Navigating Roof Insurance Claims Made Easy With McElrath Roofing

Roof Claim Process Overview

Do not get a roof claim denied! We have a lot of details about how to file a roof damage claim with your insurance carrier on this page, so let’s sum it all up in one section. For all the details, scroll down below to read more about each step.

Tip: Knowing What To Expect On A Roof Insurance Claim Helps

Knowing the process before you file ensures a higher level of a successful claim and ensures you do not get denied.

Before You File A Roof Insurance Claim!

Step 1: Get A Inspection From A Licensed Contractor

If you’re not confident you have actual storm damage, don’t file a roof damage claim with your insurance carrier until you’ve had a thorough roof inspection and have consulted with a licensed roofing professional to ensure the amount of damage sustained to your roof would be eligible for repair or replacement. What appears to be roof damage from the ground level could often be age or wear that your policy may not cover.

During your initial inspection, ensure your contractor thoroughly documents all damage with photos and provides an inspection report. This will save time and reduce the likelihood of having multiple reviews to ensure your carrier extends coverage. When selecting a roofing contractor, ask how many insurance claims they typically work with annually to ensure they have experience handling a claim.

McElrath Roofing will thoroughly document your loss and take extensive pictures from the ground, in the air with a drone (we’re FAA-licensed pilots), and on your roof. You and your carrier will need these photos and a damage report to expedite the claims process. Once we complete our inspection and if it’s determined that a claim should be filed, we’ll let you know to proceed to the next step in the roof damage claims process.

Be Confident you have damage (Missing shingles, leaks?)

If you’re 100% confident you have significant damage, it’s okay to go ahead and file a claim to get the ball rolling faster, but just make sure you have an inspection scheduled with your roofer first, as your roofer will need to be on-site with the insurance adjuster.

Step 2: Filing A Roof Insurance Claim

After roof damage has been confirmed, the next step is to file your claim directly with your insurance carrier. You can do this either online, by calling your carrier’s general customer service number, or by contacting your agent. 

You’ll likely be asked a few essential questions that you should be prepared for:

• What is damaged?
• When did you notice the damage?
• What date did the damage occur? (Your contractor will provide a date of loss)
• What is the dollar value of the damage? (Get an estimate from your contractor)
• Do you have any photos or other documentation of the damage?

After providing the relevant information to your carrier, they will schedule a field adjuster to come to your property to inspect the reported damages. We’ll discuss this inspection appointment in the next step.

Step 3: Insurance Carrier Adjuster Inspection

Adjuster Meeting & Inspection

After your claim has been successfully filed, your carrier will schedule a time for their field adjuster to visit your property and inspect all damages reported in your claim. It would help if you had the qualified contractor of your choice on-site for this inspection. Some carriers will suggest a contractor for you or even tell you that you must use their approved contractor to repair the damages. While this sounds harmless, most states give homeowners legal rights to select contractors for insurance claim-based repairs.

While most insurance carriers have good intentions, sometimes an adjuster’s ignorance or ill will (due to illegal monetary kickbacks) will occasionally play a part. Due to the nature of an insurance claim, it’s always the best choice to hire your own contractor after doing research and due diligence on reputable companies in your area. One of the best things you can do is read online reviews of the contractor you’re thinking of hiring.

Important:

Make sure your contractor is on-site for the insurance adjuster’s inspection. Insurance adjusters are not contractors, and many don’t understand the local code requirements, building standards, and materials required to repair a roof back to its pre-loss condition. By having your contractor on-site, they will be able to explain the repair methods required so that your adjuster can write an appropriate repair or replacement estimate.

Tip: Ensure A Roofing Inspector Is On-Site For The Adjuster Inspection

McElrath Roofing inspectors are on-site for every adjuster meeting. We’re here to advocate for you and ensure your roof is repaired correctly and uses the same or better materials than initially installed. While many adjusters are competent in roofing techniques, make sure you don’t get short-changed by an inexperienced adjuster who doesn’t understand basic construction concepts.

Step 4: Reviewing Your Carrier’s Initial Repair or Replacement Estimate

Review The Repair Estimate

Most carriers these days use one of two software programs to write insurance roof repair estimates. Whether it is a Xactimate roof estimate or a Symbility/Core Logic estimate, sit down with your contractor and review this estimate in detail. The estimate will detail items, labor, and materials needed to restore your roof to its pre-loss condition. You should also receive the ACV (Actual Cash Value) portion of your claim total by check with this estimate. Read more about ACV and RCV on our Understanding Your Insurance Estimate Terms page.

Missing or Incorrect Items

Many times, there are missing or incorrect items from the carrier’s original estimate that need to be added. Your contractor should be able to quickly identify what is missing and get those items sent to your carrier for additional payment.

Supplements

Supplements are items that were either left off the original estimate or additional damages found during installation that could not be identified without tearing off the existing roof. If these items are found after review, your contractor should write a supplement using the carrier’s preferred software and submit it to your insurance carrier for additional payment.

Step 5: Material Selections & Contract Signing

Select Your Materials

Once your insurance carrier and contractor have agreed upon the scope of work, it’s time for the fun part. It is selecting your new roof materials and colors.

Upgrades

Work directly with your contractor on the materials and colors best suited for your home. Many homeowners use this time to upgrade their previous roof to a better quality material, such as a multi-layer premium asphalt shingle, a standing seam metal roof, or even something in the luxury designer range, such as slate or cedar shake. Some want to upgrade their gutters or venting systems to increase energy efficiency. No matter what you choose, just remember you can install any new materials you want, and your contractor will be able to give you a quote for the upgrade, which will be an additional out-of-pocket expense on top of your insurance deductible.

Contract Signing

Once all the materials and colors are selected, everything should be put into a contract. If your contractor just asks you to sign the estimate without any firm commitments and deliverables or offers other things that sound too good to be true, be cautious. A contract is in place to protect both you and the contractor from loss and identifies all terms, including the new roof’s warranty.

 (Five Points Roofing Has An Unparalleled Limited Lifetime Labor and Material Warranty)

Tip: Be Wary Of Contractors “Crediting” or “Eating” Your Deductible

It is insurance fraud. Plain and simple. No other description is needed. Reputable general contractors are not going to risk losing their licenses to save a homeowner $500-$1000. And it is not just the contractor at risk; the homeowner faces legal penalties as well for negotiating to not pay their deductible. Think about it, if they’re doing something shady and get caught, they’ll probably throw you under the bus to try and save their butts.

Bonus: McElrath Roofing Does Not Collect Final Payment Until After the Install

Unless you have a *special order product or an insurance claim with a deductible, we do not collect a dime until the day of roof installation.

Step 6: Roof Replacement Scheduling & Job Completion

Tip: Your Contractor Should Submit All Paperwork For RCV Payment

Ask your contractor of choice if they will handle all applicable paperwork that needs to be submitted to release all final payments from your insurance carrier. Usually, an insurance carrier requires the following documentation: Certificate of Completion (Completed by the contractor), Final Invoice, and Photos of Completed Work, including code upgrades (Drip Edge, Ice and water, etc.)

Five Points Roofing’s consultants handle all this leg work for our customers. Insurance paperwork can be confusing and stressful, and we do not want you to have to deal with that.

Roof Replacement

Tentative Scheduling

Once a contract is signed, your contractor should provide a tentative date of installation. Depending on the month of the year, a McElrath Roofing installation typically runs about 3-6 weeks from the date of the contract, depending on where you’re located. Keep in mind that this initial date is tentative. The schedule can change depending on the weather, and many variables go into timelines. Your contractor should keep you up to date on any changes to the tentative schedule.

Installation Confirmation

McElrath Roofing will notify our customers three days before their scheduled date; they’ll get a confirmation call with their roof material order, color, and planned installation date. Once started, installation can take anywhere from 1 to 5 days, depending on the size of the home. Most homes under 40 Square feet of roof material (4,000 sq. ft.) can be completed in one day.

Job Completion & Notification To Carrier

After the job is fully complete, your contractor should notify the insurance carrier and provide a “Certificate of Completion” and a final invoice. Once they receive this paperwork, any recoverable depreciation or code upgrades held from the original payment will be released to the homeowner typically within 7-10 business days.

Final Payment Collection

The last thing to do is pay the final outstanding balance, which is usually the recoverable depreciation (Difference of RCV minus ACV) plus any additional supplements, insurance-paid code upgrades, or homeowner-paid upgrades. McElrath Roofing collects this payment after it is received by the homeowner.