Question 1

What actually happens during a free inspection?

Accepted Answer

I walk the roof when it's safe to, fly the drone when it isn't, and photograph everything, field shingles, ridges, valleys, vents, flashing, gutters, and the soft metals like downspouts and window wraps that often show hail first. Then I sit down with you and go through the photos. You get a plain-English answer about what I found, whether it rises to the level of a claim, and what I'd do if it were my house. It usually takes 30 to 45 minutes.

Question 2

Is the inspection really free, with no catch?

Accepted Answer

Yes. No fee, no deposit, no obligation, and no contract to sign in order to get one. I make money when people hire me for work that's genuinely needed, not by charging for a look. If your roof is fine, I'll tell you it's fine and you'll have documentation and photos for your records.

Question 3

How soon can you get out here?

Accepted Answer

Often the same day, usually within 48 hours. After a big storm the calendar fills quickly, so call early, the sooner I get documentation, the stronger your position with insurance if it comes to that.

Question 4

Do I need to be home?

Accepted Answer

It helps but it isn't required. I can inspect and send you the photo report, then walk through it with you by phone. For the adjuster meeting I'd rather you be there if you can, so you hear the same conversation I do.

Question 5

How often should I have my roof looked at?

Accepted Answer

Once a year is a good rhythm in Colorado, plus after any storm that drops hail bigger than a nickel or brings sustained high wind. Damage compounds quietly, a lifted shingle or a cracked pipe boot costs very little to fix now and turns into drywall and insulation work later.

Question 6

Will you use a drone on my roof?

Accepted Answer

When it's the right tool, yes, I'm an FAA licensed drone pilot. Drones are ideal for steep pitches, tile, wet or icy conditions, and for getting overall imagery an adjuster can orient from. For hail I still want hands and eyes on the shingles whenever it's safe, because bruising is something you feel as much as see.

Question 7

Should I file a claim every time it hails?

Accepted Answer

No. Filing a claim that gets denied still shows up in your claim history. That's why I inspect first: if there's clear, documentable damage, filing makes sense. If it's cosmetic granule loss or normal wear, I'll tell you to hold off. That call is free and it's yours to make, I just give you the honest read.

Question 8

How does the money actually flow on an insurance roof?

Accepted Answer

Most Colorado policies are replacement cost value. The carrier first sends the actual cash value, the replacement cost minus depreciation and minus your deductible. Work gets done. Then I invoice the carrier with proof of completion, and they release the recoverable depreciation. You pay your deductible and, in the end, that's typically your out-of-pocket cost.

Question 9

What is recoverable depreciation, in plain terms?

Accepted Answer

It's the part of your roof's value the insurance company holds back because your old roof was used, not new. Once the new roof is actually installed, that held-back money is released to you. It isn't a discount and it isn't lost, it's just paid in the second check after the work is complete.

Question 10

Can you waive or cover my deductible?

Accepted Answer

No, and be careful with anyone who offers to. In Colorado it's illegal for a contractor to pay, rebate, or absorb your insurance deductible. Any contractor willing to break that law with you is telling you something about how they'll handle the rest of your project.

Question 11

Will you meet my adjuster on the roof?

Accepted Answer

Every time, if you want me there, and I recommend it. Adjusters are managing a heavy load and one pass over a roof can miss items. Being up there together means we're looking at the same shingles and talking about the same scope, which is how legitimate items get included the first time instead of through weeks of supplements.

Question 12

What if my claim gets denied?

Accepted Answer

A denial isn't always the end. Sometimes the inspection was partial, sometimes items got scoped incorrectly, sometimes the report and photos don't match what's actually on the roof. I'll go through the adjuster's report with you, compare it to my documentation, and if there's a legitimate basis I'll help you request a re-inspection. If the denial is correct, I'll tell you that too.

Question 13

Will filing a claim raise my rates?

Accepted Answer

I'm a roofer, not your agent, so ask them for specifics on your policy. Generally, hail and wind are considered acts of nature rather than at-fault losses, and carriers in Colorado adjust rates regionally after big storm years whether or not you personally filed. What I can tell you is that filing a weak claim that gets denied has downside with no upside, which is why I inspect first.

Question 14

What's a Class 4 shingle and do I need one?

Accepted Answer

Class 4 is the top impact-resistance rating, tested by dropping steel balls on the shingle. In a hail state that's a meaningful upgrade, it holds up better to the storms we actually get, and most Colorado carriers offer a premium discount for having them. On many projects I'm able to get the Class 4 upgrade included at no additional cost to you. Ask me and I'll tell you straight whether your project qualifies.

Question 15

What warranty comes with the work?

Accepted Answer

Two separate things. The manufacturer warranty covers the shingle itself, and length depends on the product and system installed. My workmanship warranty covers the installation, up to 15 years, which is well beyond the industry standard of one to five. Most roof problems are installation problems, so that's the warranty that matters most.

Question 16

What does Owens Corning Platinum Preferred mean?

Accepted Answer

It's Owens Corning's top contractor tier, limited to a small percentage of roofers, and it requires credentials, insurance, and a track record of workmanship they verify. Practically, it means I can offer their strongest system warranties, which is only worth something because those warranties require the whole system to be installed correctly, not just the shingles.

Question 17

How long should a new roof last in Colorado?

Accepted Answer

Colorado is hard on roofs, intense UV at altitude, big temperature swings, wind, and hail. A quality architectural shingle system that never takes a serious hailstorm can go 20 to 25 years here. Realistically, most Front Range roofs are replaced on a storm timeline rather than a wear timeline, which is another argument for impact-resistant shingles.

Question 18

Metal, tile, or asphalt, what should I pick?

Accepted Answer

Asphalt is the right answer for most homes: strong performance, the widest color range, and the best value. Metal costs more up front and lasts longer, handles wind beautifully, and looks sharp on the right architecture. Tile is heavy and requires the structure to support it. I'll walk you through what your roof, your neighborhood, and your budget actually support instead of pushing the highest ticket.

Question 19

Do you replace the underlayment and flashing too?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A roof is a system. New synthetic underlayment, ice-and-water shield where code requires it, new pipe boots, and new or properly reused flashing. Reusing tired pipe boots to save fifty dollars is the single most common shortcut in this industry and it's the most common source of leaks I get called out to fix.

Question 20

How long does a roof replacement take?

Accepted Answer

Most residential roofs are a single day, tear-off in the morning, dry-in, new system on, cleanup before dark. Larger or steeper homes and complex cut-up roofs can run two days. Commercial and low-slope projects run longer and get their own schedule up front.

Question 21

What do I need to do to prepare?

Accepted Answer

Move vehicles out of the driveway, take down anything fragile hanging on interior walls, and if you have pets that startle easily, plan to have them somewhere quiet. It's loud. Everything else is on me, dumpster placement, material drop, and protecting landscaping and AC units.

Question 22

What happens to all the nails and debris?

Accepted Answer

We tarp as we go, clean throughout the day, and run magnets over the yard, driveway, and street at the end. If you find a nail after we leave, call me and I'll come back out. That's not a hypothetical courtesy, I'd rather return for ten minutes than have you step on something.

Question 23

Do you pull permits?

Accepted Answer

Yes, on every job that requires one, and I handle the municipal final inspection. Skipping permits can create real problems when you go to sell, and some jurisdictions on the Front Range are strict about it. It's part of the job, not an add-on.

Question 24

Who's actually on my roof, you or a subcontractor?

Accepted Answer

I work with crews I've used repeatedly and trust, and I'm your point of contact throughout. You're not going to get handed off to a call center or a rotating project manager. My phone number is on the site because I answer it.

Question 25

What if it rains mid-project?

Accepted Answer

We watch the forecast and we don't tear off more than we can dry in. If weather rolls in unexpectedly, the roof gets fully tarped and secured before anyone leaves. Your home stays weathertight even if the finish date slips a day.

Question 26

What does a new roof cost?

Accepted Answer

It depends on square footage, pitch, complexity, number of layers to remove, material, and deck condition, so any number quoted before someone has seen your roof is a guess. My estimates are free, written, itemized, and they don't expire in 24 hours to pressure you.

Question 27

Do I have to pay anything up front?

Accepted Answer

No money down on standard projects, and on many jobs you pay after completion. I'd rather earn the payment than hold your deposit. Insurance-funded projects follow the carrier's payment schedule, which I'll walk you through before we start.

Question 28

Is financing available?

Accepted Answer

Yes, financing is available through third-party lenders and is subject to credit approval. Terms, rates, and approval come from the lender, not from me, so I won't promise a specific number, but I can point you to the application and answer questions about how it fits your project.

Question 29

Can the roof be paid through the title company at closing?

Accepted Answer

In many real estate transactions, yes. If a seller needs a roof completed before closing but doesn't want to pay out of pocket first, payment can often be arranged through the title company at closing out of proceeds. I coordinate with the agent and title so the deal stays on schedule. This depends on the transaction and the parties agreeing to it, bring me in early and we'll figure it out.

Question 30

Why is the cheapest bid usually the most expensive one?

Accepted Answer

Because the difference is almost always in what got left out: reused pipe boots, no ice-and-water shield, no permit, thinner underlayment, a one-year workmanship warranty. You don't find out until the first real storm. Compare scopes line by line, not just totals, and if my number is higher, ask me exactly what it's buying.

Question 31

Do you charge for estimates or second opinions?

Accepted Answer

Never. If another contractor told you that you need a full replacement and you want a second set of eyes, call me. Sometimes I confirm what they said. Sometimes I tell you the roof has five good years left and you should keep your money.

Question 32

I can't see any damage from the ground. Do I still need to look?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Hail bruising rarely looks like anything from the driveway, it's a soft spot where the granules were knocked loose and the mat underneath was fractured. It shortens the roof's life immediately and shows up as leaks years later, often after your filing window has closed.

Question 33

How big does hail have to be to damage a roof?

Accepted Answer

One inch is a common rule of thumb, but it depends on wind speed, hail density, the age of your shingles, and the slope facing the storm. I've seen quarter-size hail wreck a 17-year-old roof and golf ball hail leave a two-year-old Class 4 roof essentially fine.

Question 34

How long do I have to file after a storm?

Accepted Answer

Colorado policies commonly require filing within a set period after the date of loss, and one year is a frequent limit, but read your policy, because carriers differ. The practical advice: don't wait. Get it documented while the storm date is easy to establish.

Question 35

Do you do emergency tarping?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If water is coming in, call and I'll get the roof covered and secured to stop further damage while we sort out the permanent repair and the claim. Interior damage compounds fast, so speed matters more than paperwork in that first day.

Question 36

Someone knocked on my door after the storm. Should I sign?

Accepted Answer

Don't sign anything on a doorstep. Storm-chasing outfits follow hail across states, sign as many contracts as they can, and are gone before your warranty means anything. Ask where their office is, how long they've been in Colorado, and who you call in five years. Then get a second opinion from someone local.

Question 37

Is wind damage covered the same as hail?

Accepted Answer

Generally yes, both are typically covered perils, but wind claims are often scoped more narrowly, carriers may approve a slope or a repair rather than a full replacement. Documentation matters even more here: creased shingles, missing tabs, and lifted edges need to be photographed clearly to make the case.

The stuff people actually ask me.

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