Roof Insurance Claim Process: A Step-By-Step Guide

A severe storm or even regular wear and tear can easily damage your roof. Replacing or repairing your roof can cost thousands of dollars. Thankfully, most homeowners have insurance policies that cover this damage.

To file a claim correctly, you need to get all the details right and understand the procedure.

Getting help from a reputable roofing contractor like Dynamic Remodel and Repair can make things smooth and stress-free. In this guide, we’ll show how to file a damaged roof insurance claim and how our team can help you.

How to File a Roof Insurance Claim

The claim for filing roof damage is similar to other types of home damage. Here’s a general guide for the steps you can take.

Understand and Review Your Insurance Policy

When you prepare to file a claim, get a copy of your insurance policy from your provider. Review the policy in detail, especially the coverage section.

You’ll be able to find out if the policy covers the type of roof damage you have. For example, damage from lack of maintenance is generally not covered by common policies..

Make sure you don’t miss key details like deductibles (the amount subtracted from your claim payment), the timeline for submitting the claim, whether you opted for actual cash value or replacement cash value and more.

Get a Roof Inspection

Enlisting a roofing contractor can help you get an unbiased account of the roofing damage from a professional third party. Our team at Dynamic Remodel and Repair comes to your property for a free inspection.

Roof inspections consist of an assessment looking for signs of damage caused by hail, wind, or storm and documenting any damage with photos. The team will also create detailed notes describing the extent of the damage for submission to your insurance provider.

You can also avail temporary roof repair services, like adding a tarp over a roof leak to stop water from entering the house. Save receipts of any materials or tools you purchase to send to the insurance company for full or partial reimbursement.

Filing Your Claim

Once you have all the documentation ready (pictures, policy details, and the cause and date of the damage), you can file the claim and sign the assignment of claim (AOC) form. This form allows your contractor to discuss the claim filing with your insurance company, proceed with repairing work, and set a meeting with the adjuster.

Upon successful completion of repairs, the roofing contractor will provide a claim number to you. Make sure to save this number for future correspondence and inquiries with your insurance provider.

Working With the Insurance Adjuster

The insurance provider will assign you an insurance claims adjuster. This adjuster will visit your property, assess the roof damage, and provide an estimate for repairs.

During the inspection meeting, your roofing contractor will also be present to ensure no damages are overlooked and you get a fair settlement. If there is a disagreement, your contractor can also serve as your advocate.

If the estimate is unsatisfactory, you can also request a second inspection. This may take up to 1-2 weeks, where another adjuster may take over the process.

Wait for the Claim Approval or Denial

Your insurance company will review the adjuster’s report before approving or denying the claim. If approved, they will provide details on the amount, the next steps for repair and more.

If denied, you can appeal the decision further. Common reasons for denial are:

The type of damage is not covered by your insurance policy
The evidence does not support your cause of damage
Your roof maintenance history is insufficient, and the roof seemed to be in bad shape prior to the recorded damages

Getting the Repairs Done

If your claim is approved and the initial check comes in, you can proceed with the roof repair process. Make sure you share the details of the coverage with your roofing contractor to get the repairs done accordingly.

If the contractor notices additional damage while working on repairs, you can take pictures and submit them to the insurance company. If approved, you will get a supplemental check for the additional repair costs.

Tips for Filing a Roof Insurance Claim

Here are some essential guidelines to help you navigate the process of filing a roof insurance claim successfully and maximizing your coverage.

Protect the roof from further damage: Many home insurance policies state that further damage may not be covered in case of a storm or other natural disaster. It’s best to prevent further damage whenever possible.
Avoid getting multiple estimates: This may sound counteractive, but if you’re getting multiple estimates, the insurance company will want to see each of them. In this case, they’ll likely just select the lowest cost estimate to save costs on their end, even if the cheapest solution isn’t the best for the job.
Schedule major repairs after claim approval: While minor repairs are okay, avoid scheduling costly repairs before getting approval.
Keep records of your insurance correspondence: Sometimes you can get caught up in a series of back-and-forth emails and calls with insurance providers. Keep a record of who you talked with and what was discussed to avoid unnecessary confusion later on.
Negotiate for depreciation: If your policy includes depreciation, you can negotiate for fair compensation.
Document preventative maintenance measures: Regularly maintain your roof and document these measures. This helps demonstrate your proactiveness to the insurer, improving your odds of approval.

Schedule Your Inspection With Dynamic Remodel and Repair

Navigating the roof insurance claim process can take time and energy. But by being informed and partnering with a reliable roofing contractor, you can get your roof repaired quickly and easily.

At Dynamic Remodel and Repair, we’ve helped countless clients with their roof insurance claims. At every step of the way, our experts will be there to guide you and get the best deal on your repairs. If you want to move ahead with new roof installation specialists instead of repairs, we can help with that too.

To book your free consultation, fill out this form today and we’ll be in touch shortly!

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