Roof Damage Insurance Claim Process – Your homeowner’s insurance protects your home from extreme weather and other emergencies, but knowing how and when to file a roof insurance claim can be challenging. The insurance process is confusing and it’s often difficult to know where to start. We’re here to help guide you through the roof insurance application process and answer any questions you may have. Since 1979, Holladay Grace has been helping homeowners in Colorado Springs and the greater Pikes Peak region understand their roof insurance requirements. This article will answer various questions about the roof insurance claim process and what to expect if your roof has been damaged by a storm. Click Image to Download Roof Insurance Claim Checklist 9 Easy Steps to File a Roof Insurance Claim 1: Assess the Damage 2: Know Your Coverage 3: Open a Roof Insurance Claim 4: Choose a Roofing Contractor 5: Meet Your Professional to fix 6: Repairman Inspection 7: Approval of roof insurance claim 8: Start of work 9: Insurance payment 1: Damage assessment Before contacting your insurance provider, you will need to determine the type and severity of damage to your roof. To solve this, you have two options: an independent review or a professional review. Inspect your roof for signs of weather damage. Self Inspection You can climb onto your roof to inspect it yourself, although we do not recommend this for safety reasons. Knowing what type of damage it is and what to look for can be difficult, so read on to learn more about the different types of roof damage and remember to take plenty of photos during your inspection. Professional Inspection On the other hand, most roofing companies offer free inspections and usually give you a detailed inspection report. You can search online for a reputable roofing contractor in your area to complete an inspection. Be sure to ask what information and photos they will give you after the inspection. Professional Inspection by a Roofer Regardless of the route you choose, it is important to get detailed pictures of where the damage is and how much damage has occurred. This information will help you when you call your insurance company to start a roof insurance claim. Types of Damage Asphalt Shingle Roof Damaged by a Hail Storm Hail damage affects the integrity of the roof system and significantly shortens the lifespan of the roof. More often than not, hail damage can lead to a complete roof replacement. Hail damage is sometimes easy to see (as shown in the photo above); other times, it’s more challenging to spot. In general, if the hail is large enough (a quarter or larger), there is a good chance you will see marks on the shingles. Asphalt Shingle Roof Damaged by Storm Wind You can spot wind damage to your roof in several different ways. If your roof is visible from your yard or driveway, look for areas with missing or wrinkled shingles (as shown in the photo above). Additionally, if you find shingles or pieces of shingles in your yard that match the color of your roof, chances are they came off your roof and the exposed part is prone to leaks. Roof Destruction Caused by a Falling Tree During Severe Weather Falling debris or falling trees can cause significant damage to your roof. This is usually one of the types of damage that is easiest to see or hear. If you’re at home during a storm and something large hits your roof, you’ll probably hear it. Once it’s safe to go outside, we recommend walking around the house and looking for any fallen debris that may have hit your roof. 2: Find out your insurance coverage Next, you should contact your insurance agent or look up your plan details online to find out what your home owner’s insurance covers. You will want to confirm the following: What damage is covered Your deductible amount What information and forms are required to start a claim How to open an insurance claim 3: Open a claim for umbrella insurance You will then open a claim by submitting all the required information to your insurance company. In most cases, you can email the information to your insurance company. Once you complete this, your claim is assigned an insurance adjuster. 4: Choose a roofer It is a good idea to choose a roofer before the roofer inspection so that the roofer can attend the roofer inspection. Sometimes insurance adjusters are not aware of all the components that go into a roof. Sometimes they leave out line items from the estimate, which need to be added later as a supplement. Having a roofer on site during a roofer inspection helps ensure that the roofer and the insurance adjuster agree on the damage and what needs to be repaired or replaced. To learn more about choosing the right roofer, read our How to Compare Roofing Contractors guide. 5: Meet Your Insurance Claims Adjuster Once an adjuster has been assigned to your claim, they will contact you to confirm that they are your point of contact. Get the name, phone number and email address of your regulator. Remember that your regulator is there to help you every step of the way. 6: Insurance claim adjuster inspection Your adjuster will inspect the roof to confirm that the information provided on the claim is correct. The adjuster will mark your roof with chalk and take a photo of their markings for the claim file (as shown below). Remember, it is wise to have your roofer on site during this process to discuss any necessary repairs or replacements with your insurance adjuster. The presence of an expert will help answer any questions the regulator may have and ensure that all parties understand what work will be completed. Roof Insurance Regulator Inspection Marks on a Damaged Roof 7: Approval of Roof Insurance Claim Once your roof insurance claim has been approved, follow these steps to get started: Get an estimate from the adjuster Share the insurance estimate with your preferred roofing contractor Let your Contractor roofing work, contact an insurance professional to discuss the scope of your roofing project. If the contractor has missed items in the insurance estimate, the contractor should provide documentation to add the items to the claim (this is called a pre-job addendum) 8: Work Begins Once your roofer has been selected and the contract signed, work can now begin. Your roofer should work closely with you to coordinate the project. Here are some questions you’ll want answered: How long will the job take? How should I prepare my home for the project? Should I leave while the contractors are working? What happens if my tire bursts from a nail or screw? How can I expect the cleaning to go? What steps should I take if I notice problems after the work is done? Work begins after the insurance claim is approved 9: Insurance Payment: How Roof Insurance Payments Work It is essential to know how the insurance provider will provide you with funds before paying the contractor. Roofing companies usually do not seek payment directly from the insurance company. Don’t forget that you are a joint client of your insurance company and the roofer. Since the roofer does not work for the insurance company, it is your responsibility to pay them. Your insurance company will give you a payout. It usually works like this: You’ll receive a check for the actual cash value (ACV) of your roof, less your deductible, from your insurance provider. Use the ACV check plus your deductible amount to pay the down payment to your contractor Note: It is illegal for your roofer to waive the deductible. You must pay the contractor this fee. Once the project is complete, you will give your insurance company an invoice from your roofer. The insurance company will provide you with a check for recoverable depreciation. Your deductible plus actual cash value plus recoverable depreciation is EQUAL to the total claim amount, known as the recoverable cash value (RCV) of the project. Things to consider when applying for insurance. This process may seem simple, but it can take a long time and be slowed down by numerous problems. Here’s a quick list of some common problems you may encounter in the insurance application process: Some insurance and roofing companies aren’t quite in your corner: Insurance Companies As you probably know, when insurance companies are involved, things always need to be clarified and sometimes longer than it should. Keep in mind that not all insurance companies always have your best interests at heart. Obviously, not all companies are like that, but some can put the bottom line before your needs as a customer. Roofing Companies Roofing contractors get a bad rap, and we’re here to bring professionalism to the industry. You may have heard stories of roofers who force clients to sign a contract to complete the job before their claim is approved and payment is requested, leaving town with your money and no job completed. That’s why it’s important that
