Storm work can fill a roofing schedule fast, but insurance jobs come with their own rhythm: inspections, adjusters, scopes and supplements. Roofers who do well with storm work aren't the ones who argue loudest. They're the ones with the best documentation and the cleanest process.
Tip: Insurance rules differ by state, and some carry real penalties. This guide is general. Check your state's laws, and talk to an attorney if you're unsure what you're allowed to do on a claim.
Know your role
The homeowner files the claim with their insurance company, and the adjuster works for the insurer to decide what's covered. Your job is to inspect the roof, document what you find honestly and do the work well.
Be careful not to act as the homeowner's claim negotiator. Many states, including Texas, don't allow contractors to negotiate a claim on a homeowner's behalf unless they're licensed as a public adjuster. Several states, Texas among them, also make it illegal for a contractor to waive, pay or rebate a homeowner's deductible. Staying on the right side of these lines protects your license and your reputation.
Document the damage before anyone else looks
Clear documentation is the most useful thing you can bring to a claim. Before the adjuster visits, capture:
- Wide photos of each slope and the whole house, so it's clear which roof this is
- Close-ups of damage: hail hits, creased or missing shingles, exposed mat
- Test squares marked on each slope, with the hits counted and photographed
- Collateral damage: dented gutters, downspouts, vents, flashing and other soft metals
- Measurements: squares, pitch, layers and stories
- The storm date, if the homeowner knows it
Label photos by slope and keep them organized. A tidy damage report is easier for an adjuster to review than a phone full of unsorted pictures.
Meeting the adjuster
If the homeowner wants you there for the adjuster's inspection, be on time, be respectful and be prepared. Walk the roof together if the adjuster is willing, point out what you documented, and let the photos do the talking.
- Stay factual. "Here's the test square on the north slope, eight hits" beats "this roof is totaled."
- Don't argue on the roof. If you disagree, note it and follow up in writing with documentation.
- Ask what else they need. Adjusters handle many claims; making their job easier helps everyone.
When the scope misses something
Adjusters sometimes miss items: drip edge, starter, ridge cap, code-required upgrades, or damage found after tear-off. The usual way to handle it is a supplement: a request, with documentation, for the items that were left out.
- Compare the insurer's scope line by line with what the job actually needs
- Photograph anything found during tear-off, like damaged decking, before you replace it
- Send a short, organized supplement through the proper channel, following your state's rules
- Keep copies of everything you send and receive
Keep the homeowner in the loop
Insurance is confusing for most homeowners. Explain the process in plain words: who the adjuster works for, what the deductible is and when it's due, and what happens if the scope changes. Homeowners who understand the process are calmer, and they refer their neighbors.
Keep it organized
Ridgewise helps with the paperwork side: start an insurance claim from the customer, and their inspection photos and latest bid come in automatically. Add the insurance company, claim number, adjuster and storm date, write what you found in plain words, and email the packet to the adjuster as one link under your company name. You'll see when the adjuster opens it.