Roof Insurance Claim Denied? Here’s What You Can Do

It’s a maddening situation if your roof insurance claim is denied. You are left worrying about how you will pay for the cost of repairs yourself. And significant roof repairs or replacing a roof comes with an expensive price tag. This extra stress comes after dealing with paperwork, haggling with insurance adjusters, and waiting on an answer for your claim.

The good news is that even if the insurers deny your roof insurance claim, there are still things you can do. Knowing how to appeal a denied insurance claim requires learning why claims are denied and what you can do to reverse the decision.

The article helps you know what to do if your insurance company refuses your roof insurance claim. First, let’s look at what happens during a roof damage insurance claim.

Roof Insurance Claim Process

Processing a claim for roof damage may not be as straightforward as you imagine. Usually, several people are involved in the claim process. Typically, the insurers assign professional roof repair contractors to assess the damage. Then an insurance adjuster makes the decision and signs off the check—if approved.

However, in some cases, the only person to inspect the property is the claims adjuster.

After the inspection, you receive a summary of damages and the decision. If the company rejects your roof insurance claim, it may seem that there is nothing else you can do. But remember, insurers rarely have the final say when they refuse an insurance claim.

What You Can Do if a Roof Insurance Claim is Denied

If you disagree with the insurer’s decision, you can contact the insurance company to appeal the decision. Here are some steps to take to successfully reverse a decision if it doesn’t go in your favor.

Arrange professional roof inspection

The first step is to call a trusted local roofing company to carry out an independent inspection. Professional roofers can inspect the extent of the damage and determine how it happened. The roof contractors can advise on the best way to fix the roof and estimate the expected costs.

Because the professional roofing company is independent, they are not working for the insurance company. Here are two reasons why this fact is significant:

The insurance claims adjuster is not a roofing expert. They may inspect hundreds of properties a year and are probably not specialists in roof construction.
Insurance adjusters represent the insurance company. In many cases, the adjuster is looking for ways to reduce the cost of the claim or deny it altogether.

Of course, arranging for a reputable roofing company to inspect the damage doesn’t resolve the insurance issue. However, it arms you with a second opinion to use against the insurance company.

File an appeal to reverse the decision

If the professional roofers think that you have a case, then you should file an appeal. Typically, you must provide documented evidence to back up your claim. This could be pictures of the roof damage, a report from a trusted roofing company, and any other information you think is relevant.

In some cases, the insurance company could reverse their roof insurance claim decision based on photos and an independent report. In other cases, they may send the claims adjuster to inspect the property again. If so, arrange to have a professional roofer present.

When filing an appeal, be sure to do the following:

Ask for a resolution date.
Write an accurate description of the damage.
Explain why to feel the decision is wrong.
Send photos of the damage.
Include reports from an independent third party, for example, a licensed roofing company.
Send your appeal by certified mail.

Top tip to appeal roof insurance claim denials: Always check the fine print of your home insurance policy. You may have a limited amount of time to file an appeal.

File a formal complaint with the regulators

If the insurance company still denies your roof insurance claim, you can file a complaint with state insurance regulators.

For example, Tampa homeowners who have a roof insurance claim denied can contact the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. The Florida regulators can investigate mishandled insurance claims.

Even though filing a formal complaint is a lengthy and complicated process, it could save you thousands of dollars on roof repairs.

How Your Local Tampa Roofing Company Can Help with Insurance Claims

Before contacting your insurance company regarding roof damage, it’s a good idea to call a trusted roofing company.

Here are three reasons why it makes sense to call local roofing contractors:

First, roofing professionals can inspect fire or hurricane roof damage and give you an unbiased report. Remember, your local roofing company represents you, not the insurance company.

Second, a professional roofing contractor can be on hand when the insurance adjuster arrives. The roofer can answer any questions the claims adjuster has. This could include facts about the cause and extent of the damage.

Third, the roofing professional can tell you the expected cost of the repairs. In some cases, it may be cheaper to pay for the repairs yourself if the price is less than your deductible. This also means that you don’t face increased premiums when you renew your house insurance.

How to Prevent Roof Insurance Claim Refusals

You can easily avoid the stress of filing appeals for denied roof insurance claims by taking a proactive approach to property maintenance.

Here are some ways to ensure that any claims for roof damage are successful:

Schedule a professional annual roof inspection to address any maintenance issues. Showing an insurance company a recent inspection report can be crucial in proving that a disaster caused roof damage and is not a pre-existing condition.
Follow the requirements of a roof warranty.
Keep up to date with your homeowner’s insurance premiums.
Ensure that your home insurance provides adequate coverage for extensive roof repairs.

Professional Roofing Company in Tampa

If your roof insurance claim is denied, we recommend contacting your local roofing company in Tampa. At Code Engineered Systems, Inc., we provide a full range of roofing services, including roof inspections, roof repairs, and complete roof replacements. Contact us today to see how we can help maintain and repair your roof.