Roof Insurance Claim Assistance
A roof insurance claim can feel overwhelming, especially right after a storm. This guide walks you through how the process usually works, what the terms on your estimate mean and how to protect yourself. When you’re ready, Emergency Roofing Solutions can inspect your roof for free, document the damage and meet your adjuster on site.
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How a roof insurance claim usually works
Every claim is a little different, but most follow these six steps. The photos are from our own inspections and jobs.
Protect your home and document the damage
Take photos inside and out, and get any openings tarped to prevent more damage. Keep every receipt.
Get a professional inspection
A roofer can find hail and wind damage you can’t see from the ground and tell you whether it’s worth filing.
File the claim with your insurer
Call your insurance company or agent, report the date of the storm and write down your claim number.
Meet the adjuster
Your insurer sends an adjuster to inspect the roof. Having your roofer there helps make sure all the damage is seen and noted.
Review the estimate
Your insurer sends a written estimate (often called the scope of loss). Read it carefully and ask questions about anything that looks missing.
Complete the repair and close the claim
After the work is done, some policies release a second payment once you send proof of completion.
How we help with your claim
You stay in charge of your claim. We’re roofers, not public adjusters or attorneys. Here’s what we do:
- Free roof inspection, with photos of the damage we find.
- A straight answer on whether the damage looks worth filing.
- Emergency tarping if water is getting in. See Emergency Roof Tarping.
- We meet your adjuster on site so all the damage is seen and noted.
- We do the work, from repairs to full replacements.
For more on how we work with insurance, see our Insurance Claims page.
Insurance terms, in plain English
Deductible
The amount you pay toward the claim before insurance pays the rest. It’s set by your policy.
Replacement cost value (RCV)
What it costs to replace your roof today with similar materials.
Actual cash value (ACV)
Replacement cost minus depreciation for the roof’s age and wear.
Recoverable depreciation
On many replacement-cost policies, insurers first pay the ACV, then release the held-back depreciation after the work is finished. Many policies set a time limit for this, so check yours.
Supplement
A request to the insurer to add items that were missed in the original estimate, such as damage found once old shingles are removed.
Your policy decides
Every policy is different. Your agent or insurer can explain exactly what yours covers.
Your rights under Georgia law
Georgia has a law for homeowners who sign a roofing contract that will be paid from an insurance claim (O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.12). In plain English, it says:
5 business days to cancel
If your insurer tells you in writing that all or part of your claim isn’t covered, you can cancel the roofing contract before midnight on the fifth business day after you get that notice.
A cancellation form with your contract
Before you sign, the roofer has to give you a written notice of this right and a detachable “Notice of Cancellation” form.
No payment during that window
The roofer can’t require payment until those five business days have passed. The exception is emergency work, like tarping, that you agree in writing is needed to prevent more damage.
Roofers can’t negotiate your claim
A roofing contractor can’t represent you or negotiate your claim with your insurer. That’s up to you, or someone licensed to do it, such as a public adjuster.
This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. You can read the full law in the Georgia Code.
Insurance claim FAQs
What should I keep on file?
Your claim number, the adjuster’s name and contact information, photos of the damage, the insurer’s estimate, all receipts (including tarping) and copies of every contract you sign.
How do I avoid storm chasers?
Be cautious of contractors who show up uninvited after a storm, pressure you to sign right away or ask for large payments up front. Choose a local roofer with a real address and reviews you can check.
Can a contractor cover my deductible?
Be wary of anyone who offers to waive or absorb your deductible. Your deductible is your responsibility under your policy, and offers like that can cause problems with your claim.
Do you handle the claim for me?
You stay in charge of your claim. We’re roofers, not public adjusters or attorneys. We inspect, document the damage with photos, meet your adjuster on site and do the work. For more on how we help, see our Insurance Claims page.
Is water coming in right now?
Call 404-474-4222 any time, or see Emergency Roof Tarping.
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What Our Customers Say
Workers were fast and efficient. They did an excellent job in such a short time. I will highly recommend them in the future to anyone who has roofing needs. And Ricky was most helpful as well.
4 months ago
Ricky was an awesome salesman and I will tell all my friends about him
4 months ago
Working with Ricky was an awesome experience. He kept me informed every step of the way. His service hands down was the best. I will recommend him to my family and friends.
5 months ago
Ricky was amazing throughout the process. He answered all my questions. The crew was great and they cleaned before they left. The roof looks great.
5 months ago
Working with Ricky has been amazing. Hands down would recommend
5 months ago
Jabari Bulger came to my door after seeing that my roof was seriously in need of replacement. He walked me through the process with insurance and the roof replacement seamlessly. I'm very happy with my choice to use Emergency Roofing Solutions.
6 months ago
Jabari was knowledgeable, friendly, honest, and very helpful during the entire process.
6 months ago
I highly recommend ERS. Jabari and his crew were professional and were attentive to our needs. I am especially grateful because this was our first roof replacement, and he guided us through the - at times - arduous process. His colleague John was very courteous and reassuring on the build date. Go with ERS!
6 months ago
I hired Emergency Roofing Solutions after learning my roof, which had been updated before I bought the house, was missing proper ventilation. I had been noticing issues early on, especially in the summer, condensation around my HVAC unit, poor airflow, and my system working much harder than it should to keep the house cool. Cas…
7 months ago
Ricky Downs is wonderful and I will recommend him to all my family and friends
7 months ago
Schedule Your Free Metro Atlanta Roof Assessment
Tell us about your roof and we’ll get back to you. Prefer to talk? Call 404-474-4222, 24/7.