Roof damage claims: when they offer a patch and you need a roof.

Wind and hail roof claims are a repair-vs-replace fight. The carrier wants to pay for shingles; you may be owed slopes, or the whole roof. Here is how the game works and how to push back.

Document the storm, not just the roof

Tie your damage to a date. Note the storm date, save local weather reports or hail maps, and photograph everything before temporary repairs: missing or creased shingles, hail bruising, dented vents, gutters and downspouts, window screens, and the AC condenser fins. Ground-level metal damage corroborates hail size when the carrier's inspector argues your shingle damage is "wear."

Tarp what needs tarping and keep receipts; emergency mitigation is covered, and untreated leaks give the carrier a reason to blame you for interior damage later.

The classic underpayments on roof claims

• Patch instead of replace. If matching shingles are discontinued, or brittle old shingles will break during repair, a patch is not a proper repair. Many states have matching or uniform-appearance rules that can force replacement of full slopes or the whole roof. Get your contractor to document discontinued shingles and brittleness in writing.
• "Wear and tear" or "cosmetic" labels. Carriers reclassify functional hail damage as cosmetic, and some policies now carry cosmetic-damage exclusions. Functional damage (granule loss exposing mat, cracked or bruised shingles, compromised seals) shortens roof life and is not cosmetic. An independent inspection beats an eyeball claim.
• ACV roof schedules. Some policies quietly pay roofs on a depreciated schedule rather than replacement cost. Check your policy for a roof payment schedule endorsement; if you have replacement cost coverage, the withheld depreciation is usually recoverable once the work is done.
• Missing line items. Underlayment, drip edge, starter and ridge caps, steep-slope and high-roof labor charges, permits, debris removal, and contractor overhead and profit when multiple trades are involved. First estimates routinely omit several of these.

Get your own estimate before you accept theirs

Have a reputable local roofer inspect and write a full replacement estimate with line items. Where the carrier's number and your contractor's number differ, that gap, in writing, is your negotiation. Ask the carrier to re-inspect with your contractor on the roof at the same time; adjusters concede more when someone knowledgeable is standing next to them pointing at the damage.

One caution: after big storms, door-knocking roofers appear promising "free roofs." Never sign an assignment of benefits or a contingency contract on the spot, and never let anyone create damage. Insurance fraud sinks legitimate claims.

If they still say no

Dispute in writing with your contractor's estimate and photos attached, and ask for a line-by-line written response citing policy language. From there, your escalation path is the policy's appraisal clause for value disputes, a licensed public adjuster, a state Department of Insurance complaint, or an attorney if the handling looks like bad faith. Full walkthrough in our denied claim guide.

Frequently asked questions

Will insurance replace my whole roof or just patch it?

It depends on the damage, your policy, and your state's matching rules. If matching shingles are unavailable or repairs cannot produce a reasonably uniform appearance, you have a strong argument for slope or full replacement.

How long do I have to file a roof claim after a storm?

Policies commonly require prompt notice, and many set one or two year limits for storm claims. File as soon as you discover damage, and confirm your exact deadlines in the policy.

Why did insurance call my hail damage cosmetic?

Some policies exclude cosmetic damage, so classifying dents and bruising as cosmetic saves the carrier money. Functional damage that shortens the roof's life is not cosmetic, and an independent inspection can establish the difference.

General information, not legal advice. ClaimFair is a software tool and referral service, not a public adjuster or law firm. Your policy and your state's law control your specific claim.