dents came from the reported storm. The inspection ended after he learned he was being recorded.
The dispute was about what caused the dents
The disagreement was not limited to whether marks existed on the metal roof. It was whether the marked dents were hail damage from the reported storm.
The adjuster said he looked for collateral damage and conditions that fit the storm. He pointed to the apparent hail size on the ridge, said the ridge did not show enough collateral damage, and questioned the lack of splatter around the disputed dents. He also said a metal roof can have marks from prior claims, tree branches, water, and other causes.
The person challenging the assessment pointed to dents inside the adjuster's chalk marks and argued that splatter can exist without hail hits. He also argued that not every ridge mark would need to be storm damage for the roof to have hail damage.
A chalk circle identified an area for inspection, but it did not settle the cause of a dent. The parties continued to disagree about whether the visible marks were storm-related.
Why the ridge became a point of comparison
The adjuster compared dents lower on the roof with marks and apparent hail size at the ridge. His position was that the conditions did not fit the reported event. The opposing position was that the close-up dents inside the chalked areas were hail hits despite the broader pattern assessment.
The disputed observations included the chalked dents, ridge marks, apparent hail size, collateral damage, splatter, oxidation, and the possibility of older marks. Those were the physical details raised during the inspection.
Recording stopped the inspection
After the argument over the chalked dents, the adjuster asked whether he was being recorded. When told yes, he said the recording could not continue and that the inspection was done. He said he had previously asked about a tripod because he wanted to know whether he might be videotaped with a drone. The other participant said there was no drone and described the church as a public place.
This incident does not establish a general right to record an adjuster. Recording rules and property permissions can vary. If recording is important, address it before the inspection and confirm unclear circumstances with qualified counsel or the appropriate state resource.
What the adjuster said would happen next
The adjuster said he would notify the carrier and that he would not be the contact going forward. No later inspection or carrier decision was established.
The underlying issue remained unresolved: whether the dents inside the chalked areas were caused by the reported hailstorm. Directorii lists verified contractors.
Source: Roof inspection recording dispute
FAQ
Can I record a roof insurance adjuster during an inspection?
This incident does not establish a general right to record. Recording rules and property permissions can vary. If permission is unclear, address recording before the inspection and seek qualified guidance.
Why would an adjuster mark dents at zero if dents are visible?
The adjuster said he did not think the dents came from the reported storm. He cited apparent hail size at the ridge, collateral damage, missing splatter, and the possibility of older marks or other causes on the metal roof.
Does chalking a dent prove it was caused by hail?
No. Chalk marks identified areas under review, but the parties still disagreed about causation. The adjuster treated the marked dents as not storm-related, while the other participant identified them as hail hits.
Why did the ridge matter during the roof inspection?
The adjuster compared the dents lower on the roof with ridge marks and the apparent hail size at the ridge. He said the ridge conditions did not provide enough collateral damage to support the claimed storm damage.
What did the adjuster say after ending the inspection?
He said he would notify the carrier and that he would not be the contact going forward. No reinspection, carrier decision, or final conclusion about the disputed dents was established.
