Will Insurance Pay for a New Roof? Roof Insurance Claims in NC, Step by Step

After a hail or wind storm, the first question most Triad homeowners ask is: will insurance pay for my roof? Sometimes, yes. It depends on your policy, what caused the damage, and what the adjuster finds. This guide walks through how a roof insurance claim works in North Carolina, what you do, what your insurance company does, and where a roofer like us fits in.

One thing up front: you file and manage your claim with your own insurance company. As your roofer, we inspect and document the damage, and we can be there when the adjuster comes out. We don’t file, negotiate or settle claims for anyone, and in North Carolina a roofing contractor shouldn’t.

Quick answers

• Is roof damage covered? Sudden damage from a covered event, like hail, wind or a falling tree, usually is, subject to your deductible and policy terms. Normal wear and tear and old age usually aren’t.
• Will insurance replace the whole roof? Not always. The NC Department of Insurance notes that an insurer may only have to repair the damaged area, even if new shingles don’t match exactly.
• Who pays the deductible? You do. Be wary of anyone who offers to “cover” or waive it.

Step 1: Check for hail or wind damage from the ground

Please don’t climb on your roof after a storm. From the ground, look for:

• Dents on downspouts, gutters and other soft metals
• Shredded plants and bushes
• Hail marks on wood decks, windows and trim
• Creased or missing shingles after high winds
• Shingles that blew up and laid back down. That breaks the factory seal, and they may never seal correctly again.

If you see any of these, have a professional look at the roof. Our storm damage signs guide has more detail.

Step 2: Get the roof inspected and documented

A good inspection gives you the facts before you call your insurer. When we do a storm damage roof inspection, we:

1. Start at the perimeter: gutters, downspouts, window trim and wood decks.
2. Take the same set of photos every time, so the documentation is consistent and easy to follow.
3. Check the attic to see whether the roof has solid sheathing or spaced boards, so there are no surprises later.
4. Walk the roof when it’s safe and accessible.
5. Take drone photos with an overview of every slope.
6. Help identify the date of loss: the storm that most likely caused the damage. Your insurer will ask for it.

Inspections and estimates are free. There’s a charge only if you want a written inspection report and don’t hire us, and that fee is credited toward your repair or replacement if you hire us later.

Step 3: Protect your home from more damage

If water is coming in, cover it. We’re open 24/7, and our trucks carry tarps for emergency roof repair. Take photos before any temporary repair, keep the receipts, and hold off on permanent repairs until your insurer has had a chance to inspect.

Step 4: File the claim with your insurance company

You contact your insurer and file the claim, by phone or through their app or website. Have ready:

• Your policy number
• The date of loss and what caused it (hail, wind, falling tree)
• A short description of the damage and photos
• Any temporary repairs you’ve made

Write down your claim number and your adjuster’s name and contact information.

Step 5: The adjuster inspection

Your insurance company sends an adjuster to inspect the roof and decide what’s covered under your policy. (Here’s how we help with storm damage.) If you’d like us there, give us 24 to 48 hours’ notice and we’ll be on site to show the adjuster the damage we documented. The adjuster and your insurance company make the coverage decision.

Step 6: Review the insurance estimate

When the estimate comes, we’ll go over it with you line by line and point out anything that looks missing, like ridge cap, starter, drip edge, ice and water shield, pipe boots, step flashing or decking. If something was missed, you take it back to your insurer and ask them to review it.

Things you’ll see on the estimate:

• RCV (replacement cost value): the cost to replace the damaged roof with like kind and quality materials.
• ACV (actual cash value): RCV minus depreciation for age and condition. Some policies pay ACV first and release the rest (recoverable depreciation) after the work is done.
• Deductible: your share. Some policies have a separate wind or hail deductible.

Step 7: Choose your roof, including upgrades

Insurance covers like kind and quality. If you want more, you can upgrade and pay the difference yourself, for example:

• A better shingle, like GAF Timberline HDZ or a designer shingle such as GAF Woodland
• Ice and water shield in valleys, around penetrations, and along walls and dormers
• Lifetime pipe boots
• A stronger warranty: our workmanship warranties go up to 25 years (5 years standard, 10 with GAF Silver Pledge, 25 with GAF Golden Pledge)

Our roof replacement cost guide shows what each option includes, and financing can cover your deductible or upgrades.

Step 8: The roof replacement and final paperwork

Once the scope is set, we tear off down to the decking, replace any rotten decking (first two sheets of 7/16 OSB free, then $50 a sheet), and install a complete GAF system. Most simple roofs are done in one day. Afterward, your insurer may ask for the final invoice and photos before releasing any recoverable depreciation.

If your roof claim is denied or underpaid

• Ask your insurer for the decision in writing, with the policy language behind it.
• Compare it with your policy: covered causes, exclusions, roof-age provisions, and ACV versus RCV.
• Gather your inspection photos and estimate, and ask your insurer for a reinspection of the specific items in question. We can be there for a reinspection too.
• If you still disagree, your options may include your policy’s appraisal clause, a public adjuster licensed by the NC Department of Insurance, the NC Department of Insurance consumer services division, or an attorney.

Avoid roof insurance scams

Never let anyone exaggerate damage, create damage, or misstate the cause of a loss, and never agree to have your deductible waived. That’s insurance fraud, and it puts you at risk too. Work with a local roofer you can look up. We’ve been in the Triad since 2012, with 10,000+ projects, and we’re a GAF Master Elite contractor (top 2% of roofing contractors).

Storm damage help in the Triad

We inspect and document storm damage for homeowners in High Point, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Lexington and the towns around them. Two of our featured jobs started this way: a leak call on West Vandalia Road in Greensboro and a church flat roof on Longview Drive in Winston-Salem. In both cases we documented the damage, explained the process, and the owners worked with their own insurance company.

Call 336-936-5245 for a free storm damage inspection.

Call 336-936-5245

Frequently Asked Questions

Will homeowners insurance pay for a new roof?

It can, when the damage comes from a covered event like hail or wind. It depends on your policy, your deductible and what the adjuster finds. Wear and tear and old age usually aren’t covered.

Does insurance cover hail damage to a roof?

Hail is a covered peril on most homeowners policies, subject to your deductible and policy terms. Some policies have a separate wind or hail deductible.

Who files the roof insurance claim?

You do. You contact your insurance company and file the claim. We inspect and document the damage and can be at the adjuster inspection.

Can you meet the insurance adjuster at my house?

Yes. Give us 24 to 48 hours’ notice and we’ll be there to show the adjuster the damage we documented. Your insurance company makes the coverage decision.

Do you negotiate with my insurance company?

No. We document the damage and go over the insurance estimate with you, pointing out anything that looks missing. You work with your insurer on the claim.

What is the date of loss?

The date of the storm or event that caused the damage. Your insurer will ask for it, and our inspection helps pin it down.

What if my insurance estimate is missing items?

We’ll review it with you and point out anything that looks missing, like ridge cap, starter, drip edge or flashing. You then ask your insurer to review those items.

Can I upgrade my roof on an insurance claim?

Yes. Insurance pays for like kind and quality. You can pay the difference for upgrades like a better shingle, extra ice and water shield, lifetime pipe boots or a GAF Golden Pledge warranty.

Will you waive my deductible?

No. Your deductible is your responsibility under your policy. Financing is available if you need help with it.

Is the storm damage inspection free?

Yes. There’s a charge only if you want a written inspection report and don’t hire us, and it’s credited toward your roof if you hire us later.