Roof damage insurance claim after a storm
General information, not legal or insurance advice. Your policy and state rules control.
Roofs are the most-claimed, most-disputed and most fraud-adjacent part of storm recovery: big money, damage the owner can't see, and a wave of out-of-town crews knocking on doors. Here's how to run the claim so the roof — and the payout — end up whole.
Document without climbing
- From the ground: photograph every slope, gutters, and shingle debris in the yard. Zoom beats ladders — don't climb a compromised roof.
- Inside: photograph ceiling stains, attic daylight, wet insulation — with dates. Interior evidence anchors the timeline if the insurer later argues "old damage".
- If a roofer inspects, ask for their photos and a written condition report — before signing anything.
Choosing the roofer (the fraud filter)
- Verify license and local address; be wary of door-knockers who "just did your neighbor's roof" and offers to "waive your deductible" — that one's insurance fraud in most states.
- Get an itemized written estimate, not a number on a card. A professional quote is also your negotiation document with the insurer.
- Read anything mentioning AOB (assignment of benefits) twice — see FAQ below.
The money mechanics
- Expect two checks on replacement-cost policies: ACV first, recoverable depreciation after completion and receipts — how that works.
- Hurricane/named-storm deductibles are often a percentage of dwelling coverage — know yours before discussing numbers.
- Log every insurer conversation and keep every receipt, including tarps and emergency patching — typically reimbursable.
ClaimsVault: damage photos, call log, receipts, deadlines — exported as a claim file PDF. $9.99 once.
FAQ
Should I sign an AOB (assignment of benefits) with a roofer?
Be careful. An AOB hands your claim rights to the contractor. Some are legitimate; post-storm, many are not, and several states have tightened AOB rules for exactly that reason. You can almost always get the roof fixed without assigning your claim — read anything you sign after a storm twice.
The insurer wants to repair, the roofer says replace. Who wins?
Documentation wins. Matching issues (discontinued shingles), the extent of damage across slopes, and local code upgrade requirements are the usual arguments for full replacement. Get them in writing from your roofer and submit them — decisions change on paper, not on phone calls.
My first check seems way too small for a new roof.
It's probably the ACV payment: replacement cost minus depreciation, with the rest released after the work is done and receipted. See our RCV vs ACV guide — roofs, being big-ticket and heavily depreciated, are where recoverable depreciation matters most.
How long do I have to file after a storm?
Policies and states set claim deadlines — often a year or more for hurricane damage, but sometimes much less, and storm-chaser season moves fast. Inspect and file early: roof damage worsens with every rain, and late claims invite 'wear and tear' denials.