My Roof Insurance Claim Was Denied — What Do I Do Now?

by Andy Huffman | Jul 20, 2026 | Storm Damage & Insurance

My Roof Insurance Claim Was Denied — What Do I Do Now?

A denied roof insurance claim is frustrating — but it’s not necessarily the end of the road. Denials and underpayments can be successfully appealed, and many homeowners who give up after an initial denial would have received coverage with proper follow-through.

Here’s exactly what to do.

Step 1 — Get the Denial in Writing

If your claim was denied verbally or by phone, request a written denial letter that includes:
– The specific reason for denial
– The exact policy language being cited as the basis for denial
– The claim number and adjuster’s contact information

Insurance companies are required to provide written explanation of claim decisions. This documentation is essential for your appeal.

Step 2 — Understand Why It Was Denied

The most common reasons for roof insurance claim denials:

“Normal wear and tear” — The most common denial reason. Adjusters sometimes classify storm damage as age-related deterioration to avoid coverage. The critical question: was there a specific storm event that caused or accelerated this damage? If yes, this classification may be incorrect.

“Pre-existing damage” — The insurer claims the damage predates your policy or a specific storm event. Countered by: professional documentation of when damage occurred, weather service records for storm dates, and documentation of your roof’s pre-storm condition.

“Maintenance issue” — The insurer claims the damage resulted from lack of maintenance rather than a covered event. Countered by: documentation showing regular maintenance and that the damage pattern is consistent with storm events rather than neglect.

“Outside coverage scope” — Flood damage (requires separate flood policy), damage from tree roots, or gradual deterioration may be genuinely outside coverage. Review your policy carefully.

“Claim filed outside policy period” — Most policies have reporting requirements. If you delayed filing, this may be a legitimate denial basis — though exceptions exist for damage that wasn’t reasonably discoverable.

Step 3 — Get a Second Professional Inspection

If you don’t already have a contractor’s independent damage assessment, get one now. An Alamo drone inspection provides:
– High-resolution photographic documentation of all damage
– Written report identifying damage consistent with storm events
– Professional assessment contradicting an “age/wear” determination where appropriate
– Documentation formatted for insurance appeal use

Our inspection is free and specifically designed to produce usable insurance claim documentation.

Step 4 — File a Formal Appeal

Every insurance policy has an appeal or reconsideration process. With your written denial, contractor’s report, and supporting documentation:

Request re-inspection — Ask your insurer to send a different adjuster for a second look, with your contractor’s documentation in hand
Submit formal appeal — Send a written appeal to the claims department (not just your adjuster) with all supporting documentation
Invoke the appraisal provision — Most homeowners policies include an appraisal clause allowing both parties to hire independent appraisers, with a neutral umpire deciding disputes

Step 5 — File a State Department of Insurance Complaint

If your insurer is acting in bad faith or refusing to respond reasonably to a valid appeal, file a formal complaint with your state’s insurance regulator:

Indiana Department of Insurance:
(317) 232-2385 | in.gov/idoi

Illinois Department of Insurance:
(217) 782-4515 | insurance.illinois.gov

State insurance department complaints go on the insurer’s permanent regulatory record. Insurance companies take these complaints seriously.

Step 6 — Consider a Public Adjuster

Public adjusters are licensed professionals who represent policyholders (not insurers) in claim negotiations. They typically charge 10-15% of the final settlement as their fee.

For large denied claims where significant money is at stake, a public adjuster’s expertise can be worth their fee — particularly in complex disputes.

What Alamo Does at No Charge

We help our customers with:
– Free professional damage documentation for initial claims and appeals
– Supplemental claim preparation if the initial payout is inadequate
– Written contractor letters supporting storm-related damage assessment
– Guidance on the appeal process based on our experience with hundreds of Indiana and Illinois claims

We don’t charge for any of this — we get paid when we do roofing work, and a fair claim settlement is what makes our work possible.

If your claim was denied or underpaid, call (219) 224-2636. We’ll review your situation and tell you honestly what options you have.

About Alamo Roofing Contractors

Alamo Roofing Contractors is a GAF Master Elite certified roofing contractor serving Northwest Indiana and northern Illinois since 2017. Based in Portage, Indiana at 6064 Lute Rd, we serve Lake County, Porter County, LaPorte County, Cook County, Will County, and DuPage County with residential and commercial roofing, siding, gutters, and exterior services.

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How to Read Your Insurance Adjuster’s Roof Report — A Line-by-Line Guide

by Andy Huffman | Jul 9, 2026 | Storm Damage & Insurance

How to Read Your Insurance Adjuster’s Roof Report — A Line-by-Line Guide

When your insurance adjuster’s report arrives, most homeowners look at the bottom line and assume that’s their settlement. It isn’t — it’s a starting point, and it’s often incomplete.

Understanding how to read the scope of damage document can mean the difference between a fair settlement and leaving $2,000-$8,000 on the table.

What the Report Actually Is

The adjuster’s report — called a “scope of damage” or “estimate” — is an itemized list of what the insurance company believes needs to be repaired or replaced, at what price. It’s generated using estimating software (most commonly Xactimate) that prices each item using regional labor and material rates.

The report is not final. It’s the insurance company’s opening position.

The Key Sections to Understand

Line items: Each element of your roof is listed separately — shingles by the square, underlayment, ice and water shield, ridge cap, starter strips, flashing, drip edge, ventilation, etc.

RCV (Replacement Cost Value): What the full replacement of each item costs at today’s prices.

Depreciation: The amount deducted from RCV to calculate ACV (actual cash value) based on age and condition.

ACV (Actual Cash Value): RCV minus depreciation — what you receive in your first check.

Recoverable depreciation: The difference between RCV and ACV — what you receive after completing repairs (RCV policies only).

Deductible: Subtracted from the ACV to calculate your first payment.

What’s Commonly Missing from Adjuster Reports

Adjusters working quickly under high caseloads (especially after major storm events) frequently miss or undervalue these items. Compare the adjuster’s line items against your contractor’s estimate:

Ice and water shield: Often listed at minimum code coverage (2 feet from edge). Many replacement projects in Lake County and Porter County require more extensive application — especially on homes with low pitches or documented ice dam history.

Starter strip shingles: Sometimes omitted or priced at shingle cost rather than the correct specialty product cost.

Ridge cap shingles: Occasionally omitted entirely or priced at standard shingle rates rather than ridge cap rates.

Drip edge: Frequently omitted in older reports, especially on homes that didn’t have it originally — but current building code requires it on replacement projects.

Pipe boot replacement: Often only included if the inspector physically saw each boot. Drone inspections catch deteriorated boots that ground-level inspectors miss.

Detach and reset (D&R) for satellite dishes, vents, and skylights: If anything needs to be removed and reinstalled to complete the roofing work, it should be in the estimate.

Code upgrade allowances: Current Indiana and Illinois building codes may require upgrades (ventilation, drip edge, etc.) that weren’t present on the original roof. These code-required upgrades should be covered by insurance.

Overhead and profit (O&P): On projects requiring a general contractor to coordinate subcontractors, overhead and profit (typically 10% overhead + 10% profit) should be included. This is often disputed — Alamo helps with O&P claims.

How to Submit a Supplement

If your contractor’s estimate is higher than the adjuster’s estimate, you file a “supplement” — a formal request for additional payment with supporting documentation.

A successful supplement includes:
– Specific line-by-line comparison showing what’s missing or underpriced
– Photos documenting each supplemented item
– Code citations for required items
– Contractor’s signed estimate

Alamo Roofing prepares and submits supplemental claims for our customers at no charge. We know what adjusters look for and how to document supplements effectively.

What Happens If Your Claim Is Underpaid or Denied

If underpaid: Submit a supplement as described above. Most underpaid claims are resolved at this stage.

If denied: Request the denial in writing with specific policy language cited. Review the denial language carefully. You can request a re-inspection with a different adjuster, file an appeal within your policy’s process, or contact the Indiana Department of Insurance (317) 232-2385 or Illinois Department of Insurance (217) 782-4515.

Call (219) 224-2636 if you need help reviewing your adjuster’s report.

About Alamo Roofing Contractors

Alamo Roofing Contractors is a GAF Master Elite certified roofing contractor serving Northwest Indiana and northern Illinois since 2017. Based in Portage, Indiana, we serve Lake County, Porter County, LaPorte County, Cook County, Will County, and DuPage County.