If hail or wind just tore through your roof, your first move matters more than you think. The difference between a successful insurance claim and a denied one often comes down to what you do in the first 48 hours. You need documentation, you need to prevent further damage, and you need to avoid actions that can hurt your case later. This is the time to be methodical, not panic-driven.
Take photos and video before anything else
Get outside as soon as it's safe and document everything. Use your phone. Take wide shots of the whole roof from the ground, then close-ups of individual damaged shingles, dents in gutters, broken seals around vents, and any water stains on the interior. Video walkthrough of the damage works too. Don't climb on the roof yourself if it's steep or unstable, especially after a storm. The photos are proof for your adjuster. Your insurance company will want to see the damage exactly as it occurred, not after repairs have started.
Call your insurance company the same day
Get a claim number. Give them a brief, factual description of what happened. The date, the type of storm, the direction it came from if you know it. Don't exaggerate or speculate about the dollar amount of damage. Just report what you see. Ask them to send an adjuster and how long it typically takes. Some insurers process hail claims faster than others. Get the adjuster's name and phone number. If you're dealing with a major storm event in the area, there may be a backlog, so knowing the timeline helps you plan.
Prevent additional damage right now
If there's an active leak, you need to contain it inside. Put buckets down, move furniture away from the drip zone, and document the water damage with photos. If shingles are missing and rain is coming, you can place tarps over the affected area as a temporary measure. The key word is temporary. You're protecting the interior of the home from further damage, not making permanent repairs. Your insurance may actually require you to take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage. If you ignore a leak and water ruins your drywall or insulation, the insurer might claim you failed to mitigate.
Don't hire a roofer yet
This is where people stumble. A contractor shows up at your door the day after a storm, offers to file the claim for you, and gets you to sign a contract. Step back. You want your own adjuster to see the damage first. If you hire a roofer and they start repairs before the insurance inspection, you've compromised the claim. The adjuster needs to see the original damage. Some contractors are honest and will wait for the inspection. Others will start work anyway and then claim the insurance owes them more than the estimate. Let the insurance process run first. You can always get repair quotes afterward.
Know what your deductible is
Before the adjuster arrives, dig out your policy and know your deductible. If you have a wind or hail deductible, it's often different from your regular deductible and usually higher. A $500 regular deductible might jump to 2 percent of your home's insured value for wind or hail. On a $300,000 home, that's $6,000. Knowing this number ahead of time keeps you from being shocked when the adjuster tells you what you owe out of pocket.
Get a second opinion if needed
If the adjuster's estimate seems low or you disagree with their assessment, you have the right to hire your own inspector. This is called a reinspection or independent inspection. Many roofers offer this as part of their service. They'll document damage the adjuster may have missed, like underlayment damage or structural issues. This costs money upfront but can result in a higher claim payout. Keep all documentation. Your own inspector's report is evidence you can present to the insurance company.
Keep records of everything
Save every email, every photo, every receipt, every note about phone calls with your insurance company or contractor. Write down the date and time of conversations and who you talked to. This trail of documentation protects you if there's a dispute later. If the insurance company denies part of the claim, you'll have evidence to support your position.
When the claim process is done and you're ready to move forward with repairs, Spartan Roof Construction can handle the work. We've dealt with plenty of insurance claims over the years and understand what's needed to do the job right. Call us at your convenience to discuss your roof and what comes next.
