How To Negotiate Roof Replacements With Insurance Providers: Everything You Need To Consider

Roof replacements are expensive. You’d want insurance to cover as much of the cost as possible. After all, you’re paying a premium monthly, quarterly, or annually.

But what ends up happening is the insurance company only wants to pay for a fraction of the roof replacement cost. Insurance claims for damaged roofing can be a complete hassle.

Sometimes it can feel like they’re against you. But it shouldn’t be. By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to get your roof replacement insurance claim approved in record time. Let’s get into it.

Here’s What Most Insurance Won’t Cover

It’s important to set clear expectations for yourself before filing roof replacement or damage insurance claims. Insurance can cover a lot of damages, but they won’t cover the following:

Old Roof

The average lifespan of most shingle roofs is 15-20 years. If you have a roof that’s pushing above 20 years, insurance might deny coverage for a full roof replacement.

Older roofs are more prone to damage from years of wear and tear. Insurance adjusters can also use your roof’s age to argue that neglecting maintenance could cause damage.

Cosmetic Damage

To the eyes of insurance companies, cosmetic damages are superficial. In short, the damages don’t interfere with your roof’s primary function.

Let’s say strong winds caused a large branch to fall on your roof. The branch scratches a few of your shingles. Everything’s still intact; nothing is cracked or missing. You’ll get denied. But if you need an immediate emergency roof inspection, there’s a higher chance you get approved.

Preventable Damage

Always do routine roof maintenance to avoid unchecked, underlying issues. Insurance companies won’t approve your roof replacement claim if you neglect basic maintenance.

For example, if your gutters clog from debris or fallen leaves, water could pool and start a leak. It is completely preventable if you check and clear the gutters.

Flooding or Earthquake

Earthquakes and floods can damage your roofing system without hitting it directly. Your insurance might not cover roof damage caused by flooding or earthquakes.

You’d need a supplementary policy to cover these. Insurance companies in areas prone to severe weather conditions like tornadoes could also have different policies.

Types of Roof Damage Insurance Coverage

There are two types of roof damage coverage you must know to help you negotiate with your insurance company: actual cash value and replacement cost value.

Actual Cash Value Policy (ACV)

Insurance companies are required to match the value of your roof as is. The lower the value of your roof goes over time, the lower your potential insurance payouts. That means having an ACV policy might not be enough to cover a full roof replacement.

Replacement Cost Value Policy (RCV)

An RCV policy requires insurance companies to pay the full cost of roof replacements without accounting for the roof’s age, condition, or depreciation. However, the replacement value could be capped to a policy limit.

How To Negotiate Roof Replacement With Insurance

To ensure your insurance approves your roof replacement claim, you need to be prepared. Here are five things you should do when negotiating.

Document Roof and Collateral Damage ASAP

Immediately document any signs of roof damage. If a hail storm hits and you find hail damage on your roof, take pictures and document any collateral damage.

Recency is important when negotiating roof replacement insurance claims. Insurance companies will cross-reference dates, look at weather conditions and other indications to ensure the damage is recent.

Get Multiple Quotes From Professional Roof Inspectors/Contractors

Getting multiple quotes reinforces the value of your roof replacement insurance claim. You want to be as detailed as possible when documenting roof damage.

There might be damage visible on the surface, but there could also be damage not visible to the naked eye. Professional roof inspectors or contractors have the right tools, materials, and experience to find potential damage. They’ll document every nook and cranny so you don’t miss a thing.

Hire A Public Adjuster

The roof insurance claim process can get complex. If you need help with the documentation to ensure everything is covered, you can hire professional licensed public adjusters.

They help negotiate roof replacement claims on your behalf. Public adjusters are often paid based on a percentage of your insurance payout.

Supplement Roof Replacement Insurance Claim

Once your claim is approved, insurance companies will estimate the scope of work needed to do a roof replacement. But, insurance adjusters often leave items off the estimate.

This leads to lower settlements or payouts. You want to negotiate for these missing items to be put back on the estimate through what’s called “supplementing.”

Supplementing includes every line item, like local codes, dump fees, overhead, and labor costs. Getting a pro to repair your roof can help with supplementing, but it differs per company.

Appeal If Claim Is Denied

Oftentimes, insurance companies don’t give out a fair settlement. If that’s the case, you can still appeal the decision. Policies for appeal differ between insurance companies.

But, appealing for a denied claim can get tedious. You have to contact your insurance agent, ask for a review, and collect evidence that challenges their decision.

For example, you can present evidence against a denial based on preventable damage or lack of maintenance by showing receipts for roof inspections or repairs.

If you still get denied even with sufficient evidence, you can take legal action and escalate it to the state or mediate with your lawyers and the insurance company.

Roof Replacement Insurance Claims

Learning how to negotiate roof replacement with insurance is the first step to ensure you get a fair settlement from your premiums. To recap, here are five things you can do to negotiate:

Document roof and collateral damage ASAP
Get multiple quotes from professional roof inspectors or contractors
Hire a public adjuster
Supplement roof replacement insurance claim
Appeal if the claim is denied

If you need help with roof insurance claims, don’t hesitate to call the professionals. That’s where Dynamic Remodel & Repair comes in. Get roof insurance claim help today.

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