Insurance Claims
You shouldn't have to learn insurance to get your roof fixed.
Most homeowners file exactly one roof claim in their lifetime. The person on the other side of the conversation handles them every single day. Closing that gap, with documentation and plain English, is most of what I do.
The asymmetry
One claim in your life, against someone who does this daily.
That imbalance is the real problem with roof claims. Not bad faith, just experience, on one side only.
Your carrier's adjuster has walked thousands of roofs. They know what a complete scope looks like, which line items get questioned, and what documentation moves a file forward. You've never done this before, and you're learning the vocabulary while making decisions with real money attached.
That's not a conspiracy. Most adjusters I meet are decent people working through a heavy storm queue. But a scope written after a fifteen-minute inspection with no one advocating for the details will miss things, and the person who eats those misses is you.
My job is to close the information gap. I document the damage thoroughly before anything is filed, I'm on the roof when the adjuster inspects, and I make sure the scope reflects what the job actually requires, including the code items and details that get overlooked in a fast walk.
And I explain it as we go. By the end of your claim you should understand your own deductible, why the first check was smaller than the estimate, and what recoverable depreciation is. Not because you'll need it again soon, but because you shouldn't have to take anyone's word for what's happening with your money.
The claim process
Eight steps, start to finish.
Here's the whole thing laid out. No step is a surprise, and you'll know which one you're on at any given time.
- Step 01
Free inspection and documentation
I get on the roof, photograph everything with drone and close-up imagery, and put together a written record of what the storm did. This happens before anyone contacts an insurance company.
- Step 02
We decide together whether filing makes sense
We look at the photos next to your deductible. If the damage clearly exceeds it, filing is straightforward. If it's marginal, I'll say so, a claim you didn't need isn't free.
- Step 03
You file with your carrier
The policyholder files the claim. That's you, by law and by policy. I'll tell you exactly what information to have ready and what to expect them to ask, but the call is yours to make.
- Step 04
I meet your adjuster on the roof
Your carrier sends a field adjuster. I'm there with my documentation, walking the same slopes, pointing out the test squares and damage I found. This single step is the difference between a complete scope and a partial one.
- Step 05
Scope agreed and approved
The carrier issues a scope of loss and an estimate. We review it line by line against what's actually on your roof, the ventilation, the flashing, the code-required items, and confirm it reflects the real job.
- Step 06
Supplements filed for anything missed
Initial scopes routinely miss things: a layer discovered at tear-off, code upgrades, drip edge, ice-and-water requirements. Those get submitted as a supplement with documentation, not absorbed as a surprise cost to you.
- Step 07
Installation
The roof gets built to the approved scope. You know the schedule, the materials, and what's happening each day. Any change gets documented as it happens rather than explained afterward.
- Step 08
Final walkthrough and paperwork
We inspect the finished roof together, then I provide the completion documentation your carrier needs to release the final payment, including any recoverable depreciation you're owed.
Who does what
What I handle, and what stays with you.
Clear lines here prevent almost every frustration in a claim. Some of these are mine by choice; some are yours by law.
What I handle
The technical and documentation side of the roof itself.
- A thorough free inspection with drone and close-up photo documentation
- A written damage report you keep, whether or not you file
- An honest opinion on whether the damage justifies a claim at all
- Meeting your field adjuster on the roof and walking the damage together
- Reviewing the carrier's scope line by line against what the job requires
- Preparing and submitting supplements with supporting documentation
- Building the roof to the approved scope, on a schedule you know
- Completion paperwork so your recoverable depreciation gets released
What you handle
The parts that are yours as the policyholder, I'll prep you for each.
- Filing the claim with your carrier; the policyholder makes that call
- Paying your deductible, exactly as your policy requires
- Signing off on materials, colors, and the final scope of work
- Direct communication with your carrier on coverage questions
- Endorsing and handling claim payments issued to you
- Deciding whether to proceed, it stays your decision the whole way
Glossary
Insurance words, in plain English.
Nine terms account for most of the confusion in a roof claim. Learn these and you can follow any conversation with your carrier.
How I work in Colorado
Where my role ends, and why that protects you.
All insurance guidance I provide follows Colorado law and regulation. I document damage thoroughly, explain your policy in plain English, and advocate for a scope that reflects the work your roof genuinely requires.
What I don't do is negotiate or adjust your claim on your behalf, that's the role of a licensed public adjuster, and it is not mine. I also will not cover, waive, discount, or rebate your insurance deductible. That practice is illegal in Colorado, and any contractor offering it is telling you exactly how they treat every other rule.
Working inside those lines is the point. It keeps your claim clean, your carrier relationship intact, and your roof paid for the way your policy intended.
Common questions
The four questions I get asked most.
Next step
Let's get eyes on your roof.
Free, no obligation, and usually same-day when scheduling permits. You'll get photos, a plain-English report, and an honest answer, even if that answer is “your roof is fine.”
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