How to Get Homeowner’s Insurance to Pay for Your Roof Replacement

It’s discouraging when your roof is damaged by a severe storm, fire, or other unforeseen event. You may wonder how you’re going to afford the repairs, and the damage may be so extensive that you’ll need a roof replacement. 

Fortunately, it may be possible to get homeowner’s insurance to pay for your roof replacement. Depending on what caused the damage and what’s covered in your policy, you may be able to receive a payout that will cover most of the repairs, or even a complete replacement, by following these steps:

1. Document the damage
2. Take steps to limit additional damage
3. Understand your policy
4. Get a roof inspection
5. File a claim

Most people rarely need to file this sort of claim, so if it comes up, it may seem overwhelming. In this article, we’ll explain each of these steps in more detail.

Try not to worry, and take things one step at a time. At Erie Home, we can help by examining the damage and creating a report you can submit to your insurance company.

Steps to Get Homeowner’s Insurance to Pay for Your Roof

To increase the odds that your claim will be approved, take the following steps.

1. Document the Damage

After a bad storm, carefully examine your roof. Before removing any debris, take pictures or have your roof inspector do so, as you want the insurance adjuster to see evidence of what happened.

The more proof you have of the damage and what caused it—photos of fallen trees and branches or hailstones, for instance—the better your chances of getting a payout.

It also helps if you have pictures of your roof before it was damaged. Then, make note of the date and time when you first noticed the damage. Finally, list any other things that may have been damaged, such as ceilings, siding, and personal belongings.

2. Limit Additional Damage

Once you’ve documented everything, you want to make sure the existing damage doesn’t get worse. Patch any holes and complete any temporary repairs to prevent additional problems. You might use a roof sealant to temporarily stop any leaks, for instance.

If you hire help for this step, be sure to document it and keep records, as your insurance company may reimburse you for it. Do only what is absolutely necessary to prevent further damage to your home.

3. Understand Your Policy

Before filing your claim, call your insurance agent to find out how to do it. Most policies give you only a limited amount of time after the damaging event to file a claim, so don’t wait.

Also, be sure to ask questions about next steps, what to expect and what your policy covers. Try to have any questions ready when you’re speaking to someone on the phone, as it can sometimes be hard to reach your adjuster directly later in the process.

4. Get a Roof Inspection

Knowing the extent of your damage will help you present a strong case to your insurance company. Next, find a reputable roofing contractor to prepare an inspection report; some insurance companies will require this type of report before approving an insurance claim. Make sure you keep a copy of the report.

A roofing contractor can also give you an estimate of what it will cost to get the necessary repairs or a replacement. Your insurance adjuster will also come up with an estimate, but it can help to have an independent estimate so you can compare them.

5. File Your Claim

Following the process outlined by your insurance company, file your claim and send in any necessary documentation. This includes the photos and documentation you made yourself, as well as the inspection report and repair estimate.

Once the insurance company receives your claim, they’ll send an adjuster to your house to prepare a damage report. At this stage, they may also ask for additional information. Once that visit is completed, all you have to do is wait to see if your claim is approved.

How to Negotiate with Your Homeowner’s Insurance for a Roof Replacement

Many of the steps above—including documenting the damage and getting a roof inspection—will help bolster your insurance claim. It can also help to have a reputable roofing contractor like Erie Home meet with your insurance adjuster to point out any damage they may miss.

Even if you take all these steps, it’s still possible the company will either deny your claim or come back with an offer that seems low to you. In those situations, follow these tips.

The Insurance Company Offers You Less Than You Need

Sometimes, the insurance offer may be lower than you expected because the insurance company left off certain line items when calculating the cost to repair or replace your roof.

These items may include certain roofing components, code upgrades, or the contractor’s overhead and profit.

The insurance company is likely to estimate a percentage of the total bid as appropriate for a profit margin, but their estimates are often lower than what roofing contractors require to stay in business.

Whatever the reasons, you have three options.

1. Supplement the roof damage insurance claim.

Work with your roofing contractor to include every line item needed for the repair or replacement. This may include labor, dump fees, overhead, profit, and more.

A quality roofing contractor will have experience negotiating with insurance companies and can help you complete this report in a way that the insurance company will accept.

However, the report needs to come from you, not the roofing contractor, so take the information the contractor gives you and send it in yourself.

2. Pay the difference yourself.

A supplemental claim can take months to process. If the difference between what you hoped to get and what the insurance company offered isn’t too large, you may choose to pay the difference yourself out of pocket.

3. Finance the difference.

If you can’t afford to pay the difference out-of-pocket, you can get a loan to cover it. Erie Home offers financing options that can help in this situation.

The Insurance Company Denies Your Claim

Start by checking the policy and the reason for the denial. Some insurance companies exclude certain types of damage, such as any from an earthquake. It could also be that their estimate for repairing the damage is less than your deductible.

If you feel your claim was denied in error, schedule a re-inspection with your insurance company and ask for a second opinion by a different adjuster. When the adjuster comes out, have a trustworthy roofing contractor on site to document the list of damages along with the adjuster. You will probably also need to file an appeal with the insurance company.

The appeal process can take time, so be prepared for that. When you file the appeal, ask your agent for an expected resolution date. If you haven’t heard from them by that time, check back.

If the second adjuster agrees with the first that your claim should be denied and you still want to fight it, contact a structural engineer. They will inspect your roof and create a report to add to the evidence you already have, but you’ll need to pay for this report yourself.

If all else fails, you’ll need to choose between accepting the denial or lodging a complaint with the Insurance Commissioner in your state. Keep in mind that this route can be quite lengthy and tiresome, so you should only pursue it if your roof has obvious damage and your insurance company is not cooperating.

Schedule Your Roof Repair or Replacement

Once your claim is approved, you can move forward with repairs or a roof replacement. Just be sure you follow the insurance company’s instructions carefully, as they may require you to take certain steps before giving you the total payout.

For example, the company may give you partial funds to start the work but withhold the final payment until the work is done and the adjuster inspects it. At Erie Home, we will work with you to take the appropriate steps to get your highest possible payout. Call us today at 1-800-998-8301 or contact us to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should you not say to a roof adjuster?

When the insurance adjuster comes to inspect your roof, it’s best to have a reputable roof contractor there to help guide them through the damage. Meanwhile, don’t say anything that may negatively affect your claim.

For example, avoid statements that:

• Downplay the damages. You want to get the highest payout possible from your insurance company, so let the roofing contractor do their job of pointing out all the damage that occurred.
• Admit fault. You may not have performed the necessary maintenance on your roof, but this isn’t the time to discuss that. Be careful about answering any questions that would lead the adjuster to think you were at fault.
• Are not true. Although it’s wise to be careful when answering questions, it’s also important to be honest. An adjuster who thinks you’re withholding information or committing fraud will be less likely to approve your claim.

What is the replacement cost in insurance?

Replacement cost means that your insurance company will pay to rebuild your roof without deducting for depreciation. This is a special provision on your insurance policy and typically costs more in the form of higher premiums.

What happens if you disagree with the insurance adjuster?

If you disagree with the adjuster’s conclusions about your roof, you can ask for a second opinion from a different adjuster. It’s best to put this request in writing, explain why you disagree, and then request a second opinion.

What is a low settlement offer?

A low settlement offer—sometimes called a “lowball” offer—is an insurance company’s offer that fails to cover the expenses involved in repairing or replacing your damaged roof.

Review your policy and compare it to your insurance company’s reason for its offer. Document everything, then re-approach your insurer.

What is the loss settlement option in homeowner’s insurance?

The loss settlement is the funds that the insurance company pays out to you in response to your homeowner’s insurance claim.