The claims process feels intimidating, but it follows a predictable path. Here's the step-by-step, and how having your roofer in the room changes the outcome.
Filing a roof insurance claim doesn't have to be overwhelming. It follows a predictable sequence, and the homeowners who come out best are the ones who document first and let their roofer advocate at the adjuster meeting. Here's the process, start to finish.
Step 1 — Get inspected and documented first
Before you call your insurance company, have a roofer inspect and photograph the damage. This tells you whether you even have a claimable loss, and it gives you an independent record. Calling in a claim for damage that turns out to be cosmetic can cost you without any benefit.
Step 2 — File the claim
Contact your insurer, report the storm date and the damage, and they'll assign a claim number and schedule an adjuster. Keep notes of every call, name, and date.
Step 3 — Meet the adjuster (with your roofer)
This is the pivotal step. The adjuster's scope determines what gets paid. When your roofer is on-site to walk the roof with the adjuster, damage is far less likely to be missed or under-scoped. Two sets of trained eyes beats one rushed inspection.
This is where claims are won or lost
Most underpaid claims trace back to the adjuster meeting — items missed, slopes overlooked, or code upgrades not included. Having your contractor there protects you.
Step 4 — Review the scope and payment
The insurer sends a scope of loss and an initial payment (often the ACV, with depreciation held back). Your roofer can review it for missing line items — like flashing, ventilation, or Georgia code-required upgrades — and submit a supplement if something was left out.
Step 5 — Complete the work and collect depreciation
On RCV policies, once the work is done and invoiced, you submit for the recoverable depreciation — the rest of the money the insurer held back. Your final out-of-pocket is typically just your deductible.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Calling the insurer before you know whether you have real, functional damage.
- Letting the adjuster inspect alone with no contractor present.
- Accepting the first scope without a professional review for missing items.
- Signing an open-ended "contingency" contract with a storm-chasing door-knocker.
At Bailey, we handle this process with you end to end — inspection, documentation, the adjuster meeting, supplements, and the final rebuild — so you're never negotiating a claim alone. Bailey Roofing & Restoration offers free, no-pressure inspections across Buford and North Georgia — with photo documentation you can keep whether or not you file a claim.
Want a straight answer about your roof?
Book a free, no-pressure inspection. You get photos and an honest assessment — whether or not you do anything about it today.
Frequently asked
Should I get a roof inspection before or after I file a claim?
Before. An inspection tells you whether you have functional, claimable damage and gives you documentation — so you're not filing a claim that goes nowhere.
Can my roofer meet with the insurance adjuster?
Yes, and they should. Having your roofer walk the roof with the adjuster is the single best way to make sure damage isn't missed or the claim under-scoped.
What is recoverable depreciation?
On replacement-cost policies, insurers initially hold back depreciation and pay it after the work is completed and invoiced. Once the job is done, you submit for that remaining amount.
