Roofing
Roof storm and hail damage assessment and insurance restoration field guide
How a roofer reads real hail and wind damage, documents the storm claim, and works it ethically and legally: ACV vs RCV, the deductible, supplements, and staying out of public adjusting.
Direct answer
Storm restoration is finding and documenting real hail or wind damage, helping the homeowner file and work the insurance claim, and replacing the roof to the approved scope. Most of the work is honest assessment, not the roof itself. This is education, not legal or insurance advice; the policy, a licensed public adjuster or attorney, and state law control.
Key takeaways
- Real hail damage fractures the shingle mat under the granules and feels soft to the touch; surface marking with no mat fracture is cosmetic and often policy-excluded.
- Chalk a 10 ft by 10 ft test square on each slope, count and mark the hits, and inspect soft metals first because dents confirm the storm.
- A contractor cannot legally waive, eat, or rebate the deductible; offering to cover it is insurance fraud and a crime in states like Texas and Colorado.
- Date of loss is the verified storm date from NOAA or a hail-map service, not the discovery date; without it carriers can call damage old wear.
- Negotiating, interpreting coverage, or settling a claim is public adjusting, licensed in most states; contractors assess and build, then refer disputes to a public adjuster or attorney.
Storm restoration, and why the assessment is the job
Storm restoration is the work of finding and documenting real hail or wind damage after a storm, helping the homeowner file and work the insurance claim, and replacing the roof to the scope the carrier approves. The roof replacement is the visible part. The part that decides whether the job is honest is the assessment and the paperwork that come first.
Most of a storm restoration job is not roofing. It is telling real hail and wind damage from cosmetic marking and ordinary age, photographing it the way a claim file needs, understanding how the money works through ACV, RCV, depreciation, and the deductible, and staying inside the law while you do it. The field draws storm chasers because the money moves fast after a big hail event, and a contractor who does not know the line between assessment and adjusting can break the law without meaning to.
Two sibling guides carry the rest. The roof inspection and maintenance program guide covers how a roof is walked and what condition looks like across its life, and the roof leak diagnosis guide covers tracing an active leak to its entry. This guide is about what happens after a storm: the damage call, the claim, and the ethics around both.
Read this first: education, not legal or insurance advice
This guide is education, not legal or insurance advice, and nothing in it interprets your policy or tells you what your claim is worth. Every claim turns on the specific policy language, the carrier's position, and the law of the state where the property sits, and those control over any general statement here.
For anything about coverage, the dollar amounts, or a dispute, the homeowner relies on the policy itself, a licensed public adjuster or an attorney, and the carrier. A contractor reads roofs, not policies. When a homeowner asks what the policy covers or whether the carrier owes more, the honest answer points them to the document and to a licensed professional, not to the contractor's opinion dressed up as fact.
State law varies, and it varies on the exact points that matter most here: who may adjust a claim, whether a deductible can be touched, and how an assignment of benefits works. Treat the legal points in this guide as a prompt to check your own state, not as the rule in it.
Why the assessment, not the roof, is the hard part
The roof is the easy part of storm restoration. A competent crew can tear off and replace a shingle roof. What separates an honest contractor from a liability is the call made before the tear-off: is there real, storm-caused damage that the policy covers, and can you prove it without inventing anything.
Get that call wrong in the homeowner's favor and you have helped file a fraudulent claim, which is a crime that lands on the homeowner too. Get it wrong against them and you miss damage they were owed, and they pay out of pocket for a roof the carrier should have funded. Both failures come from a sloppy assessment, not a sloppy tear-off.
So the skills that matter are diagnostic and ethical. Read the damage honestly. Document it so a stranger at a desk can see what you saw. Understand the money well enough to explain the process without crossing into adjusting it. Do that and the roofing takes care of itself.
What does real hail damage look like on a roof?
Real hail damage on an asphalt shingle is a bruise, a fracture of the reinforcing mat under the granules, often with granules knocked loose down to the asphalt. A common industry definition, used in HAAG training, describes functional hail damage as a fracture of the mat, a puncture, or granule displacement enough to expose the underlying bitumen. You confirm a bruise by feel as much as by sight: press the spot and it gives, soft where the mat has broken, like a bruise on fruit.
The pattern is the other half of the call. Hail falls randomly, so real hits scatter across slopes and across the soft metals with no line and no even spacing. Granule loss shows as dark spots where the asphalt is exposed. A true hit is roughly round, has no clear high or low side, and matches the hits dented into the gutters, vents, and flashings.
What hail damage triggers, and whether it justifies replacement, is a policy and state question, not a contractor's to decide. Some policies carry a cosmetic damage exclusion that treats marking without mat fracture as not covered. Read the damage honestly and document it. Let the policy and the adjuster settle the coverage.
Wind damage: creased, lifted, torn, and missing shingles
Wind damage shows as shingles that are creased, folded, torn, lifted, or gone, and the tell is a physical break in the shingle, not just a tab that came unstuck. Wind gets under a tab, folds it back, and the crease across the fold breaks the mat. When that tab lays back down it is already failed, sealed or not, because the mat is cracked along the fold line.
The pattern reads directionally. Wind comes from a direction, so the damage concentrates on the slopes and edges that faced it, and along the rakes and eaves where uplift starts. Missing shingles and the bare strips where the sealant let go cluster where the wind loaded the roof, not evenly across every slope.
One distinction trips up new inspectors and adjusters both. An unsealed shingle with no crease and no mat damage is not the same as wind damage. Tabs unseal from age, from thermal cycling, and from poor installation, often in patterns that look like zippers or diagonals, and an unsealed tab with an intact mat is a different conversation from a creased one. Whether unsealing alone is covered is a policy and adjuster question. Document what you see and call it what it is.
Telling real damage from cosmetic and old wear
The hardest and most important call in storm restoration is separating real storm damage from cosmetic marking and ordinary age, and the rule is plain: do not invent damage. If the mat is not fractured and the function of the roof is not harmed, it is cosmetic, and cosmetic marking is frequently excluded by policy language. Calling old wear a storm hit is how honest contractors become defendants.
Several things mimic hail and are not hail. Blisters are bubbles in the asphalt from trapped moisture or off-gassing, round like a hail hit but with no mat fracture, often with the granules popped off in a ring rather than driven into the mat. Foot traffic scuffs and polishes the granules in a path. Manufacturing flaws, granule clumping, and the normal granule loss of age all read as damage to an untrained eye. None of them are storm caused.
The honest call is the one you can defend with a photo and a straight face to the adjuster, the carrier, and a fraud investigator if it comes to that. Age is not a covered peril. When a roof is simply worn out, say so, and let the homeowner decide what to do with that. What the policy actually covers is for the policy and the carrier to determine, not the contractor.
The storm inspection method
A storm inspection works the whole envelope, not just the shingles, because the soft metals tell the truth about hail before the roof does. Start on the ground and on the accessories: the gutters, downspouts, gutter aprons, valley metal, vents, hoods, the air conditioner condenser fins, even the mailbox. Soft aluminum and thin metal dent from hail that a shingle can hide, so dents in the soft metals confirm a storm hit the property and roughly how big the stones were.
On the roof, the method is the test square. Chalk off a 10 ft by 10 ft area on each slope, count the hits inside it, and mark each one so a photo shows the count. The square turns a vague impression into a number the adjuster can check, and it is the same square the adjuster will chalk when they meet you up there. Mark the hits with chalk, circle the bruises, and shoot the soft metals, the test squares, and every creased or torn shingle.
The inspection and maintenance program guide covers the full envelope walk and what condition looks like over a roof's life. On a storm call you run that same walk with one added question on every detail: is this fresh and storm caused, or was it here before.
Documenting the damage for the claim
Documentation is the product of a storm assessment, because the claim is decided on what you can show, not on what you saw. A photo with no location and no date proves nothing. The claim file needs the date of loss, the address, wide shots that place each slope, close shots of the bruises and creases with something for scale, the chalked test squares with the hit count visible, and the soft-metal dents that confirm the storm.
Shoot more than you think you need and label as you go. The hits you do not photograph are the hits the adjuster will say were never there. Measurements belong in the file too: the roof area, the slopes, the number of squares, and the accessories, so the scope can be built and checked against the carrier's estimate later.
A field tool built for this work pays off here. FieldOS keeps the photos tied to the property, the date, and the slope, so the storm file is one organized record instead of a phone full of loose images nobody can sort six weeks later when the adjuster asks. The record is what survives the claim, the supplement, and any dispute.
The date of loss and verifying the storm
The date of loss is the date the storm happened, not the date someone noticed the damage or the day you climbed up. Carriers tie coverage to a verifiable weather event, so the claim needs a real date backed by data. Hail and wind reports from NOAA, through the National Centers for Environmental Information, and commercial hail-map services place a storm of a given size over the address on a given day, and adjusters treat that as primary proof of causation.
Without a verified event, the carrier can argue the damage is old or wear, and the claim stalls. With it, the conversation is about scope, not about whether a storm happened. Pull the storm verification before or alongside the inspection so the date of loss on the claim matches the weather record.
Every policy and state sets its own deadline to file after a loss, sometimes one year, sometimes two, sometimes another period, and the policy and state law control which applies. Treat the window as real and check it for the specific policy and state. The deadline is the homeowner's to meet, and missing it can end a valid claim, so the honest move is to point them to file promptly rather than sit on a roof that is owed a claim.
How the insurance claim process works
The insurance claim is the homeowner's to file and work, and the contractor's role is to assess and document, not to run the claim. The homeowner contacts their carrier, reports the loss with the date and what happened, and the carrier assigns an adjuster who inspects the roof and writes a scope of loss, usually in estimating software such as Xactimate. The carrier then issues a payment based on that scope and the policy terms.
The steps the homeowner takes, filing, allowing the inspection, reviewing the scope, agreeing or disputing, are theirs. The contractor supports each step with the damage documentation and a clear repair estimate, and stays out of the parts the law reserves for licensed people. When the homeowner disagrees with the carrier's scope or a denial, the path is a licensed public adjuster or an attorney, not the contractor arguing the claim on their behalf.
This division is not a formality. It is where the legal line sits. A contractor who starts negotiating the claim has stepped into public adjusting, which is licensed in most states, and that is a separate problem covered below.
Meeting the adjuster on the roof
Meet the adjuster on the roof and present your documentation, professionally, as the contractor who inspected it. This is the contractor's legitimate role in the claim: be there, show the test squares you chalked, point out the bruises and the creased tabs, and walk the soft-metal dents that verify the storm. You are providing the inspection and the evidence, not adjusting the claim.
The tone matters. The adjuster is doing a job, often several roofs in a day, and the contractor who shows clear, organized documentation and an accurate count gets a fair scope faster than the one who argues. You agree on the scope where you can and note where you differ, in writing, with photos. Arguing coverage or dollars with the adjuster is both unproductive and, past a point, the unlicensed practice of adjusting.
Where the contractor and the adjuster genuinely disagree on what is covered or what it is worth, that is the homeowner's dispute to escalate, through the policy's process, a licensed public adjuster, or an attorney. The contractor's job is to make sure nothing real gets missed because it was not documented, not to win the negotiation.
What is the difference between ACV and RCV?
Replacement cost value, RCV, is what it costs to replace the roof today. Actual cash value, ACV, is that replacement cost minus depreciation for the roof's age and wear. On a replacement cost policy, the carrier commonly pays in two parts: a first check at ACV, which is the scope value minus depreciation and minus the deductible, then the held-back depreciation after the work is done and proven. An ACV-only policy pays the depreciated value and usually no second check, even after the work is finished.
This is the part homeowners understand least and contractors most often explain wrong, so explain the mechanism and stop there. How much depreciation applies, whether it is recoverable, and what the policy actually pays are set by the policy language and the carrier, not by the contractor. A contractor who promises a homeowner a specific number is guessing at someone else's math.
For what the policy owes and any argument about it, the homeowner relies on the policy, a licensed public adjuster, or an attorney. The contractor explains how the two-check structure generally works so the homeowner is not surprised, then points them to the policy and a licensed professional for what their claim is worth.
| Term | What it is | How it pays |
|---|---|---|
| RCV | Replacement cost of the roof today | Full approved scope, paid in full only after work and proof |
| ACV | RCV minus depreciation for age and wear | First check, minus the deductible |
| Recoverable depreciation | Depreciation held back on the first check | Released after the work is completed and documented |
| Non-recoverable depreciation | Depreciation that is never paid | Stays with the carrier |
| Deductible | The homeowner's share of the loss | Subtracted before payment; owed by the homeowner |
Depreciation, the holdback, and the final payment
Depreciation is the amount the carrier subtracts from replacement cost for the roof's age and condition, and on a replacement cost policy a chunk of it is usually recoverable. Recoverable depreciation is held back on the first check and released after the work is completed and documented, so the final payment comes once the homeowner proves the roof was actually replaced. Non-recoverable depreciation is gone for good, never paid, on the items or policies where it applies.
The sequence is straightforward to describe. The carrier approves a scope at RCV, pays ACV first (scope minus depreciation minus deductible), and the homeowner collects the recoverable depreciation by finishing the job and submitting the final invoice, proof of payment, and completion photos. Pocket the first check without doing the work and the depreciation stays with the carrier.
What is recoverable, the deadline to claim it, and the proof required are policy terms, so confirm them against the actual policy. The contractor's part is to complete the approved work and provide the clean completion documentation that lets the homeowner collect the holdback. The numbers themselves belong to the policy and the carrier.
The deductible, and why no one can waive it
The deductible is the homeowner's share of the loss, the amount the carrier subtracts before paying, and it is owed by the homeowner, every time. A contractor cannot legally waive it, eat it, rebate it, or hide it by inflating the scope to cover it. Doing so is insurance fraud, and in a growing number of states it is a specific crime: Texas bars it under the Insurance Code, Colorado bars it by statute, and other states have their own versions.
The scam wears a friendly face. The storm chaser offers to cover your deductible, which sounds like a discount and is actually a felony invitation. To make the missing deductible back, the contractor either inflates the bill to the carrier, which is fraud, or cuts corners on the roof, which is a defective roof. The homeowner who goes along can be charged too, can lose the claim, and can face higher premiums.
The honest position is plain. The homeowner pays the deductible. A contractor who offers to make it disappear is telling you exactly what kind of contractor they are. The specifics vary by state, so the rule to follow is the one in your state, which is never lower than honest.
One detail that surprises a lot of homeowners is how the wind and hail deductible is set. In much of the country it is no longer a flat dollar figure but a percentage of the dwelling coverage, often in the one to five percent range, which on a sizable home can run into thousands of dollars and dwarf the flat all-other-perils deductible on the same policy. The number is on the declarations page, it applies per claim, and it is the homeowner's responsibility to pay regardless of what any contractor promises, so confirm it before the scope conversation rather than after.
Supplements: adjusting the scope, not the claim
A supplement is a request to the carrier to add to the approved scope when the documentation supports it, and it is a normal, expected part of storm work, not a trick. The adjuster's first scope is written quickly and often misses items: extra layers found at tear-off, code-required components, flashing and accessories, steep or high charges, decking replaced where it was rotten. When the contractor's estimate and the carrier's scope differ, the difference goes back as a written supplement with photos and documentation.
The distinction that keeps a supplement legal is what it is about. A supplement documents real, missed scope and real cost, the work and the materials. It is not negotiating coverage or arguing the claim's value, which is adjusting. The contractor supplies the line items and the proof for the work; the homeowner and the carrier settle what the policy pays.
Compare the two scopes line by line, document every legitimate discrepancy, and submit it cleanly. Carriers expect supplements on real storm jobs. What they do not owe, and should not be asked for, is scope that is not there. Keep the supplement to what the photos prove.
Code upgrades and matching
Code-upgrade coverage and matching are two policy provisions that can change the scope, and both are governed by the policy and state law, not by the contractor. Code-upgrade coverage, often called ordinance and law, pays to bring the new roof up to current code when a replacement triggers requirements the old roof never met: an ice barrier, drip edge, higher wind ratings, ventilation, or deck attachment. It only applies if the policy carries that endorsement, and the limit is set there.
Matching is the question of what happens when the damaged shingles cannot be matched to the undamaged ones because the product is discontinued or the color no longer blends. Some states and the NAIC model regulation require the carrier to produce a reasonably uniform appearance, which can push a partial repair toward a fuller replacement, and a number of states have written matching into law. Whether matching applies to a given claim depends on the policy and the state.
The contractor's part is to identify the code items the job actually requires and to document the matching problem accurately. Whether the policy pays for either is a coverage question for the policy, the carrier, and, in a dispute, a licensed public adjuster or attorney.
Why a contractor is not a public adjuster
A contractor cannot legally act as a public adjuster, and this is the legal line that ends the most roofing careers in storm work. Public adjusting, meaning negotiating a claim on the homeowner's behalf, interpreting coverage, or settling any part of the claim, is a licensed activity in most states, and doing it without a license is illegal. In Texas the Insurance Code says a contractor may not act as a public adjuster on property they are contracting. Florida treats unlicensed adjusting as a felony.
The reason is conflict of interest as much as licensing. A contractor who profits from the repair has every incentive to inflate the claim, and the law keeps that incentive out of the negotiation by reserving it for licensed public adjusters and attorneys, who answer to the homeowner and to a licensing board. The contractor assesses, documents, and builds the roof. That is the lane.
Stay in it. Present your documentation, supply your estimate, write your supplements for the work, and when the homeowner needs someone to argue coverage or fight a denial, send them to a licensed public adjuster or an attorney. Crossing into negotiating the claim is not a gray area in most states. It is the unlicensed practice of adjusting.
Storm chasers and the fraud to avoid
Storm chasers are the out-of-town crews who track hail maps and flood a neighborhood within a day or two of a storm, knocking doors, collecting deposits, and often leaving before the work is done or done right. They are the reason honest contractors get a suspicious reception after a storm, and the practices they bring are the ones to know and refuse.
The patterns repeat. The free inspection that always finds damage, real or manufactured. The offer to waive or cover the deductible, which is fraud. The pressure to sign on the spot, often an assignment of benefits that hands the contractor control of the claim, the money, and the scope before anyone has agreed on the work. Manufactured damage, where the inspector creates the hits they then photograph. Targeting elderly homeowners. None of it protects the homeowner, and all of it eventually burns the contractor's name.
Protect the homeowner and your own reputation by being the opposite. Document honestly, never touch the deductible, do not push an assignment of benefits, and let the homeowner keep control of their claim. Federal law gives a homeowner three business days to cancel a contract signed at home, and a contractor who fears that window is one to avoid. The honest roofer is still working the neighborhood next year.
The contract and the contingency agreement
The contract is where the legal pieces come together, and the common form in storm work is a contingency agreement: the homeowner agrees to use the contractor for the roof if the claim is approved, at the carrier-approved scope and price, and owes nothing beyond their deductible if it is not. Done plainly, it protects both sides and commits no one to a roof the insurance never funds.
Read the assignment of benefits clause carefully, or avoid it. An assignment of benefits transfers the homeowner's claim rights to the contractor, and in the wrong hands it is the instrument behind much storm-chaser abuse, which is why several states have restricted it. A homeowner generally keeps more control by not signing one. Whether an assignment of benefits is enforceable, and on what terms, is state law, so the rule on it is the rule in the state where the property sits.
The contract should state the scope clearly, tie the price to the approved claim, name the deductible as the homeowner's, and avoid language that quietly hands over the claim. Anything about the legal effect of a clause is a question for an attorney, not the contractor's to opine on. Keep the agreement honest and let the homeowner read it without pressure.
The ethics that keep you in business
Ethics in storm restoration come down to a few hard rules that also happen to keep you out of court: assess damage honestly, never invent or exaggerate it, never touch the deductible, stay out of adjusting, and keep the homeowner's interest ahead of the quick dollar. The storm chaser works a short game and leaves. The contractor who plans to be in the same county in ten years works a long one.
The math favors honesty more than people think. A fraudulent claim can pay once and then cost the contractor a license, the homeowner a criminal charge, and both a denied claim and a wrecked record. An honest claim pays every storm, because the homeowner refers you, the adjusters trust your documentation, and your name is the one the neighborhood passes around after the next hail.
The roof you build to the approved scope, with the deductible paid and the claim worked straight, is a roof nobody can claw back. That is the whole business model, and it is not complicated. Tell the truth about the damage, do the work right, and let the licensed people handle what the law gives them.
Doing the approved work and releasing the depreciation
The repair is the part the homeowner can see, so build it to the approved scope, to current code, and to a quality that holds up, because the completion is what releases the held-back depreciation and closes the claim clean. Pull the permits the jurisdiction requires, install to the manufacturer's specification so the material warranty stands, and do the code-required items the scope includes rather than skipping them to pad margin.
The final inspection matters twice: once for the building department where one is required, and once as the documentation that the work was completed to scope. That completion record, the final invoice, proof of payment, and photos of the finished roof, is what the homeowner submits to collect the recoverable depreciation. A sloppy completion file delays the homeowner's final payment.
The roof inspection and maintenance program guide covers how that new roof should be walked and maintained from day one to reach its design life, and the leak diagnosis guide covers tracing any leak that shows up later to its real entry. A new warranty is only as good as the maintenance behind it, so hand the homeowner that file and that habit along with the roof.
The records that hold the whole job together
The records are what turn a storm job from a series of phone calls into something that survives an audit, a supplement, or a dispute years out. One organized file per property carries the inspection and its photos, the documentation of the damage, the date of loss and storm verification, the claim and the approved scope, the supplements, and the completion record that released the depreciation. Lose any piece and you are reconstructing it from memory when someone asks.
A field tool earns its place here. FieldOS keeps the photos, the measurements, the scope, and the completion documents tied to the property and the date, so the storm file is one record from first inspection to final payment, ready to hand to the adjuster, the homeowner, or a licensed professional if the claim is disputed. The table below is what that file should hold.
| Item | What | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Date of loss | Storm date and verification | NOAA or hail-map proof, not the discovery date |
| Inspection photos | Test squares, bruises, creases, soft metals | Located, dated, with scale; chalk the hit count |
| Measurements | Roof area, slopes, squares, accessories | Lets the scope be built and checked |
| Claim and scope | Carrier scope of loss and claim number | The approved work, line by line |
| Supplements | Missed and code scope, with proof | Documents the work, not the claim's value |
| Contract | Scope, price tied to the approved claim, deductible | Deductible is the homeowner's; no assignment-of-benefits pressure |
| Completion record | Final invoice, payment proof, finished photos | Releases recoverable depreciation |
Common mistakes
- Inventing or exaggerating damage, or calling old wear and blisters a storm hit.
- Waiving, eating, or rebating the deductible, which is insurance fraud and a crime in many states.
- Acting as an unlicensed public adjuster by negotiating, interpreting coverage, or settling the claim.
- Missing real damage with a sloppy inspection that never chalks a test square or checks the soft metals.
- Poor documentation: photos with no date, no location, no scale, and no hit count, that sink the claim.
- Pushing an assignment of benefits or pressuring a signature on the spot, storm-chaser style.
- Promising the homeowner a specific payout or interpreting their policy instead of pointing them to it.
- Padding a supplement with scope the photos do not support.
- Building below the approved scope or skipping code items to inflate margin.
Field checklist
Want this checklist to run itself on every job — with photo proof and a signed record crews can hand the customer? That's FieldOS.
Standards and references
There is no single code that runs a storm claim. The framework is the homeowner's policy, state insurance law, and a few industry references, and the policy and state law control every point about coverage and money.
The homeowner's policy is the document that decides the claim: what perils are covered, ACV versus RCV, the deductible, depreciation, any cosmetic exclusion, and any code-upgrade or matching endorsement. For interpreting it or disputing the carrier, the homeowner relies on a licensed public adjuster or an attorney, not the contractor. State insurance law governs who may adjust a claim, whether a deductible can be touched, and how an assignment of benefits works, and it varies enough that the only safe rule is the one in the state where the property sits. Texas, Colorado, Florida, and other states have specific statutes on deductibles, unlicensed adjusting, and assignment of benefits, so confirm the current law for your state.
For the damage call, HAAG and the shingle manufacturers provide the criteria used across the industry for what counts as functional hail and wind damage, and HAAG offers the certification many inspectors and adjusters carry. NOAA, through the National Centers for Environmental Information, is the standard source for storm verification and the date of loss. Treat these as the framework, confirm the current edition and the adopted law, and let the policy and a licensed professional govern anything about the claim itself.
Units, terms, and references
Storm restoration borrows terms from roofing, insurance, and law, and the same word can mean different things across an estimate, a policy, and a statute, so the terms are worth pinning down.
Roof area is measured in squares, where one square equals 100 square feet, and scope estimates list quantities by the square. Damage is described as functional, meaning the mat is fractured or the roof's function is harmed, versus cosmetic, meaning surface marking only. The money terms, ACV, RCV, depreciation, recoverable depreciation, deductible, and supplement, are defined below as they are used in a claim, but the policy's own definitions control.
- Storm restoration
- Assessing and documenting storm damage, helping the homeowner work the claim, and replacing the roof to the approved scope
- Functional vs cosmetic damage
- Functional damage fractures the mat or harms the roof's function; cosmetic is surface marking only, often policy-excluded
- Hail vs wind damage
- Hail leaves random bruises and granule loss; wind leaves directional creased, torn, lifted, or missing shingles
- ACV vs RCV
- Actual cash value is replacement cost minus depreciation; replacement cost value is the full cost to replace the roof today
- Recoverable depreciation
- Depreciation held back on the first check and released after the work is completed and documented
- Deductible
- The homeowner's share of the loss, owed every claim; it cannot legally be waived, eaten, or rebated
- Supplement
- A documented request to add real missed or code-required scope to the carrier's estimate, with proof
- Public adjuster
- A licensed professional who negotiates a claim for the homeowner; a contractor may not do this in most states
- Date of loss
- The date the storm occurred, verified by weather data, not the date the damage was discovered
FAQ
What is roof storm restoration?
Roof storm restoration covers everything after a hail or wind storm: the damage assessment, the documentation, supporting the homeowner's insurance claim, and the replacement to the approved scope. The contractor assesses and builds; the homeowner files and works the claim. Coverage and dollar questions belong to the policy, the carrier, and a licensed public adjuster or attorney.
What does hail damage look like on a roof?
Real hail damage is a bruise, a fracture of the shingle's mat under the granules, often with granules knocked off to the asphalt, and it feels soft where the mat broke. Hail falls randomly, so real hits scatter with no pattern and match the dents in the gutters and vents. Whether it is covered depends on the policy.
What is the difference between ACV and RCV?
Replacement cost value (RCV) is what the roof costs to replace today; actual cash value (ACV) is that figure minus depreciation for age and wear. A replacement cost policy often pays ACV first, then releases the held-back depreciation after the work is done. What your policy pays is set by the policy and the carrier.
Can a roofer waive my deductible?
No. A roofer cannot legally waive, eat, or rebate your insurance deductible. The deductible is your share of the loss and you owe it on every claim. Offering to cover it is insurance fraud, and it is a specific crime in states like Texas and Colorado. A contractor who offers it is one to avoid.
Can a contractor negotiate my insurance claim?
No. Negotiating, interpreting coverage, or settling a claim is public adjusting, which is licensed in most states, and a contractor doing it is acting illegally. The contractor assesses the damage, documents it, and builds the roof. To dispute coverage or a denial, hire a licensed public adjuster or an attorney.
What is recoverable depreciation on a roof claim?
Recoverable depreciation is the part of the replacement cost the carrier holds back on the first check and releases after the work is completed and documented. You collect it by finishing the roof and submitting the final invoice, proof of payment, and photos. What is recoverable and the deadline are set by the policy.
How do I prove the storm date for a roof claim?
The date of loss is the day the storm happened, not the day you found the damage. Carriers verify it with weather data, so pull a hail or wind report from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information or a hail-map service that places a storm over the address on that date. That report is primary proof of causation.
What is a roofing supplement?
A supplement is a documented request to add real missed or code-required scope to the carrier's first estimate, with photos and proof. It covers items like extra layers, decking, flashing, or code components found during the work. It documents the work and its cost, not the claim's value, which keeps it out of adjusting.
How do I avoid a storm-chaser roofing scam?
Avoid the crew that knocks the day after a storm, always finds damage, offers to cover your deductible, and pressures you to sign an assignment of benefits on the spot. Keep control of your claim, pay your deductible, and use a contractor who documents honestly. Federal law gives you three business days to cancel a contract signed at home.
Will insurance pay to match my undamaged shingles?
It depends on the policy and the state. When damaged shingles cannot be matched because the product is discontinued, some states and the NAIC model regulation require the carrier to produce a reasonably uniform appearance, which can push toward a fuller replacement. Whether matching applies to your claim is a coverage question for the policy and the carrier.