Finding roof damage after a strong storm is a stressful situation. You probably have a lot of questions and concerns, especially about dealing with your homeowners insurance.
The truth is, the insurance process can be confusing and, if you haven’t been through it before, overwhelming. That’s why you need to know what to expect when filing an insurance claim.
For over 30 years, Bill Ragan Roofing has guided homeowners through their insurance claims and the entire process. Because of this, I’ll break down the main things you need to know before filing an insurance claim.
By the end of this article, you’ll know the 7 things you need to know about the insurance process for roof damage. And at the very end, don’t forget to grab your free Storm Damage Checklist to determine for yourself if your roof has possible storm damage.
The very first thing you need about the insurance process is that it tends to bring out the worst in the roofing industry. Some roofing companies scam homeowners when they're desperate to get their roof problem taken care of as quickly as possible.
This usually revolves around offering prices that are way too good to be true and getting people to jump at them. Unfortunately, they leave behind shoddy work, low-quality materials, and plenty of headaches.
This isn’t to say all roofers are out to take advantage of you when a storm hits. I say this to help you understand that it’s all too common, so you can be on the lookout for it from the beginning.
No matter what you hear or what a roofing company says, you must pay your deductible once your insurance claim is approved. Roofing companies that offer to pay deductibles are doing so illegally.
This is one of the biggest scams in the roofing industry and is outright committing insurance fraud. Just like low prices, some homeowners jump at the opportunity to avoid paying their deductible.
I understand you want to save money where you can, but having a roofing company eat your deductible is not worth committing fraud. That’s why you should NEVER listen to a company willing to pay your deductible.
One of the first things you need to do when filing an insurance claim is to review your policy. Not only will this tell you what’s covered, but it’ll also tell you if insurance will fully pay for a new roof.
There are two types of policies: Actual Cash Value and Replacement Cost Value. Both give you a payout, but the amount they provide is very different.
An Actual Cash Value (ACV) policy only gives you the depreciated value of your roof. This means the insurance company only gives you a one-time payment for what your roof is valued at the time of the claim.
This policy will not cover the full cost of a new roof, and you’ll be left paying for the rest out-of-pocket. You can probably find a roofer willing to do it for the amount an ACV policy gives you, but this guarantees using cheap materials and labor.
A Replacement Cost Value (RCV) policy gives you what it costs to replace your roof with a brand-new version of itself. After everything is approved, you’ll first get a check for the actual cost value of your roof while holding back the recoverable depreciation.
Once your roof replacement is complete and proof that it was done per the claim is provided, you’ll get a second check covering most or the rest of the cost. But remember, the insurance company only pays to restore your old roof to a brand-new version of itself.
This means if you want upgrades, like going from 3-tab asphalt shingles to architectural asphalt shingles, you’ll pay the difference yourself.
Once a storm hits, some roofing companies come into neighborhoods, knock on doors, and try to get homeowners to sign something before inspecting the roof. They do this to lock you into a contract that gives them the right to your roof before your claim has even been approved.
This is a clear and obvious sign that they don’t have your best interest in mind. Reputable roofers walk you through the insurance process and give you an honest assessment of whether your roof has storm damage.
Then, if your insurance claim is approved, they’ll ask for your business. Even if you're panicking about storm damage, don’t sign anything before your insurance claim is actually approved.
Once you call your insurance company, they’ll either send out an insurance adjuster or tell you to call a roofing contractor for an inspection. Even if they have you get an inspection from a roofer first, the insurance adjuster is the only one who can approve your claim.
A roofing contractor can inspect for storm damage and advocate for you if they think you have it. But even if a roofing contractor is 100% certain that you need your roof replaced because of storm damage, the insurance adjuster has the final say.
Everyone makes mistakes, even insurance adjusters, so there’s a chance your claim will be denied. However, there are ways to double and triple check your roof if you're adamant it has storm damage.
Once your claim is approved, it’s crucial to hire a roofer that has experience working with insurance claims. They’ll know how the insurance claim process works, how to read your claim, and how to do the work in compliance with your insurance company to avoid committing fraud.
But unlike getting a normal roof replacement, there’s no reason to get multiple quotes to find the lowest price when looking for a roofing company. This is because once your insurance claim is approved, the price for your replacement is set by the insurance company.
So, do your research to find a local roofer, make sure they have insurance experience, and you should have a smooth experience.
As I just said, the insurance company sets the initial price on your estimate. Unfortunately, most insurance estimates won’t be enough to cover the full cost because certain line items are left off.
To get everything covered, you’ll have to supplement your insurance claim. This requires doing your due diligence and putting in the work to get every line item (including local codes), labor, dump fees, overhead, profit, and everything in between included.
A reputable roofing contractor will help you do this, but every company does it differently. For example, I provide a checklist with every line item that an insurance estimate should include.
This gives our customers the power to go through a claim, add what’s missing, and send it back to their insurance company for approval. Just know that you may get pushback on supplementing, especially around things like overhead.
But if you have an RCV policy, the insurance company should pay for everything a roofer needs to do the job correctly while also being profitable.
You just learned 7 things to know about the insurance claim process for storm damage. Remember, you need to call your insurance company as soon as you suspect roof damage after a strong storm.
But how do you know if you actually have storm damage? There are obvious signs, like roof leaks and missing shingles.
However, there are other signs that you have a roof insurance claim that are a little harder to spot. That’s why you need our Storm Damage checklist.
This checklist helps you determine for yourself if you suspect roof damage from the safety of the ground. While you’ll still need to call your insurance company, at least our checklist helps determine if your roof has possible storm damage and if it’s worth your time to file a claim.
If you’re local to Nashville, Tennessee, don’t hesitate to Request a Quote to schedule a free storm damage roof inspection.
Get your free Storm Damage Checklist now to help you determine if your roof was damaged after recent storms.