Storm Claim Roof Help in Concrete After the Wind and Flood Season

What should you photograph and keep?

The roof and yard from several angles before anything is moved, close-ups of each damaged spot, interior stains with dates, any fallen tree where it lies, and the weather event. Keep receipts for emergency repairs, notes of every call with the insurer, and any written estimates.

Photos from the ground are fine. Do not climb up to take them. Date-stamped images and a short written timeline of when you noticed the damage help later, when memory fades.

The guide on what to do first after a storm-damaged roof lays out the order in detail.

Can the roofer deal with the insurance company for me?

A roofer can provide documentation and a written scope, and may speak with the adjuster if you ask. Dealing with the claim itself is your responsibility. Be cautious about signing anything that assigns your claim or gives a contractor control of it, and read every document first.

Some people prefer to handle the insurer themselves and use the roofer's report as backup. Others ask the roofer to meet the adjuster on the roof. Either is reasonable, as long as you stay in charge of the claim.

How do you spot a bad deal after a storm?

Be wary of anyone who knocks on doors offering to handle your claim, asks for payment up front, pressures you to sign at once or promises the insurer will pay. Check any contractor's registration with the Washington Department of Labor & Industries before signing, and compare more than one quote.

Washington requires roofing contractors to register with L&I, to be bonded and insured, and the L&I verification page shows registration, workers' compensation status and citations. The registration guide shows how to use it.

What if the insurer and the roofer disagree?

Ask both to put their scopes in writing and compare them line by line. Differences often come down to what is included: decking, flashing, matching or code items. You can ask the insurer to explain its reasoning, and consult your agent or a public resource on claim disputes if you cannot resolve it.

Do not start permanent repairs until you know what the insurer will accept, unless urgent protection is needed. Temporary repairs and good records keep your options open.

How long do claims take, and what can you do while you wait?

No one can say. Timing depends on the insurer, the number of claims after a regional storm and the extent of damage. While you wait, keep the roof protected, record everything, keep receipts and follow up in writing. Ask the insurer what is needed next, and note dates and names for each call.

After a large regional storm, adjusters work through a backlog, and a rural address may be visited later than a town one. That is frustrating, but it is common. Having your documentation ready means the visit goes quickly when it comes.

Meanwhile, do not leave the roof open. A temporary cover is cheaper than the damage rain does, and a roofer can document the condition when it goes on. Keep copies of every message you send and receive.

What should a roofer's damage report say?

It should describe each damaged area by location on the roof, say what the damage is and what likely caused it, note any interior water damage seen from the attic, and list the work needed to repair it. Photos and a date make it far more useful. It should not argue about coverage, which belongs to the insurer.

Ask for a report written in plain terms, not shorthand. Something like: three shingle courses missing at the northeast corner, decking exposed, underlayment torn, water staining on the attic sheathing below. A reader who has never seen the house should be able to picture it.

Ask the roofer to separate sudden damage from wear. An honest report says, for example, that the ridge was torn by wind and the shingles on the south slope are also near the end of their life. The adjuster will probably notice either way, and a candid report protects your credibility.