Guide for roofing contractors
Roof claim denied or underpaid? Here is what to do next.
A denial is a decision on the file the carrier saw. Change the file and you can ask them to look again.
Short answer
Get the decision in writing. Find the exact reason. Fix that gap in the file with new evidence. Then have the homeowner ask for a reinspection. If the carrier approved the claim but paid short, send a supplement. Do not argue the policy. Document the damage.
Step 1. Get the decision in writing
The homeowner is the policyholder, so the homeowner asks. Have them request the denial letter or the carrier estimate in writing, with the policy language the carrier is relying on. Most states require a carrier to explain a denial. You cannot fix a reason you have not read.
Step 2. Find the real reason
Almost every denied or short paid roof claim lands in one of these buckets.
| What the carrier said | What the file is missing |
|---|---|
| No storm on that date | A verified hail or wind report for that address, and a date of loss that matches it. |
| It is wear, blistering or foot traffic | Clear close ups, chalk circles, and collateral damage on soft metals that shows hail hit the property. |
| Not enough hits | A chalked 10 by 10 test square on every slope with the count written down. |
| Cosmetic only | Photos that show the damage hurts how the roof works, not just how it looks. The homeowner should also check the policy for a cosmetic damage exclusion. |
| We will pay to repair, not replace | Repairability evidence: a repairability test, a discontinued shingle, a lab report that shows no matching product. |
| Damage is below the deductible | A full scope. Missed slopes, missed metals and missed line items add up. |
| Reported too late | The real date of loss and proof of when the damage was found. Deadlines are in the policy. |
Step 3. Fix the file before you ask again
A second inspection with the same evidence gets the same answer. Go back up and get what was missing. Our guide on how to document hail damage shows the order. Shoot it clean. Chalk only. Nothing placed on the roof.
Step 4. Ask for a reinspection
- The homeowner makes the request in writing and says there is new evidence.
- Send the new photos and the storm report before the visit.
- Be there. Walk the adjuster through it the same way you would at a first meeting. Use the adjuster meeting checklist.
- If the same adjuster gives the same answer again, the homeowner can ask for a different adjuster or a supervisor review.
Step 5. If the answer is still no
The homeowner has more options. Which ones apply depends on the policy and the state.
- Appraisal, if the policy has an appraisal clause and the fight is about the amount.
- A complaint with the state department of insurance.
- A licensed public adjuster.
- An attorney.
Know your lane. In most states a contractor can talk about the damage, the scope and the price of the repair. Reading the policy to the carrier and negotiating the claim are work for a licensed public adjuster or an attorney. See roofer or public adjuster.
If the claim was approved but paid short
That is not a denial. That is a supplement. Line the carrier estimate up against yours, find every missed item, and send it with photos and measurements. See roofing supplements.
What not to do
- Do not promise the homeowner it will get approved. Nobody can.
- Do not offer to cover or waive the deductible. That is illegal in many states.
- Do not add damage or stage a photo. Ever.
- Do not trash the adjuster or the ladder assist company. It never helps the file.
Questions roofers ask
Can a denied roof claim be reopened?
Often, yes. The homeowner can ask the carrier to reinspect when there is new evidence. Whether the carrier changes its decision is up to the carrier.
How long does a homeowner have to act after a roof claim is denied?
The deadlines are in the policy and they differ by state. Many are counted from the date of loss, so do not wait.
Can a roofer negotiate with the insurance company?
In most states, no, unless the roofer also holds a public adjuster license and state law allows both roles on the same claim. A roofer can always talk about the damage, the scope and the cost of the repair.
What is the fastest way to see what a denied roof claim is missing?
Run it through the free Closability Score at claimclosed.com and pick “Denied or came up short”. It shows what is missing from the file and the fixes that take it to 70.
Score this claim free.
Ten quick questions. See what the file is missing before you ask for a reinspection.
General information for contractors. Not legal or insurance advice. Rules differ by state and by policy. A Closability Score is not a guarantee of approval. The carrier decides the claim.