How the Money Actually Flows
A replacement-cost roof claim almost never pays out in a single check. Understanding the sequence is the difference between recovering the full value of your policy and leaving thousands on the table.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Notice of loss | You report the storm date and the carrier assigns an adjuster. |
| 2. Adjuster inspection | The adjuster measures and photographs. Your contractor should be on the roof at the same time. |
| 3. Scope & estimate | The carrier issues a line-item estimate. Review it — missing items are common at this stage. |
| 4. ACV check | First payment equals replacement cost minus depreciation minus your deductible. |
| 5. Supplements | Additional required work discovered or omitted from the scope is submitted for approval. |
| 6. Completion & invoice | Final invoice and photos are submitted; permit is closed. |
| 7. Depreciation release | The carrier releases the recoverable depreciation, and any mortgage company endorses the check. |
Your Claim Checklist: What to Gather
A claim is won or lost on documentation. Work through these five stages in order — the same list we walk our own customers through — and download the printable version to keep with your policy paperwork.
Free Download
Printable claim checklist (PDF)
Two pages, check-off boxes, and a notes section — take it to the adjuster meeting.
1. Before you call the carrier
- Write down the storm date (date of loss) — carriers require it.
- Photograph obvious damage from the ground: dented gutters, downspouts, vents, AC fins.
- Check the ground for shingle granules washed out of downspouts.
- Photograph any interior water stains on ceilings and walls, with dates.
- Get a free roof-level inspection and a written, photo-documented damage report.
- Locate your policy declarations page: deductible amount, wind/hail deductible, ACV vs RCV.
2. Information to have ready
- Policy number and carrier claim phone number.
- Date of loss and a short description of the storm event.
- Property address, year built, and approximate age of the roof.
- Prior claims on the roof, if any, and what was repaired.
- Mortgage company name and loan number — they endorse claim checks.
- Your contractor's name, license, and contact info for the adjuster meeting.
3. Documents to collect and keep
- Declarations page and full policy, including endorsements and exclusions.
- Contractor inspection report with dated photos of every slope.
- The carrier's line-item estimate / scope of loss.
- All ACV, supplement, and depreciation payment statements.
- Signed contract and any change orders.
- Permit and final inspection sign-off.
- Final invoice and certificate of completion.
- Every email, plus a call log: date, name, what was said.
4. At the adjuster inspection
- Schedule so your roofing contractor is on the roof at the same time.
- Confirm test squares are chalked and measured on all slopes, plus soft metals.
- Point out interior leaks, detached structures, garages, sheds, and fences.
- Ask the adjuster to note code-required items: ice barrier, ventilation, drip edge.
- Request a copy of the adjuster's photo report and estimate in writing.
5. After approval — don't leave money behind
- Compare the carrier estimate line by line to the real scope of work.
- Submit supplements for extra layers, decking, steep/high charges, and code upgrades.
- Pay your deductible — in Colorado it is illegal for a contractor to waive it.
- Ask about deductible financing and the $2,000 return-customer rebate.
- Submit the final invoice and completion photos to release recoverable depreciation.
- Confirm the depreciation check and any mortgage endorsement clear.
- File the warranty paperwork: manufacturer warranty plus our 10-year workmanship warranty.
Where Homeowners Lose Money
- Accepting the first estimate without comparing it to the real scope of work.
- Missing code upgrade items — ice barrier, ventilation, drip edge, deck replacement.
- Never submitting the completion paperwork, which forfeits recoverable depreciation.
- Choosing a storm-chaser who leaves the state before supplements are settled.
- Signing a contingency agreement they didn't read at the kitchen table.
- Letting the claim sit past the policy's prompt-notice window.
Why Carriers Push Back
Adjusters work large storm volumes on tight timelines, often as out-of-state catastrophe contractors unfamiliar with local code amendments. They are trained to distinguish functional damage from cosmetic wear, and when the photo record is thin they default to the answer that costs less. Colorado's claim frequency has also pushed carriers toward higher wind/hail deductibles, cosmetic-damage exclusions, and roof schedules that pay ACV only on older roofs.
None of that is personal. It means your side of the file has to be better documented than theirs.
The Deductible Rule in Colorado
Your deductible is your legal obligation. Colorado statute prohibits a roofing contractor from paying, waiving, or rebating it, and requires contractors to notify you in writing that you are responsible for it. If someone offers a "free roof," they are proposing insurance fraud with your name on the policy.
What is legitimate: financing the deductible over time, and disclosed customer rebate programs. See our insurance and deductible assistance page for the options we offer.
What We Do On Your File
We meet the adjuster on the roof, photograph every test square, review the carrier's line-item estimate against the actual scope and current Colorado code requirements, write and track supplements, and hand you a completion package that gets your depreciation released. You handle the deductible. We handle the paperwork.
This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Your policy language controls your claim.
Common Questions
FAQ
What is the difference between ACV and RCV?
Actual Cash Value is the replacement cost minus depreciation for the age and condition of your roof — that's the first check. Replacement Cost Value is the full cost to replace. On an RCV policy, the depreciation withheld from the first payment is recoverable once the work is completed and invoiced.
Can a contractor pay or waive my deductible?
No. Under Colorado law it is illegal for a contractor to pay, waive, rebate, or absorb an insurance deductible on a property insurance claim. Any company offering to do so is breaking the law and exposing you to insurance fraud allegations. Legitimate options are financing or a documented rebate program that is disclosed to the carrier.
What is a supplement?
A supplement is a request to the carrier for additional payment when the approved scope misses work that is actually required — extra layers discovered at tear-off, deck replacement, code-required ventilation or ice barrier, or steep and high charges. Supplements are normal and expected, not a red flag.
My claim was denied. Is that final?
No. Denials can be re-inspected and appealed with better documentation, a re-inspection with the adjuster present, or an engineer's report. Many denials come down to insufficient photo evidence in the original inspection, not the absence of damage.