Understanding the Roof Insurance Claim Process
Wind, electrical fires, heavy snowfall, falling trees, pests, and storms can all damage the roof of your home. If your roof is damaged, it needs to be fixed—especially since your roof is the first line of defense when it comes to protecting your home and property from the elements. But repairing the damage or replacing your roof can be expensive, so you should consider filing a roofing claim with your insurance company to cover the cost.
Homeowners insurance is complicated, and the roof insurance claim process can be frustrating. Fortunately, a trustworthy local roofing contractor can help you navigate the process, provide you with a fair estimate, and repair your roof.
What Is the Roof Insurance Claim Process?
Do you suspect your roof has been damaged by a storm, invading pests, falling limbs, a lightning strike, or another unexpected act of nature? The damage may be covered by your homeowners insurance policy.
The roof insurance claim process can be overwhelming, but it is similar to the process of navigating other types of insurance claims. After you contact your insurance company about the damage to your roof, the insurer will want to verify the damage to your roof, either by sending out an insurance adjuster to do an inspection or by asking you to get an assessment from a local roofing contractor. Based on the results of the inspection, the insurer will approve or deny your claim.
If your roof insurance claim is denied, try not to panic. Insurance adjusters can make mistakes, and you have a few options to get the decision reversed. First, get a second opinion by asking for another insurance adjuster to inspect your roof. If that doesn’t work, find an independent roofing contractor and ask them to document the damage and submit evidence to your insurer that the roof needs to be repaired or replaced.
Once your roof insurance claim is approved, you can contact a local roofing services company or contractor and schedule repairs.
How to File a Roof Insurance Claim
When your roof is damaged by an extreme weather event or act of nature, we recommend starting the roof insurance claims process as soon as possible.
Step 1: Assess and Document the Damage
The first step in the roof insurance claim process is to assess and document the damage that has been done to your roof—either by asking a roofing contractor for a free evaluation or by looking at the damage yourself.
Some damage is easy to see from inside your home or when standing on the ground, but other issues are only visible by getting up on the roof. Look for missing or damaged shingles, water stains, fallen debris, or a downed tree.
It’s important to not only inspect your roof (and the rest of your home) for damage but also to document the damage you find. Use a phone or camera to take plenty of photos and videos of the damage, which you can later use as evidence when you file a roof insurance claim.
If you have a contractor assess and document the damage to your roof, they can also provide a repair estimate and help you determine if the damage warrants an insurance claim in the first place.
Step 2: Protect Your Home and Make Temporary Fixes
It could take days or weeks to move through the roof insurance claim process. Until then, it’s your responsibility as the homeowner to protect your home from further damage—and making temporary fixes may be a requirement in many homeowners insurance policies.
For example, depending on the type and severity of the damage, you may need to hang a tarp over holes in the roof or cover broken windows with plywood to protect your home from debris, water, wind, or the elements while you contact your insurance company.
Step 3: Review Your Homeowners Insurance Policy
There’s no point in undergoing the frustrating and lengthy roof insurance claim process if you aren’t covered for the type of damage you’ve experienced. Every policy is different and may or may not cover your repairs or replacement based on the age of your roof, where you live, the type of policy you have, and what caused the damage.
Based on the damage assessment and document, you can review your homeowners insurance policy and determine whether you are covered. Storm damage, for example, is almost always covered.
Step 4: File a Roof Insurance Claim
Now, it’s time to file a roof insurance claim. You can start by contacting your insurance company directly, explaining what has happened, and asking questions about their specific requirements. Alternatively, you can fill out the form provided by the insurer or follow their established process for filing a claim.
Be sure to include all the information you can—including photographs, video evidence, and any estimates and proof of damage you have received from local roofing experts.
Step 5: Meet with an Insurance Adjuster
After receiving your roofing insurance claim, the insurance company will likely send an insurance adjuster to your home to inspect your roof. The adjuster will assess the extent of damage on behalf of the insurance company and estimate the final cost for repairs or replacement.
We recommend asking an experienced local roofing contractor to be present during this inspection so they can advocate for you, offer their professional opinion throughout the inspection, and ensure you get an accurate quote.
Step 6: Schedule Your Roof Repair
After your roof insurance claim has been approved by the insurance company, you can move forward with getting those repairs done or that roof replaced. Contact a local roofing company you can trust to schedule your roof repair or replacement project.
Contact the Chicago Roofing Experts at Champion Roofing
For over 30 years, Champion Roofing has been a recognized leader in the Chicago roofing industry. Our professional roofing contractors offer a range of services, including roof inspection, maintenance, repair, and replacement—all featuring the high-quality work that comes with decades of experience serving residents in the Chicago area.
The Champion Roofing team is ready to help you repair, replace, or upgrade your roofing system. Whether you need to fix gutters, repair damaged shingles, or entirely replace the roof of your home, we are here to guide you every step of the way. Contact us today to get a free quote.
Your roof is worth the investment.
