Before you file
- Stop the damage. Tarp, temporary patch, buckets. Keep every receipt; emergency measures are normally part of the claim.
- Photograph everything before anyone touches it: the roof from the ground, the attic, ceilings, gutters, and the yard debris.
- Get an inspection in writing from a roofing or restoration contractor. Not a verbal "you've got a claim" — a report with photos and a scope. Find a certified company.
- Read the declarations page of your policy for the deductible (a flat amount, or a percentage of the dwelling limit for wind and hail in many states) and whether the roof is on replacement cost or actual cash value. That's the one piece of policy reading that changes what you do next.
The claim, in order
- Report the loss. Online, in the carrier's app, or by phone. Give the date of the storm or event and what you've seen. You'll get a claim number; use it on everything from here.
- Adjuster assignment and inspection. A staff adjuster, an independent adjuster the carrier hired, or a desk adjuster working from drone or satellite imagery. Ask whether your contractor can attend; most carriers allow it and it prevents a lot of back-and-forth.
- The adjuster's estimate. A line-item document, almost always written in Xactimate. It shows the replacement cost value (RCV), the depreciation withheld, the deductible, and the actual cash value (ACV) payment you get first. Read every line against your contractor's scope.
- First payment (ACV). Replacement cost minus depreciation minus deductible. If there's a mortgage, the check is often made out to you and the lender together and the lender endorses it after their own paperwork.
- The work. Your contractor builds from the approved scope. Anything the adjuster missed, or that appears once the old roof is off (rotten decking is the classic), is documented with photos and sent as a supplement.
- Supplement review. The carrier reviews each supplemented item and approves, reduces or declines it. Clear photos and a written reason per item are what get items approved; a lump-sum "add $4,000" does not.
- Final invoice and recoverable depreciation. When the work is complete, the contractor's final invoice (and often a certificate of completion) goes to the carrier, which releases the depreciation it held back. How recoverable depreciation works.
- Close. Keep the whole file: estimate, supplements, invoices, photos, checks. Future claims, a sale of the house and some warranties will ask for it.
The documents you'll see
| Document | Who writes it | What it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Inspection report | Your contractor | Proves damage exists and what it is; the basis of the claim |
| Adjuster's estimate | The carrier | The approved scope and the money math (RCV, depreciation, ACV, deductible) |
| Contractor's estimate | Your contractor | The scope the contractor says the job needs; compared line by line to the adjuster's |
| Supplement | Your contractor | Items missed or under-counted on the adjuster's estimate, each with a photo and a reason |
| Final invoice / certificate of completion | Your contractor | Releases the recoverable depreciation |
| Proof of loss | You, if the carrier asks | A sworn statement of the amount claimed; some carriers require it, with a deadline |
Repair, replace, and the matching question
The most argued point on a roof claim is whether damage to one slope means a new roof. The adjuster's estimate often approves repair of the damaged slope; the contractor's inspection may say the shingle is discontinued, the colour can't be matched, or the roof is a single system that can't be partially replaced without a visible line. Some states have matching statutes or regulations that address this; others leave it to the policy wording. What decides it in practice is documentation: the manufacturer's discontinuation notice, photos of the mismatch, and the inspection report. That package goes to the carrier as a supplement, and if the carrier holds its position, the policy's appraisal clause or a licensed public adjuster is the next step.
Where roof claims stall
- The adjuster's scope is short. Missing starter, ridge cap, ice-and-water barrier, drip edge, decking, or code upgrades. Fixed by a supplement, not an argument. What to do when the adjuster's number is low.
- Repair vs replace. The carrier approves a slope or a patch; the contractor says the roof can't be matched. Matching rules differ by state, and the inspection photos decide it.
- Depreciation that never gets released. Usually because no final invoice was sent. Send it.
- No one is holding the file. Claims move when one person owns the paperwork. If your contractor doesn't, you do.
Contractors
The two estimates in the table above are where the money is decided. restoration.claims writes independent Xactimate estimates flat-rate (first one free) and supplements priced on what they recover.
Questions people ask
How long does a roof insurance claim take?
A clean claim with a local adjuster can settle in two to four weeks; after a regional storm, adjuster inspections alone can take two to four weeks to schedule. Supplements and depreciation release add time at the end. Many states set deadlines for carriers to acknowledge and decide claims.
Do I pay the deductible to the contractor?
Yes. The carrier's payment is reduced by the deductible, and you pay the contractor the difference. A contractor who offers to "waive" or "absorb" the deductible is proposing insurance fraud in most states; walk away.
Can I choose my own roofer?
Yes. Carriers may offer a preferred-contractor program with a workmanship warranty, and you're free to use it or not. Your choice of contractor doesn't change what the policy pays.
What is a wind and hail deductible?
In many states, wind and hail losses carry a separate deductible, often set as a percentage of the dwelling coverage (1 to 5 percent is common) rather than a flat amount. It's on your declarations page.
What if I disagree with the adjuster?
Ask for a re-inspection with your contractor present, submit the contractor's photos and estimate, and supplement the missed items. If the carrier still won't move, policies include an appraisal process, and a licensed public adjuster can take over the claim.