Before You Call Your Insurance Company: Get a Professional Inspection First
The most common mistake homeowners make is calling their insurer before they know what's actually damaged. Adjusters are trained to move quickly — they spend 20–30 minutes on a roof and write a scope of loss. If they miss damage, you'll need to fight to re-open the claim.
A better sequence: have a local, trusted roofing contractor inspect the roof first. We'll document every area of damage with photos, measurements, and notes. That documentation gives you — and the adjuster — a complete picture before anyone commits to a scope of loss.
This is a free service we provide. We're not storm chasers. If there's legitimate damage, we'll document it. If your roof is fine, we'll tell you that too.
Step-by-Step: The Roof Insurance Claim Process in New York
Step 1: Document the Damage Immediately
After a storm or other event, document everything from the ground before anything is disturbed. Photograph:
- Missing, cracked, or dented shingles visible from the ground
- Damaged gutters, downspouts, or siding (often covered as part of the same claim)
- Debris on the roof (tree limbs, hail accumulation)
- Any interior water intrusion — ceiling stains, wet insulation in the attic
Note the date and time. Weather records, storm reports from the National Weather Service, and local news coverage of storm events all serve as supporting documentation. Download and save any weather service reports for storms in your area.
Step 2: Schedule a Professional Roof Inspection
Call a local roofing contractor before filing your claim. An experienced inspector can identify damage that's invisible from the ground — hail impacts on shingles often appear as small bruises or dents that require close-up inspection and a trained eye. We've seen adjusters miss significant hail damage because it wasn't obvious at arm's length.
We'll provide a written inspection report with photos that you can submit alongside your claim. This protects you if there's a dispute about scope.
Step 3: Review Your Policy Before Filing
Before calling your insurer, locate your declarations page and understand:
- Your deductible: Standard deductibles run $500—$2,500. Some New York policies have separate wind/hail deductibles (often 1–2% of home value) — check carefully.
- ACV vs. RCV coverage: Actual Cash Value pays depreciated value; Replacement Cost Value pays full replacement. This difference can be $3,000—$8,000 on an average roof.
- Named perils vs. open perils: Most homeowner's policies are "open perils" (HO-3), which covers all causes of loss except those specifically excluded. Wind and hail are almost universally covered.
- Filing deadline: Most policies require "prompt notice" — file within 30–60 days of discovering the damage.
Step 4: File Your Claim
Call your insurance company's claims line or file online. Have ready:
- Policy number
- Date of loss (date of the storm or event)
- Brief description of the damage
- Your contact information and preferred contact method
You'll receive a claim number immediately. Write it down. All future communication should reference this number. Within a few days, an adjuster will be assigned and will contact you to schedule an inspection.
Step 5: The Adjuster Inspection
An insurance adjuster — either an employee of the insurer or an independent adjuster hired by them — will inspect your roof. Request that your roofing contractor be present during this inspection. This is your right as a policyholder, and it matters.
When we're on the roof with the adjuster, we can point out damage that might be overlooked, ensure measurements are accurate, and ask questions about items excluded from the scope. Adjusters work many claims; a contractor who does this every day knows what to look for.
If the adjuster's scope misses significant damage, you can request a re-inspection or hire a public adjuster to represent your interests.
Step 6: Review the Adjuster's Scope of Loss
After the inspection, you'll receive a document called an Estimate or Scope of Loss. This details what the insurer agrees to pay for. Review it carefully alongside your contractor's inspection report. Common items that get missed or undervalued:
- Drip edge and starter strip replacement
- Ice and water shield in valleys and eaves
- Ridge cap shingles
- Pipe boot flashing replacement
- Gutter damage (frequently overlooked in hail claims)
- Ventilation component replacement
- Decking replacement if underlying damage is found during tear-off
If items are missing, your contractor can write a supplemental claim — a formal request to include additional covered items. Supplements are common and are a normal part of the claims process, not a confrontation.
Step 7: Accept the Estimate and Schedule Work
Once you and your contractor agree the scope is complete and accurate, sign off on the insurance estimate and choose your contractor. In New York, you are not required to use a contractor selected or recommended by your insurance company — you choose who does the work.
Your insurer will issue an initial payment (typically ACV minus your deductible). Your contractor schedules and completes the work. After completion, you submit proof of completion and the insurer releases the depreciation holdback (for RCV policies), bringing your total payment to the full replacement cost minus your deductible.
What Insurance Covers — and What It Doesn't
| Cause of Damage | Typically Covered? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wind damage (torn shingles, lifted flashing) | Yes | Check for separate wind deductible |
| Hail damage | Yes | Check for separate hail deductible |
| Fallen tree or branch | Yes | Usually covers roof and interior damage |
| Ice dam damage | Sometimes | Covered if sudden; may be excluded if chronic |
| Normal wear and aging | No | Maintenance is the homeowner's responsibility |
| Pre-existing damage | No | Only damage from the covered event is eligible |
| Neglect or deferred maintenance | No | Clogged gutters, ignored leaks, etc. |
| Manufacturer defect | No (use warranty) | File with shingle manufacturer instead |
Hail Claims: What You Need to Know
Hail is the most common cause of roofing insurance claims in Upstate New York. A few critical facts:
- Hail damage is not always visible from the ground. You need someone on the roof. Hail impacts leave bruises and granule displacement that are only apparent up close.
- Hail size matters. Insurance companies track storm data. Hail of 1 inch or larger typically causes functional damage to asphalt shingles. Smaller hail may cause cosmetic damage only, which some policies don't cover.
- There's often a time gap. Hail damage weakens shingles but may not cause leaks immediately. Leaks can appear 6–18 months later when the compromised shingles fail under normal rain or the next storm event.
- Beware of out-of-state storm chasers. After major hail events, contractors from out of state canvass neighborhoods encouraging claims. Some are legitimate; many are not. Use a local contractor with a track record in your community and verify their New York contractor license.
Working with a Public Adjuster
If your claim is denied or you believe the settlement is significantly lower than the actual damage, you can hire a public adjuster — a licensed professional who represents your interests in the claims process, not the insurer's. Public adjusters typically charge 10–15% of the final claim settlement.
Public adjusters make sense for large, complex claims where the initial settlement is clearly inadequate. For standard residential claims where the adjuster did a thorough job, they add cost without proportional benefit. We can advise you on whether your situation warrants one after reviewing your scope of loss.
5 Mistakes That Get Roof Claims Denied or Reduced
- Filing too late. Most policies require prompt notice. Waiting months to file weakens your position and may void coverage.
- Making temporary repairs without documenting first. You're required to mitigate further damage — but photograph everything before placing tarps or making emergency repairs. Keep all receipts for temporary repairs.
- Letting the adjuster inspect alone. Always have your contractor present. An unaccompanied adjuster is more likely to miss items.
- Accepting the first number without review. The first estimate isn't always final. Review it with your contractor and supplement if items are missing.
- Signing over your rights. Be cautious of any contractor who asks you to sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) — a document that transfers your insurance rights to them. New York law limits AOBs but doesn't prohibit all forms. Understand what you're signing.
How We Help with the Claims Process
We've worked alongside homeowners on hundreds of insurance claims over 21 years. Here's what we do:
- Free damage inspection before you file, with written documentation you can submit with your claim
- Adjuster meeting attendance — we'll be on the roof with the adjuster to ensure nothing is missed
- Scope review — we'll compare the adjuster's estimate against our inspection report and identify any gaps
- Supplement filing — we handle the paperwork to add missed items to your claim
- Clear communication — we keep you informed at every step so you're never surprised by what's happening
We don't charge extra for claims-related work. It's part of doing the job right.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the cause of damage. Homeowner's insurance in New York covers sudden, accidental damage from covered perils — hail, wind, falling trees, ice dams in some cases. It does not cover damage from normal wear and tear, age, or lack of maintenance. If a storm caused your damage, there's a reasonable chance your claim will be approved.
New York law requires you to provide prompt notice of a loss. Most policies specify 30–60 days from the date of loss, though some allow up to 1–2 years. File as soon as you discover the damage — delays can give the insurer grounds to deny or reduce your claim. If a storm caused the damage, file within a week of the storm if possible.
In New York, insurers can non-renew a policy after a claim, but cannot cancel mid-term solely because of a filed claim. Frequent claims (3 or more in 5 years) can affect your insurability or rate. For borderline damage close to your deductible, it may not be worth filing — consult your agent before submitting.
ACV (Actual Cash Value) pays what your old roof was worth at the time of loss — replacement cost minus depreciation. If your roof is 15 years old, you might receive 40–50% of replacement cost. RCV (Replacement Cost Value) pays the full cost to replace the roof with similar materials. Most standard homeowner's policies pay ACV first, then release the depreciation holdback once work is completed. Check your policy declarations page for which you have.
No. In New York, you have the right to choose your own contractor. Insurance companies sometimes have preferred contractor networks, but you are under no obligation to use them. Choose a licensed, insured local contractor with a track record in your area — not one assigned by your insurer or one who showed up at your door after a storm.
