What If My Roofing Claim Is Denied?

Getting your storm-damaged roof repaired is enough of a task on its own. Add on top of it the insurance process you’ll have to go through to get those costs covered and the stress mounts.

Now, what happens if your roofing claim is rejected?

Unfortunately, this is all too common. When it does happen, knowing why it happens might be anyone’s guess, leaving you with more questions than answers.

What’s important to keep in mind at this stage is that one rejection doesn’t mean the end of your insurance case. You still have options even if your insurance provider denies that first roof claim.

We’re going to get into the next steps you can take after that denial today. We’ll touch on why your roofing claim was denied, what you can do, and how roofing contractors can help get your claim approved.

Why your roofing claim is denied

Let's take a look at the reasons why your roof damage claim was initially rejected before moving on to what you can do. 

There are a few reasons why an insurance company might reject your claim, including the ones listed below: 

• Nothing was damaged
• The roof had been incorrectly installed
• There’s inadequate ventilation in the attic
• There was a manufacturing flaw
• You submitted your Policy exclusions too late
• When your policy began, the roof was already outdated
• An earlier storm caused damage to your roof

Some of these reasons are out of your control. What is in your control is getting your insurance company to explain why the claim was denied. 

If my roofing claim is denied, what can I do?

Now, there are alternatives if your initial claim is rejected after discovering the reason why.

If you’re adamant that your roof has storm damage and your claim was rejected because the adjuster claims they didn't locate any or enough damage, you can check your roof again.

How to request another adjuster

Want to go for submitting another roofing claim? Asking your insurance provider to send out a different adjuster can be the simplest approach. 

That said, it’s no guarantee. Some insurance firms refuse to send homeowners a second adjuster.

You do, however, have the right to a second adjuster. Following this examination, they will either accept your claim or concur with the initial adjuster that it lacks merit.

Contact a structural engineer

Has the second adjuster denied your claim, too? 

If you're still convinced there is roof damage and want to pursue it, you can speak with a structural engineer. They will conduct an examination and provide the insurance provider with documentation proving that the roof must be replaced due to structural issues.

It is only advised to do this if the insurance adjusters are irrational and only seldom done. Even this may still go wrong, though.

From there, there are some legal options you can explore, but that is beyond the scope of this article.

How roofing contractors can help to get roofing claims approved

A common refrain from homeowners about their roofing claims is "Why is my claim being refused if you indicated I had roof damage?"

When there are issues with their claim being granted, another option is to turn to your roofing contractor. 

A roofing contractor with insurance experience will work to guarantee that your policy is followed. One tool in their toolkit, for example, is proving that your residence was in the storm's path. This can be done by providing documentation or retrieving hail/wind maps.

The truth is that whether or not the claim is granted is entirely out of your roofing contractor's control. The insurance adjuster will have the last say on whether to accept or reject your claim.

A roofing contractor is ultimately your advisor and partner during the insurance claim procedure. Finding a professional you can trust and who has experience is vital.

What to do once your roofing claim is accepted

You now understand the reasons your insurance claim was rejected, what you can do to fix it, and what a roofing contractor may do to help. 

Still, the roofing claim process is far from one-and-done. At US Home Supplements, we’ve helped hundreds of roofers on thousands of projects. To make sure your roofing claims process is well taken care of, contact the expert team at US Home Supplements today.