Storm Damage Roof Repair: Insurance Claims, Emergency Steps, and Finding the Right Contractor

A severe storm just hit your area and you suspect roof damage. The next 48-72 hours are critical for protecting your home and maximizing your insurance recovery. Here's the step-by-step playbook.

Immediate Steps (First 24 Hours)

1. Ensure safety first. Don't climb on your roof - it may be structurally compromised. Assess damage from the ground with binoculars or from windows. Look for missing shingles, visible holes, sagging areas, downed tree limbs, and water stains on interior ceilings.

2. Prevent further damage. If water is entering your home, place buckets under leaks and move valuables away from affected areas. If the damage is severe, call an emergency roofing service for temporary tarping ($200-$500 for most homes). Your insurance policy requires you to mitigate further damage - tarping costs are reimbursable.

3. Document everything. Take extensive photos and video of all visible damage - exterior and interior. Photograph damaged shingles, missing sections, dents, cracks, water stains, and any personal property damage. Date-stamp everything. This documentation is critical for your insurance claim.

Filing the Insurance Claim

4. Contact your insurance company within 24-48 hours. Report the damage and request a claim number. Ask about your policy's specific deadlines for filing (some policies require notice within 30-60 days). Provide your photo documentation. Ask when an adjuster will inspect the property.

5. Understand your coverage. Most homeowners policies cover storm damage (wind, hail, falling trees) under dwelling coverage. Your responsibility is the deductible - typically $1,000-$2,500 for standard policies, or 1-5% of home value for hurricane/wind deductibles in coastal areas. The insurance company pays the rest of the approved repair or replacement cost.

Working with the Insurance Adjuster

6. Be present for the adjuster's inspection. Walk the property with them. Point out all damage you've documented. The adjuster's job is to assess damage, but they may miss items or undervalue damage - your documentation helps ensure nothing is overlooked.

7. Get your own estimate. Have a reputable roofing contractor inspect the damage and provide an independent estimate before the adjuster visits, or shortly after. If the contractor's estimate exceeds the adjuster's assessment, you can use it to negotiate a higher settlement. Many experienced storm damage contractors will meet the adjuster on-site to advocate for proper repair scope.

Choosing a Storm Damage Contractor

8. Avoid storm chasers. After major storms, out-of-town contractors flood the area, going door-to-door offering free inspections. While some are legitimate, many are fly-by-night operations that do substandard work and vanish. Red flags include out-of-state license plates, no local office or references, pressure to sign immediately before talking to insurance, offering to pay or waive your deductible (insurance fraud), and requiring large upfront payments.

9. Choose a reputable local contractor. The ideal storm damage contractor has been in business locally for 5+ years, holds proper licensing and insurance, has experience with insurance claims, will meet the adjuster on-site, provides a written estimate that itemizes all work, and has verifiable local references. Ask specifically about their insurance claim experience. A good contractor knows how to document damage in the language insurance companies respond to, which typically results in a higher approved settlement.

Common Insurance Claim Pitfalls

Accepting the first offer. Insurance companies' initial estimates are often lower than the actual repair cost. You can negotiate. A contractor's detailed estimate gives you leverage. If the gap is significant, consider hiring a public adjuster (they take 10-15% of the settlement but typically recover significantly more).

Waiting too long. Most policies have deadlines for reporting damage and completing repairs. Delays can reduce or void your coverage. File promptly and begin repairs once the claim is approved.