A roof insurance claim goes easier when you know what is happening at each step and what paperwork you should have in hand. Homeowners get frustrated when nobody explains why a check is smaller than expected or what a line on the estimate means. This is what we give our customers along the way, and what to ask for from whoever does your roof.
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Why claims feel hard
Three parties are involved: you, your insurance company and your contractor. Each uses different terms. The insurer writes estimates in a program called Xactimate, with codes and depreciation you did not ask for. Checks arrive in pieces, sometimes made out to your mortgage company too. None of it is secret, but nobody explains it unless you ask.
Step 1: The inspection
What you should get: photos of every slope and every damaged item, and a clear recommendation. Either the damage is worth a claim or it is not.
If a contractor will not show you photos, or tells you it is a claim without explaining why, ask more questions.
Step 2: Filing
You file the claim with your insurer yourself, by phone, app or website. Keep a note of: the claim number, the date you reported it, and the adjuster's name and contact information once assigned.
Step 3: The adjuster visit
The adjuster inspects the roof and decides what the policy covers. Ask your contractor to be there. It is the best chance to make sure every damaged slope, vent, gutter and fence panel gets written up the first time.
Step 4: The estimate
What you should get: a copy of the insurance estimate, and someone to walk you through it. The numbers that matter:
If the estimate leaves out damage or uses the wrong materials, your contractor can send the insurer a supplement: a documented request, with photos, to add what was missed. You should get a copy of that too.
Step 5: The work
Before work starts you should have a written contract that matches the insurance scope and lists the shingle line and color you chose. If you want to upgrade, say to impact-resistant shingles, the price difference should be written down separately.
Step 6: Closing the claim
What you should get: the final invoice, completion photos, a copy of the permit if your city requires one, and your warranty paperwork. The contractor sends the invoice and photos to the insurer, which releases the held-back depreciation.
Red flags
How we handle claims
We inspect and photograph the damage, meet your adjuster on the roof, go through the estimate line by line with you, send supplements when something is missing, and give you the final paperwork at the end. You always know what stage the claim is in and what comes next.
Call (855) 741-ROOF to start with a free inspection.