4 Steps For Filing An Insurance Claim For Roof Damage After a Storm

Are you feeling stressed after seeing the damage done to your home by a recent storm in the Greater Seattle area? Are you looking for guidance on how to file a claim so that you can get the right coverage for repairs to your roof?

The weather can be brutal on your house, and nothing bears the brunt of it worse than your roof. Snow, ice, or freezing rain pounding your rooftop can take its toll over the years. Sometimes though, in just one night, vast amounts of damage could be done to your asphalt shingles, leaving you looking to file an insurance claim.

We here at RoofSmart want you to be informed on what to do when you need a residential roof replacement. We know the claim process in and out. In fact, the last 100 customers that we helped with an insurance claim saw an increase in their coverage amounts.

Whether it’s due to severe weather or by any other means that leads you to file an insurance claim, being knowledgeable is key. We want you to have the tools to file a claim for damage to your roof.

In this article, we’ll outline 4 steps to file a claim and what happens after. We will help you navigate the insurance claim filing process for a damaged roof in the King County area.

Here are the 4 steps:

1. Assess & Document Your Roof Damage
2. Review Your Homeowners Insurance & Contact Your Insurance Company
3. Contact A Trusted Roofing Company
4. File Your Insurance Claim for Roof Damage

By the end of this article, you’ll understand what you need to do to file a claim the right way and why following these steps is important for getting the best coverage possible for your damaged roof.

What Are The 4 Steps to File An Insurance Claim For Roof Damage?

There is one main thing to understand first as we begin to dive into filing insurance claims: the insurance claim process can be long. It can take quite a while to go through all the steps necessary to have your claim approved and covered by your insurance company.

Knowing this before you file your insurance claim can help you remain level-headed and knowledgeable of what’s happening with your residential asphalt roof repair.

Let’s walk through the steps of filing an insurance claim for roof damage in King County, from start to finish.

1.) Assess & Document Your Roof Damage

The first step to take is to find out just how much damage has been done to your roof. You may find damage inside the home, like water spots on your ceilings or walls, or leaks in your attic.

Then, there’s the damage to your roof itself. You’ll want to be on the lookout for signs of roof damage like missing or damaged shingles, most commonly asphalt shingles. Also, you’ll want to check for damage to your gutters and downspouts.

You can see and take note of some of the damage to your roof from the ground, but to know for sure, someone will need to go up on your roof.

It’s advisable to have a residential roofing company come out and assess the damage for you.

Ensure that you document the damage to your roof. Write everything down that you find damaged or missing and take pictures of all the damage. Recording a video of the damage to your roof is a good practice as well.

2.) Review Your Homeowners Insurance & Contact Your Insurance Company

Next, you’ll want to review your homeowner’s insurance policy and find out what is covered. Your insurance policy will outline exactly what it covers, what it doesn’t cover, and how much coverage it will provide in the event of a claim.

When looking into your insurance policy, you’ll want to take note of whether you are insured for the actual cash value (ACV) or the replacement cost value (RCV).

• Actual Cash Value: When it comes to the ACV, your insurance company factors in depreciation to the final amount they approve to pay you. They agree to pay you what they determine is the value of the property today versus when it was purchased.
• Replacement Cost Value: With RCV, the insurance company will pay you the amount it would cost for you to replace your roof. A value would be set based on comparable roofs and roofing materials in the market.

After reviewing your insurance policy, you’ll need to contact your insurance company. Reach out to them as soon as possible.

Your insurance company has 30 days to inspect the damage to your roof, but note that they are not required to physically send an adjuster to your home.

Your insurance company may also recommend roofing contractors for you to work with, but the decision on who you choose to replace or repair your damaged roof is yours alone.

When your adjuster comes to your home to assess the damage in person, you can choose to have your trusted roofing company send a contractor to attend the meeting.

This will allow them to discuss the situation with the adjuster and give their expert opinion on your roof’s damage.

3.) Contact A Trusted Roofing Company

If you choose a trusted, experienced roofing company, to assess the residential roof damage in the first step, you will also receive a written estimate for your insurance claim.

If you assess the damage to your roof yourself, you’ll still need to have a roofing company give you an estimate. The estimate will include the roofing materials and the cost to repair or replace if necessary. They will be able to accurately assess the damage, estimate repair costs, and even find hidden damage that you or the insurance adjuster might not have noticed.

Ensure that if your roof needs to be replaced it is clearly indicated in the written estimate.

If you need to assess the damage to other parts of your home aside from the roof, your roofer might be able to do that as well. Or, you’ll need to bring in other contractors.

4.) File Your Insurance Claim for Roof Damage

Now it’s time to file your insurance claim. You’ll have aid from your insurance agent in this process, but you’ll want to add every bit of evidence you have in your claim, including the following:

• The written estimate from a roofing contractor
• Estimates for damage inside the home from the roofing contractor or another contractor (include receipts if you have them)
• The pictures, video, and written notes that you took to provide evidence of the damage to your roof (and other parts of your home).
• Receipts from staying in a hotel (if necessary)

Anything and everything you can prove will help in your claim being approved.

What happens after I file my insurance claim for roof damage?

This is where the claim process can end up taking a lot of time. Your insurance company might not give you the coverage that you want right away, so you’ll have to continue negotiating with them.

This process can quickly become overwhelming and frustrating, but there are resources to help you. You can hire a public adjuster to help you with negotiations. A roofing contractor who is experienced in working with insurance companies can also help you with negotiations.

Negotiations will continue until both you and your insurance company agree on how much coverage you get for your roof damage.

After your claim is approved, you’ll receive the approved payout, which is sometimes done in more than one payment. Then, you can contact your trusted roofing company to schedule your roof repair or replacement.

How can I find a roofer who can help me with my insurance claim?

Filing an insurance claim for roof damage can be a daunting process, but by following the four steps we’ve outlined—assessing damage, reviewing your insurance policy, working with a trusted roofing company, and filing your claim—you’re well-equipped to get the coverage you deserve.

Finding a roofing company that can help you with pricing and negotiations can make the claims process much easier for you. Unfortunately, not a lot of roofers have that experience. The best way to know if a roofer can help you with this is to simply ask about their experience working with insurance companies and how they can help you.

Want to work with a roofing company that is guaranteed to have experience working on insurance claims and negotiating coverage for homeowners just like you, call RoofSmart at (206) 487–4877 or contact us today via our website. When you choose us, we can help you with negotiations!