8 Steps to File a Claim for Hail Damage for a Roof

Hail damage to roofing happens all over the country every year, as hail storms are part of our normal life in the Midwest.  It can be a painstaking process to file a claim.  And if you don’t have an honest contractor in your corner, the insurance company could end up giving you a less than fair deal. That is why we have created this seven step process to help fellow readers file a hail damage claim for a roof.

Read on to learn the recommended insurance claim process for hail damage.

Shingle Roofing

  1. Alert Your Contractor of Choice About the Roof Damage

Good roofing contractors should offer a claim assistance program. These programs are designed to assist home/business owners through the claim process, acting as a liaison with the insurance company, protecting the best interest of the home/business owner.

Contact your local roofer of choice before you reach out to your insurance company. This will ensure you have help in your corner when it comes time to negotiate with the insurance adjusters.

  1. File a Roof Damage Claim with Your Insurance Company

Call your agent and let them know that you had a contractor out and have confirmed that there is damage on the property and you’d like to file a claim.

  1. Schedule a Meeting with an Insurance Adjuster

Insurance adjuster will call and schedule a time and date to be out at the property to assess the damages, it is imperative that you have representation at this meeting from your contractor. You want to have your contractor there who is familiar with how this process works and knows the items that need addressed at the assessment, because once the initial meeting is completed it is very hard to backtrack on missed items / damages.

  1. Review with Your Roofing Contractor

Once you receive the approved scope of work for repairs from your insurance company, you and your contractor go through the line items and make sure that all the necessary materials and items are included in the approval. If there are missing components, your contractor will communicate with your adjuster to make sure you are getting everything you are entitled to as the insured.

All code items should be included, as well as similar building products should be included in their approval – this is not always the case and an experienced contractor will know how to navigate this process on your behalf.

  1. Select Roofing Materials

Now that your insurance specialized contractor has successfully completed the supplemental process of the claim and you now have funds for your project from the insurance company, you can pick out roofing materials and get your project started. Asphalt shingle and metal roofing are common examples for the Indianapolis area.

  1. Note the Payee on the Check

Keep in mind that your checks/funds from the insurance company may have your mortgage company listed on the checks to be endorsed. This will make depositing the checks impossible without your lenders endorsement. We will handle that for you to help expedite the process and take the stress of jumping through hoops. All we need is either the blank unendorsed check, or a picture of the front and back of the unendorsed check.

  1. Let Your Contractor Take Over

Let your roofing contractor handle the project from there!  An honest roofing contractor with good reviews will get the job done from this point.

Roofing contractors repairing hail damage.

  1. Contractor Files Certification of Completion

Your contractor will file their certification of completion after the work is complete to your adjuster, and this will release any of the held back funds from the insurance company.

Contact Us with Questions

If you still have questions about how to file hail damage claim, and you need assistance in the Indianapolis area, contact us today.

Check our our reviews to learn more about us. Alternatively, you can schedule a free roof inspection with us anytime.


Hail Insurance Claim FAQs:

How long do you have to file claim for hail damage to a roof in Indiana?

The time you have to file an insurance claim is different depending on the insurance company, however most insurance policies limit your time to file a claim to within 12-24 months of the storm.

What are some insurance tips for after the hail storm?

Take pictures.  Also call a contractor that you trust to take their own pictures and perform a roof inspection as well. This gives you two sets of evidence, from two separate sources. Also, never accept the insurance company’s initial settlement offer without first running it by your roofing contractor. You will want to make sure the payout is sufficient to cover the damages.

How do storm damage claims work in regards to my roof?

It’s enough of a headache to have storm damage to your roof. Will more damage occur before you can get the roof replaced? Will leaks cause structural issues that impact the rest of your home? How will your belongings be impacted? But add in the stress of working with your insurance company to make a roofing insurance claim and your blood pressure may just jump through the roof.

Fortunately, there’s a great resource for help — and it’s not your insurance adjustor. Your roofing contractor can be an excellent source of assistance and advice throughout the process of filing an insurance claim for home damage. If you’d like to know all those tips for getting the best outcome in your roof replacement or other damage claim, establish a relationship with a trusted professional who will be on your side during this sometimes complicated and confusing process.

Working With Your Insurance Company

It’s important to move quickly to identify your roofing professional and then contact your insurance company with information about your property damage. If others in your area have been impacted by the same storm, adjusters will be busy working other storm damage claims and you want to get into the queue right away.

The first thing your insurance company will do is assign a claim representative to manage your case. That representative schedules an adjuster to physically come to your property and review the damage. This is the meeting that you need your roofer to attend, in order to make sure all the damages are recorded and covered. Your roofer can also help inform the adjuster of any local building codes that may impact how repairs must be done in your area. Don’t assume that your adjuster will know this; many adjusters are from out of the area or don’t stay updated on building codes.

Once the adjuster has seen the damage in person, your insurer will create an estimate that reflects your policy type and the repairs required to restore your property to its original state.

Reviewing Your Claim Estimate

Before starting work, ask your roofer to review the insurance estimate for any inaccuracies. Adjusters use a software program that automatically assigns coverage values for your area and type of damage. If your adjuster missed or misunderstood any part of your damage — or even if anything was keyed in incorrectly — your estimate may not be as high as it needs to be. Inaccurate measurements can also cause your claim to be wrong. Any issue that prevents you from getting the money you’re entitled to under your policy is called “under-scoping,” and your contractor is often the best person to catch these errors.

The best time to get the estimate changed is before any work begins. Your claim representative should be able to answer any questions you have and make changes to the estimate if necessary. Will this be easy? It can be, but insurance companies can sometimes be challenging to work with. That’s where your contractor can help with explaining what to ask for and deciphering the language used by the insurer in your roofing claim. If needed, your roofer can file what’s called a supplemental with your insurance company to demonstrate why specific materials or work is needed to restore your roof to its former, undamaged state.  

Once you understand and are comfortable with the estimate, your roofing contractor can prepare a contract that outlines the repair or replacement as covered by the insurer. Signing the contract means that you’re responsible for paying the contractor, even if everything is not covered by the insurance company, so make sure you have read it carefully and understand the scope of the work to be done on your home.

Request Free Claim Assistance

We are happy to help you through the claim process.  Allow our consultants to answer any questions or offer a free inspection.

Contact us today if you have any questions about getting started. 

Get a Free Inspection

Sidebar Quote Request
By submitting this form, you authorize Allegiant Exteriors to text, call, and email you regarding your inquiry. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies.

Schedule a Free Inspection

chevron-downarrow-rightchevron-down-circle