When storms come through and do considerable damage to your roof, odds are you’re looking at a hefty expense if you’re not insured. For those with roof insurance, the chance of your full repairs being covered (minus your deductible) is possible if you file a claim.
In this guide, we’ll review the exact steps you should take to file a roof insurance claim, what to expect in terms of payout for replacement cost, and any coverage options you may have.
Key takeaways
Roof insurance claims typically cover damage from strong storms, like wind or hail damage, or accidents, like falling trees.
Before filing a claim, you should have your roof inspected and documented with photo proof of broken shingles, holes, or other damages caused by storms or fallen objects.
There is no set timeline for completing the claims process, but you can expect up to a month or longer on average.
If your claim is denied for any reason, you can file an appeal.
Steps to file a roof insurance claim
Once your roof has experienced damage, especially from a strong storm, these 8 steps will help you navigate the process of filing a roof insurance claim. With the average roof repair ranging from $400 to $2,000, filing a claim is your best shot at sparing your wallet from paying the cost out of pocket by having your insurance cover your repair.
Here are the 8 steps you will need to complete while filing a roof insurance claim:
Assess the damage
Photograph the details
Review your insurance policy
Contact your insurer
Have your roof professionally inspected
File a claim
Meet with your insurance adjuster
Schedule your roofing repair
Step 1: Assess roof damage carefully
When your roof sees unfortunate damage, you have two options: get on it yourself to inspect the damage or hire a professional to inspect it.
“Unfortunately, checking for roof damage can be dangerous, depending on the style of your home and your personal abilities,” says Niki O’Brien from Custom Exteriors, LLC. “We encourage a roof inspection after any severe weather event since most roofing companies will provide this at no cost, so there is no reason not to have it checked.”
Additionally, O’Brien says that the following are factors that indicate your roof has possible damage:
Missing or damaged shingles
Shingle granules in the ground or gutter
Signs of impact on vents, flashings, or other soft metals
Water stains or mold along the ceilings or in the attic
Though you may see a few of these “obvious” signs, it’s still a great idea to take advantage of free roof inspections from a roofing contractor so you know exactly what you’re looking at (in terms of actual damage) before moving to the next step.
Step 2: Document the details
Whether you’re inspecting the roof yourself or outsourcing this task to a professional, it’s important to document every detail by taking photos. Have you or your professional inspector photographed every missing shingle, dent, or other damaged area so you can show your insurance adjuster later and have something for reference to get the most out of your claim?
One valuable tip roofing expert, Nehal Keiser of Blue Hammer Roofing, wants you to know that these photos must show proof of damage from storms or other natural events instead of neglect or poor housekeeping. “Roof insurance claims may not cover damage due to lack of maintenance, pre-existing conditions, or cosmetic issues. Sometimes insurance refers to this as neglect,” he says. “Insurance policies typically cover damages caused by severe weather events like hail, wind, or fire. They may also cover leaks due to sudden and accidental damage, such as a fallen tree branch or a burst pipe.”
Step 3: Review your insurance policy
Once you know the damage that’s been done to your roof, plus the likely cause, our experts suggest you review your policy before contacting your insurer.
“Roofing policies coverage depends on the policy,” says O’Brien. “A standard RCV policy will generally cover weather-related damage, vandalism, and other environmental damages that are not intentionally caused or caused by neglect. Hail, wind, hurricanes, falling trees, vehicle damage, and other no-fault damage situations.”
Before you waste your time contacting your insurer and filing a claim that won’t be covered, spare yourself the headache by perusing through your policy for the exact coverage limitations. Your policy should explicitly state the terms of your policy and what’s covered along with what’s not.
Step 4: Contact your insurer
If you’re confused about your policy or want to speak to an agent to explain the situation, you can get a better understanding by contacting them directly. This way, you can speak to an agent or representative who can walk you through your policy and how to file a claim.
This is also a great step in understanding your type of roof insurance better. Since roof insurance is divided into two types (ACV and Repair Coverage), it’s worth knowing the type you have so you know what to expect in terms of coverage and what will be done to fix the damage.
Here’s a small breakdown of the two types of roofing insurance so you know what they cover at a glance:
ACV (Actual Cash Value): This type of coverage means your insurance company will inspect your roof and pay you for the depreciated value of your roof before the damage.
RCV (Repair Coverage): This roof insurance coverage means your insurer will estimate the total of the damage and pay you for the expected cost of repairs.
Step 5: Get your roof professionally inspected
This inspection will be slightly different than the inspection you had earlier since this is for proof of damage going toward your insurance claim. Your insurance company should schedule an adjuster to come out and inspect your roof, but it’s a great idea to do this on your end through a private inspector (or a few) for a more professional quote (because, let’s be honest: your insurance adjuster is looking for the cheapest one).
Research roofing companies in your area to inspect your proof of expected repair costs. Once they send you the invoice for the expected cost of the work, go through them all before choosing the company that best aligns with your needs. Attach the invoice in the next step.
Step 6: File a claim form
Now, it’s time to actually file a claim with your insurance company. This can be done online or through your company’s preferred method. Once it’s filled out, send it in as soon as possible so repairs can be made quickly to your roof.
Step 7: Meet with your insurance adjuster
After you’ve submitted your claim, an adjuster from your insurance company will come out to your house to inspect the damage just for validity purposes.
Step 8: Schedule roofing services
Once your insurance company has approved your claim, you can begin scheduling services with your chosen roofing company. It may take longer than you’d like for your claim to be approved, so take safety precautions if your roof has been severely damaged from a storm, even if this means covering a hole and moving into a temporary residence until the damage is fixed.
Roof insurance payout
Once you file a claim with your roof insurance company and you’re approved, they will send you a payout, which is to be used to pay for the repairs you schedule with a professional roofing company. There is no timeframe as to when you’ll receive your payout since it takes insurance companies a while to work through the claims process, but they’re usually sent out within a month on average.
“It was in April of 2020 when a bad storm came through and wrecked our roof. There was so much damage from wind & hail, and it was estimated to cost $12,569. We got in touch with our insurance adjuster to file a claim, and they sent someone out to check the damage a few days later. They ended up covering the whole repair and sent a check minus the $1,000 deductible,” says Debbie N. - North Carolina
What happens if your roof insurance claim is denied?
Sometimes, a roof insurance claim will be denied for various reasons. If your claim is denied, there are several things you can do: fork out the repair cost yourself, seek legal action, or file an appeal for your insurance.
An appeal can be filed by writing to your insurance adjuster stating that you disagree with their decision to deny your claim. You should send in documentation (photo proof) that a storm and not pre-existing conditions caused damage to your roof. Your insurance company should send out another adjuster for a second opinion. Still, similar to the first inspection, it’s a good idea to get your private adjuster to come out for their input.
Roof damage typically covered by homeowner's insurance
Roof insurance typically covers damage done to your roof by inclement weather or accidental damage. It usually does not cover pre-existing issues or damage from neglect.
At a glance, here’s what you can expect to be covered by your homeowner's insurance (though exclusions vary depending on the company and policy):
Hail
Lightning strikes
Sleet or ice
Wind damage
Fire
Fallen objects
Fire
Full vs. partial roof damage
Depending on the severity of damage to your roof, you could get a full or partial repair. Even if your roof is partially damaged, you could be insured for a full replacement if the conditions are right.
For example, if your roof is partially damaged without structural damage or underlying issues, you should be set for a partial replacement. If your roof is completely damaged or aged and there are structural issues underneath with partial damage up top, your roof could be covered for a full replacement.
Roof damage typically NOT covered by homeowner’s insurance
Roof insurance policies vary in what’s covered and what’s not, so you will need to review your policy again to know what isn’t covered. For the most part, roof insurance doesn’t cover anything related to maintenance or old age, but below is a list of the common extras these policies don’t cover:
General wear and tear
Neglect
Cosmetic upgrades
Roof layers and materials
Age
Maintenance
Homeowners’ options for roof coverage
If you need more coverage than what your company offers in the basic plans, you can customize your options most of the time by adding additional coverage options. Here are some of the most popular add-ons homeowners opt to put with their roof insurance, as well as some that come with the dwelling coverage of most plans.
Fortified roof endorsement
Opting for a FORTIFIED roof endorsement can be an amazing addition to the safety of your roof. This precise endorsement takes roof repair to the next level by making sure your roof (when it needs to be fixed) is built to exceptional standards way above the typical builder codes. This endorsement requires an expert to come out and perform a mitigation inspection to see if your home fits their standards.
Wind or hail coverage
Most roof insurance companies put wind and hail coverage in their dwelling coverage, but this can be excluded to save money. Usually, homeowners exclude this coverage if they have an endorsement that allows you to deny the coverage for a separate policy and deductible.
Hurricane coverage
Like wind and hail, hurricane coverage is typically factored into roofing insurance, but there is a catch. While hurricane coverage mostly lends itself to the damage done to your roof from winds, it doesn’t consider damage done by water. If you want coverage for water damage, this is an add-on to seeking coverage from your provider.
Other factors that affect roof insurance claims
Claims history: If you’ve filed a lot of claims in the past, this could affect the possibility of your new claim being denied, your payout being significantly reduced, or your premiums being increased.
Roof damage: Since your rates will likely increase after you file a claim, make sure it’s worth it to file first. Minor damage may not warrant your claim to be approved, so it’s best to ensure the damage is substantial before filing.
Deductibles: The deductible you’re expected to pay can alter the payout since it’s reduced from what your company pays you for the repairs.
Policy details: Damage done to your roof may not be covered by your policy. Always review your policy details before filing a claim to see if your specific damage is covered.
Roof depreciation: Your roof’s materials and age can affect how much you’re given back. More expensive roof materials may get higher payouts than cheaper ones.
Filing a roof insurance claim: the bottom line
Filing claims for your roof insurance doesn’t have to be daunting. A few steps can be annoying, especially when the adjusters come out to inspect the roof, so you should be prepared for a slight headache from the thorough steps and timeframe. It can take a while to hear back for approval and to receive your payout, but make sure you stay on top of communicating with your insurance company to get your claim approved as soon as possible.
Frequently asked questions
It's a common misconception that filing a roof insurance claim will raise your premium. While it can happen, it's not always the case. A few factors affect whether or not your premium goes up, including your claims history, the extent of damage, and the type of claim you file.
Insurance companies typically do not drop clients, except if there is a frequent history of filing claims, but they can cancel your policy if they want. However, if an insurance company plans to drop you, there are regulations that require them to send up to a month’s notice of your upcoming cancellation.
Though your roof insurance may not cover “hurricane-specific” storms, most of the damage caused by hurricanes is covered under the windstorm section of your policy. However, there are a few catches regarding hurricane damage being covered with your roof insurance. For instance, this often excludes water damage, so this will have to be a separate policy.
If you suspect your roof has been damaged from a recent storm, it’s best to get it professionally inspected before having insurance look at it. Your insurance adjuster will inspect the roof and part of the claim process. Still, it’s best to have a separate professional hired by you to inspect the roof, too, so that they provide a repair estimate that accurately reflects what needs to be repaired.