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What to Do Before Contacting Your Insurer About Roof Damage
Calling your insurer is easy; calling prepared is smart. What you do before contacting your insurer about roof damage determines whether the conversation goes smoothly or sideways. Here's the order of operations — general education, not claims advice.
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1. Get a professional inspection first
Know what you're claiming before you claim it. A roofer's inspection tells you: is there functional damage, how extensive, and is it storm-related or wear? Filing a claim for damage that doesn't exceed your deductible — or that's clearly wear — puts a claim on your record with no payout. An inspection first means you call your insurer with facts, not guesses.
2. Document thoroughly
Dated photos of all damage (ground-level is fine for your records), the storm's date, your written log of observations, and the roofer's written findings. Also gather "before" photos if you have them — they prove the damage is new. Organized documentation makes every downstream step easier.
3. Read your policy — actually read it
Before the call, know: your deductible (including any separate wind/hail deductible), whether roof coverage is ACV or replacement cost, your claim filing deadline, and key exclusions (cosmetic damage, wear, matching). The declarations page plus the exclusions section answer most of it. Calling without this knowledge means learning it from the adjuster, on their terms.
4. Mitigate further damage
Policies generally require you to prevent additional damage — tarping an opening, for example. Keep receipts for emergency mitigation; they're typically reimbursable. Don't, however, start permanent repairs before the adjuster sees the damage — that can complicate the claim.
One call connects you. Best Colorado Roofing is a lead-generation platform — call the number on this site to be connected with an independent roofer for pre-claim inspection. See roof insurance claim help and roof inspection.
FAQs
Should I get multiple roofer opinions before calling my insurer?
One thorough professional inspection is usually enough to decide whether claiming makes sense. Multiple inspections help if the first finding is borderline.
How long do I have to file after storm damage?
It varies by policy — commonly one to two years, sometimes less. Check your policy's deadline; waiting too long is one of the most common claim mistakes.
Related reading
- Can You Get a Roof Inspection Before Filing a Claim? — yes — and you should
- How to Document Roof Damage for an Insurance Claim — documentation specifics
- What Information May an Insurer Request After Roof Damage? — what they'll ask for
- All roofing guides — browse the resource library
Thinking about a claim? Inspect first.
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