Hail, wind, and the insurance part
Emergency tarping within 24 hours. Then a proper inspection, and an honest answer about whether you have a claim worth filing.
How a claim actually goes
Most homeowners only do this once. Here's the whole thing, including the parts other contractors leave out.
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1
We inspect, free
On the roof, not from the driveway. We mark and photograph every hit, check the soft metals, and look at the siding and screens too — that's often where the adjuster is convinced.
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2
We tell you whether to file
Sometimes the damage is real but under your deductible, and filing just puts a claim on your record. We'll say so. About a third of our storm inspections end with “don't file”.
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3
You file, we document
You make the call to your carrier — it has to be you. We send you the full photo report and the measurements to attach.
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4
We meet the adjuster
On the roof, with our report. This is the step that changes outcomes. Adjusters are moving fast and miss things; we walk it with them.
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5
Scope and supplements
If the approved scope misses something code requires, we supplement with documentation. That's between us and the carrier, not more money out of you.
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6
Build, then paperwork
We do the roof, send the certificate of completion, and the carrier releases the final payment. You pay your deductible and that's it.
Things storm chasers won't tell you
After a big hail event this area fills with out-of-state crews in unmarked trucks. Some are fine. Many are gone by the time the roof leaks.
- “We'll waive your deductible.” That's insurance fraud in Minnesota, and you're the one on the policy.
- Door-knocking the day after a storm. Nobody who intends to warranty a roof for 25 years needs to work that way.
- A contract to “authorise inspection”. Read it. It's often an assignment of benefits that hands them your claim.
- No local address. Ask where the shop is. Then drive past it.
What homeowners ask us
Will filing a claim raise my rates?
A weather claim is usually treated differently from an at-fault claim, but carriers vary and we're roofers, not agents. Call your agent and ask directly before you file — it's a five-minute call and it's the right person to answer it.
How long do I have to file?
Most policies here give you a year from the date of loss, some two. Don't wait, though — proving which storm did it gets harder every month, and so does finding a crew after a big event.
What if my claim gets denied?
We'll look at the adjuster's report with you. Denials often come down to a scope the adjuster wrote from the ground. Re-inspections get approved often enough to be worth asking for, and we'll attend that one too.
What do I pay?
Your deductible, and nothing else, on an approved claim. The inspection, the documentation, the adjuster meeting, and the supplementing are all part of the job.
Can I just pay out of pocket?
Of course. Plenty of people do when the damage is under the deductible or they'd rather not involve the carrier. Same price, same warranty.