How a Colorado roof insurance claim works
A hail roof claim runs in a set order: documented inspection, filing, adjuster meeting, a first payment based on depreciated value, the work, then release of the withheld depreciation. Knowing that order is what keeps a claim from being under-scoped.
The claim, stage by stage
Stage 1
Documented inspection first
Before a claim exists, get the damage recorded: photographs, test squares, impact counts, and the condition of flashing, vents and gutters. This is what makes the rest of the process straightforward.
Stage 2
Filing the claim
You file with your insurer, not with us. Give them the storm date, the address, and the documentation. Ask for the claim number and the adjuster's contact details, and tell them a contractor will attend the inspection.
Stage 3
The adjuster meeting
The adjuster inspects and writes a scope of loss. We attend so the measurements, layers, penetrations, code items and accessories are all counted, because a missed item becomes an argument later.
Stage 4
The first payment (ACV)
Most policies pay in two parts. The first check is actual cash value: the replacement cost minus depreciation and your deductible. It is not the total the insurer will pay.
Stage 5
Work, then the second payment (RCV)
Once the work is complete and invoiced, a replacement cost value policy releases the withheld depreciation. Skipping approved work generally means that second payment is never released.
Stage 6
Supplements when reality differs
If the tear-off exposes rotten decking or the scope omitted a required code item, that is a supplement: documented, priced and submitted to the insurer during the job rather than absorbed quietly.
Claim questions we get most
- Who pays my deductible?
- You do. It is deducted from the insurer's payment, and any contractor offering to absorb or waive it is describing insurance fraud, not a discount.
- Will filing a claim raise my premium?
- That is between you and your insurer and depends on your policy and history. It is a fair question to ask them directly before you file, which is why we inspect first.
- Can I keep the money and not replace the roof?
- You can usually keep the first payment, but the withheld depreciation is only released against completed work, and an unrepaired roof can affect future claims on the same property.
- How long do I have to file?
- Policies set deadlines from the date of loss, often measured in months rather than years, so identify the storm date early and do not sit on it.
- Do you work with every insurer?
- Yes. We work to your policy and your adjuster's scope, and we document our position when we disagree with it.
This page explains the general process; it is not legal or policy advice, and your own policy wording governs. If you want to talk a specific claim through, call (303) 738-1032.
Start with a free consultation
Tell us what the roof is doing and we will tell you honestly whether it needs a repair, a replacement, or nothing at all yet.