Filing a Claim Is a Process, Not a Phone Call
Most homeowners assume that filing an insurance claim is simple — call the carrier, an adjuster shows up, and a check arrives. In reality, the claims process has multiple stages where mistakes can reduce your payout or result in denial.
Understanding the process before you need it puts you in a much stronger position when a storm hits.
Don't Wait — But Don't Rush Repairs Either
There's an important distinction between reporting damage promptly and performing repairs immediately. Your policy almost certainly requires timely reporting (typically within 30–90 days), but permanently repairing damage before the adjuster inspects it can complicate your claim.
Do immediately:
- Document visible damage with photos and video
- Perform emergency protective measures (tarping a leak, boarding a broken window)
- Keep receipts for any emergency materials or services
- Call your insurance company to report the damage and get a claim number
Don't do yet:
- Sign a contract for permanent repairs before the adjuster visits
- Dispose of damaged materials before they're documented
- Accept a verbal estimate from anyone as your claim value
Know Your Policy Before You Need It
Pull out your declarations page and understand these key terms:
Deductible
Your deductible is what you pay before insurance kicks in. Many policies in hail-prone areas have shifted from flat deductibles ($1,000, $2,500) to percentage-based deductibles (1–2% of your home's insured value). On a $400,000 home, a 2% deductible means $8,000 out of pocket.
Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value
- Replacement Cost Value (RCV) policies pay to replace damaged items with new equivalents
- Actual Cash Value (ACV) policies deduct depreciation based on the age of the damaged materials
- RCV policies are significantly better for the homeowner — verify which type you have
Code Upgrade Coverage
When municipalities require code upgrades during a repair (improved ventilation, ice-and-water shield requirements, etc.), your standard policy may not cover the additional cost. Many policies offer optional code upgrade endorsements — check whether yours includes it.
Choose Your Contractor Before the Adjuster Arrives
Having a qualified contractor inspect the damage independently gives you a professional scope assessment to compare against the adjuster's findings. This is not adversarial — it's due diligence.
What a good contractor provides:
- Detailed photo documentation of all damage
- Written scope of work with material specifications
- Attendance at the adjuster inspection to walk the roof together
- Supplement preparation if the initial scope is incomplete
Red flag: Be cautious of contractors who appear at your door immediately after a storm — especially those offering to "waive your deductible" or asking you to sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB). Your deductible is your contractual obligation, and waiving it is technically insurance fraud.
The Supplement Process
It's common for the initial insurance estimate to miss items or undervalue materials. When this happens, your contractor files a "supplement" — a formal request with documentation showing what was missed and why it's necessary.
Commonly supplemented items:
- Ridge cap replacement
- Ice and water shield upgrades
- Code-required ventilation improvements
- Drip edge replacement
- Elevated waste factors for complex roof geometries
- Steep slope charges
The supplement process typically adds 2–4 weeks but can increase your approved scope by 15–30%.
Protect Your Recoverable Depreciation
Most RCV policies pay in two installments. The first (ACV) check arrives after claim approval. The second (recoverable depreciation) check is released after you complete repairs and submit documentation proving the work was done.
Critical: If you don't complete repairs, you forfeit the recoverable depreciation. On a $15,000 claim, that could mean losing $3,000–$5,000.
Culture Construction's Claims Support
We guide homeowners through every phase of the claims process — from initial inspection and documentation through supplement filing and depreciation recovery. There's no cost for our inspection, and our claims support is included with every project.