Roof Insurance Claim Guide: How to Get Your Storm Damage Covered in MA & NH

When Your Roof Damage Qualifies for Insurance

Not all roof damage is created equal in your insurance company’s eyes. Understanding what qualifies can save you from filing a claim that’s destined to be denied.

Storm Damage That’s Typically Covered

Insurance policies generally cover sudden, unexpected damage. Wind damage is the most common covered claim in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. When nor’easters or severe thunderstorms lift shingles, tear off flashing, or blow debris onto your roof, that’s covered. Most policies kick in once wind speeds exceed certain thresholds, typically around 50-60 mph.

Hail damage also qualifies, though it’s less common in New England than wind damage. Hail creates distinctive dents in shingles that insurance adjusters look for. Tree damage is covered when branches or entire trees fall on your roof during storms. Even if the tree was dead or dying, the sudden impact during a weather event usually qualifies.

Ice dam leaks can be tricky. If ice dams form due to a specific severe weather event and cause sudden leaks, that’s often covered. However, if the leak results from poor attic ventilation or insulation (maintenance issues), coverage gets murky. Lightning strikes that damage your roof or cause fires are covered under most policies.

Damage That Doesn’t Qualify

Wear and tear is the big exclusion. Your shingles don’t last forever. If they’re simply old and failing because they’ve reached the end of their 15-20 year lifespan, insurance won’t pay. Gradual deterioration falls into the same category. Shingles that slowly lose granules over years, flashing that corrodes over time, or ventilation issues that develop gradually aren’t covered.

Poor maintenance will kill your claim fast. If the adjuster finds evidence that you ignored obvious problems, neglected repairs, or failed to maintain your roof, they’ll deny the claim. This includes things like letting moss grow unchecked, ignoring missing shingles for months, or failing to clean gutters.

Pre-existing damage is another claim killer. If storm damage occurs but the adjuster finds older damage that wasn’t repaired, they may argue the current issues stem from that neglect rather than the recent storm. This is why getting a professional roof inspection before storm season can protect you.

The Gray Areas

Some situations live in between. Manufacturer defects might be covered under shingle warranties but not homeowners insurance. Damage from lack of proper installation is typically not covered unless you can prove the damage manifested after a storm event. Code upgrades required by your local building department usually aren’t covered, even if you’re doing insurance repairs.

Understanding these distinctions helps you know whether it’s worth filing a claim. If you’re unsure, getting a professional assessment before you contact your insurance company can prevent you from filing a claim that will be denied, which can impact your rates.

How to Document Storm Damage Properly

Documentation makes or breaks insurance claims. Poor documentation is why many legitimate claims get denied. Here’s how to do it right.

Immediate Documentation Steps

Document the damage as soon as you discover it, ideally within 24 hours. Take photos from the ground first. Get wide shots showing the entire roof area, then zoom in on specific damage. Include reference points like chimneys or vents so adjusters can locate the damage later.

Don’t go on your roof if conditions are dangerous. Wet, icy, or damaged roofs are hazardous. Get what you can safely from the ground, then call professionals. Interior damage matters too. Photograph any water stains on ceilings, walls, or in attics. Include a timestamp if your phone doesn’t automatically embed it. Date-stamped photos prove when damage occurred.

Keep records of the storm itself. Save weather reports, news coverage, and official storm warnings. This establishes that a covered weather event happened when you claim it did. Screenshot weather apps showing wind speeds, hail reports, or severe storm warnings.

Professional Inspection Documentation

Getting a contractor inspection before your insurance adjuster arrives is smart strategy. Professional roofers know what adjusters look for and can document everything thoroughly. They’ll take detailed photos from the roof surface, which you can’t safely do yourself. They’ll measure and note every damaged area, creating the kind of comprehensive report that insurance companies respect.

Professional documentation includes specific details: the number of damaged shingles, the size and location of each damaged area, photos of matching wind patterns on neighboring homes, and evidence distinguishing new storm damage from old wear. This level of detail matters when adjusters try to claim damage is pre-existing or not storm-related.

Our team provides free inspections and creates detailed documentation that homeowners use for their claims. We’ve seen how proper documentation increases approval rates dramatically. We photograph everything, create written reports noting each damaged area, and provide estimates based on actual damage rather than guesswork.

What to Photograph

Focus your photos on specific damage indicators. For wind damage: lifted or missing shingles, exposed underlayment, damaged flashing around vents or chimneys, and torn or creased shingles. For hail: circular dents on shingles, damage to metal vents and flashing, dents on gutters and downspouts.

Get context shots too. Photograph the overall roof condition to show it was well-maintained before the storm. Take photos of any debris like tree branches that caused damage. Document matching damage on fences, siding, or outdoor structures that prove a severe weather event occurred.

Interior documentation should show any active leaks, water stains on ceilings and walls, damaged insulation in attics, and mold growth if present. These prove the roof damage is causing real problems, not just cosmetic issues.

The Insurance Claim Process Step-by-Step

Filing a roof insurance claim follows a specific sequence. Knowing what to expect at each stage helps you avoid mistakes that could hurt your claim.

Step 1: Report the Damage

Contact your insurance company within 24-48 hours of discovering damage. Most policies require prompt notification, and delays can be used against you. Have your policy number ready and provide basic details: when you discovered the damage, what type of storm caused it, and what damage you can see.

Don’t downplay the damage or exaggerate it. Just describe what you see. The insurance company will assign a claim number and schedule an adjuster visit. Ask about your deductible, what your policy covers, and the timeline for the adjuster’s visit.

Step 2: Get a Professional Assessment

Before the insurance adjuster arrives, get your own professional inspection. This gives you an independent assessment of the damage and a detailed estimate. When the adjuster arrives, you’ll have documentation to compare against their findings.

Many homeowners skip this step and regret it. Adjusters work for insurance companies, not for you. They’re trained to find reasons to minimize claims. Having your own professional documentation levels the playing field. Companies like ours provide roof insurance claim assistance throughout the entire process.

Step 3: Emergency Repairs

If damage is causing active leaks or exposing your home to weather, make temporary repairs immediately. Your policy likely requires you to prevent further damage. Emergency tarping, placing buckets under leaks, or covering broken skylights are all appropriate temporary measures.

Document all temporary repairs with photos and keep receipts. Most policies reimburse reasonable costs for preventing further damage. Just don’t make permanent repairs before the adjuster inspects the damage, or your claim might be denied. If you need emergency roofing services, professional contractors can tarp and secure your roof without making permanent changes that could affect your claim.

Step 4: The Adjuster’s Inspection

The insurance adjuster will schedule a visit to inspect your roof. Be present for this inspection if possible. The adjuster will examine your roof, take their own photos, and assess what damage they believe qualifies for coverage.

This is where having a contractor present helps tremendously. Our team often meets adjusters on-site to walk through the damage together. We can point out damage the adjuster might miss, explain technical roofing issues in terms adjusters understand, and ensure all storm damage gets documented in their report.

Take notes during the inspection. Ask questions about what the adjuster is documenting and what they’re excluding. If they say certain damage doesn’t qualify, ask why. Understanding their reasoning helps you respond if you disagree with their assessment.

Step 5: Review the Estimate

After the inspection, the insurance company will send you a written estimate of covered repairs and a check (minus your deductible). Review this carefully. Compare it to your contractor’s estimate. Insurance estimates often come in lower than actual repair costs.

Common discrepancies include: lowball pricing that doesn’t match local labor rates, missing items the adjuster didn’t include, depreciation deductions for older roofs, and incorrect measurements resulting in lower material costs. If you disagree with the estimate, you can dispute it.

Step 6: Supplemental Claims

If your contractor discovers additional damage during repairs that the adjuster missed, you can file a supplemental claim. This is common. Damage hidden under shingles or in hard-to-see areas often isn’t found until work begins.

Your contractor should document new findings with photos and detailed notes, then submit this to your insurance company for review. The adjuster may need to reinspect, but legitimate additional damage typically gets added to your claim.

Step 7: Complete the Repairs

Once your claim is approved and you have the funds, schedule your repairs. Most insurance companies pay in stages: an initial payment when you file (minus depreciation), and a final payment once repairs are complete. Keep all receipts and documentation of the work performed.

Your insurance company may require a final inspection to verify repairs were completed properly before releasing final payment. Having an experienced contractor handle the work ensures everything meets insurance requirements and building codes.

What Insurance Adjusters Look For During Inspections

Understanding what adjusters examine helps you prepare better documentation and anticipate questions. Adjusters follow specific protocols and look for particular evidence.

Signs of Storm Damage

Adjusters look for damage patterns consistent with specific weather events. For wind damage, they check for uniform patterns across the roof. If shingles are missing or lifted on the side facing prevailing winds, that supports a wind damage claim. Random missing shingles scattered across the roof might suggest poor installation or maintenance instead.

Hail damage has distinctive characteristics. Circular dents on shingles, dents on metal vents and flashing, and impact marks on soft metals all indicate hail. Adjusters often check neighboring properties to see if similar damage exists, which confirms a weather event affected the area.

For tree damage, they’ll verify a storm caused the tree or branch to fall. If the tree was obviously dead, diseased, or leaning dangerously before the storm, they might argue you should have removed it preventatively, which could affect coverage.

Evidence of Pre-Existing Damage

This is where many claims face challenges. Adjusters inspect the entire roof looking for old damage that might explain current problems. They examine shingle granule loss patterns. Fresh storm damage shows sharp edges and bright underlayment, while old damage has weathered edges and discolored exposure.

They check multiple areas of the roof. If damage appears only on one section while other sections show wear or old damage, they’ll question whether the current claim is really storm-related or just coincidental timing on an already-failing roof.

Flashing conditions reveal a lot. Rusty, corroded, or improperly installed flashing suggests existing issues. Fresh storm damage to flashing is obvious: bent metal, torn seals, or displaced sections. Previous poor repairs also raise red flags. If adjusters see old patches, mismatched shingles, or evidence of DIY repairs, they may deny claims arguing the roof wasn’t properly maintained.

Overall Roof Condition

Adjusters assess the roof’s overall age and condition. They estimate how much life remains in your shingles. If your roof is 20 years old and near the end of its lifespan anyway, they might offer only depreciated value for repairs rather than full replacement cost.

They look for maintenance issues: clogged gutters, moss or algae growth, missing shingles that weren’t recently damaged, and poor ventilation causing premature aging. Any of these can be used to reduce claim amounts or deny coverage entirely.

Building Code Compliance

Adjusters note whether existing conditions meet current building codes. While they typically don’t pay for upgrades to bring old roofs up to new codes, they will ensure repairs meet current standards. This can affect repair costs, especially if your roof was originally installed under older, less stringent codes.

Matching and Aesthetics

If only part of your roof is damaged, adjusters determine whether repairs can match the existing roof or if the entire roof needs replacement for aesthetic consistency. Matching can be difficult with discontinued shingle colors or aged shingles that won’t blend with new ones. This becomes a negotiation point in many claims.

Common Reasons Roof Claims Get Denied

Understanding why claims get denied helps you avoid these pitfalls. Many denials are preventable with proper preparation and documentation.

Wear and Tear Classification

This is the most common denial reason. Adjusters classify damage as normal aging rather than storm damage. They might acknowledge your roof has problems but argue those problems result from the roof reaching the end of its lifespan, not from the recent storm.

Fighting this requires clear evidence distinguishing new storm damage from old wear. Professional documentation showing the condition before and after the storm helps. Photos demonstrating uniform damage patterns consistent with wind or hail strengthen your case. Matching damage on metal components like vents (which don’t age the same way as shingles) proves a weather event caused the damage.

Insufficient Documentation

Many homeowners submit claims with poor photo evidence. Blurry pictures taken from the ground, photos that don’t show the damage clearly, or missing documentation of interior leaks give adjusters room to question the damage severity.

Comprehensive documentation leaves no room for doubt. Multiple high-quality photos from various angles, interior and exterior shots, time-stamped images, and professional inspection reports create an undeniable record. This is why working with experienced contractors who understand insurance documentation requirements significantly improves claim success.

Delayed Reporting

Most policies require prompt notification. If you discover damage but wait weeks or months to file, insurance companies can deny your claim for late reporting. They’ll argue that delayed reporting prevented them from properly investigating the damage or that additional weather events occurred in the interim, making it impossible to determine what caused the damage.

Report damage immediately even if you’re unsure whether you’ll file a claim. You can always decide not to proceed if the damage ends up being minor or if repair costs don’t exceed your deductible. But you can’t go back in time to report damage promptly if you wait too long.

Pre-Existing Damage

When adjusters find evidence of old damage, they often deny entire claims. Maybe previous storm damage wasn’t repaired, or maybe there’s evidence of leaks that existed before the current storm. Insurance companies argue they shouldn’t pay for damage that already existed.

The best defense is maintenance records. If you’ve had regular inspections and can show the roof was in good condition before the recent storm, that counters pre-existing damage claims. Documentation of previous repairs with receipts and photos also helps establish your roof’s condition timeline.

Maintenance Issues

Neglected maintenance kills claims. If the adjuster finds clogged gutters causing water backup, missing shingles that clearly weren’t storm-related, or evidence you ignored obvious problems, they’ll deny the claim citing your failure to maintain the property.

Regular maintenance matters. Clean your gutters, replace missing shingles promptly, keep moss and debris off your roof, and address small issues before they become big problems. Even if storms cause damage, insurance companies want to see that you maintained your roof properly before the storm hit.

Coverage Limitations

Sometimes claims get denied simply because the specific damage isn’t covered under your policy. Some policies exclude certain types of damage, have high wind speed thresholds that weren’t met, or exclude coverage for particular roofing materials.

Review your policy carefully. Understand what’s covered and what’s excluded. If you’re in an area prone to specific types of damage (like ice dams in New England), make sure your policy covers those events. Some exclusions can be added back with endorsements or riders, but you need to purchase those before damage occurs.

How Contractors Help With Insurance Claims

Working with an experienced roofing contractor can be the difference between a denied claim and a successful one. Here’s what professional contractor assistance provides.

Pre-Claim Inspection and Documentation

The most valuable service contractors offer is thorough pre-claim documentation. Professional roofers inspect your roof before the insurance adjuster arrives, documenting every bit of damage with high-quality photos, detailed notes, and accurate measurements.

This inspection serves multiple purposes. It gives you a complete understanding of all damage before you even contact your insurance company. It helps you decide whether filing a claim makes sense based on damage extent versus your deductible. And it provides documentation you can compare against the adjuster’s findings to ensure nothing gets overlooked.

Our team provides free inspections and creates comprehensive reports homeowners use when filing claims. We’ve worked with insurance companies throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire for years. We know exactly what documentation insurance companies require and what evidence strengthens claims.

Meeting With Insurance Adjusters

Having your contractor present when the adjuster inspects your roof levels the playing field. Adjusters respect professional roofers who know what they’re talking about. We can point out damage the adjuster might miss, explain technical issues in terms adjusters understand, and ensure all legitimate storm damage gets included in their report.

We’ve attended hundreds of adjuster inspections. We know what questions to ask, what documentation to provide, and how to advocate for our customers without being confrontational. Our presence often results in more thorough inspections and more accurate damage assessments.

Detailed Estimates and Documentation

Insurance companies require specific estimate formats. Professional contractors create detailed, itemized estimates that break down every material and labor cost. These estimates follow insurance industry standards, making them easier for adjusters to approve.

We measure everything accurately, specify exact materials needed, include proper labor rates for our area, and break down the work into line items matching what insurance companies expect. This level of detail prevents disputes over costs and scope of work.

Understanding Insurance Language

Insurance documents use specific terminology. Contractors experienced with claims understand this language and can translate it for homeowners. We know what RCV (Replacement Cost Value) versus ACV (Actual Cash Value) means for your payout. We understand depreciation schedules and how they affect older roofs. We can explain why insurance companies exclude certain items and what’s negotiable versus non-negotiable.

This knowledge helps homeowners understand their estimates, know what questions to ask, and recognize when insurance companies are treating them fairly versus when they should push back.

Identifying Hidden Damage

During repairs, experienced contractors often discover additional damage the adjuster couldn’t see during their inspection. Damage hidden under shingles, problems with underlayment, or issues with decking become apparent once work begins.

We document this additional damage immediately and submit supplemental claims to insurance companies. Most legitimate hidden damage gets approved, but only if it’s documented properly and submitted correctly. Our experience with supplemental claims ensures nothing gets missed and your coverage reflects all actual damage.

Advocating for Full Coverage

Insurance companies sometimes lowball estimates or exclude items that should be covered. Contractors who work regularly with insurance claims know what’s standard practice versus what’s unfair. We advocate for our customers, pushing back on unreasonable denials or inadequate estimates.

We’re not confrontational, but we’re persistent. We provide additional documentation when requested, arrange for reinspections when necessary, and appeal decisions when we believe damage has been unfairly excluded. Our goal is ensuring you get the full coverage you’re entitled to under your policy.

Managing the Entire Repair Process

Once your claim is approved, contractors manage the actual repair work. We handle material ordering, scheduling, work coordination, and final inspections. We ensure repairs meet insurance requirements, building codes, and manufacturer specifications.

We also deal with insurance companies regarding payment schedules, final inspections, and closeout documentation. This removes the administrative burden from homeowners, allowing you to focus on other priorities while we handle the details.

High Success Rates

Professional contractor assistance dramatically improves claim approval rates. Homeowners filing claims without professional help often miss documentation requirements, fail to identify all damage, or struggle to navigate the insurance process. This results in denied claims or approved claims that don’t cover all damage.

Our team has helped hundreds of Massachusetts and New Hampshire homeowners get their storm damage repairs fully covered by insurance. We understand the process from both the homeowner’s perspective and the insurance company’s perspective. This knowledge ensures claims are documented correctly, submitted properly, and resolved favorably.