How to Navigate a Roof Insurance Claim on Long Island

Homeowners insurance (HO-3 policy, the standard on Long Island) covers roof damage caused by a covered peril. On Long Island, the relevant covered perils are:

• Wind damage — shingles blown off, ridge vents detached, flashing pulled away
• Hail damage — cracked shingles, dented flashing, bruised granule surface
• Fallen trees and limbs — tree through the roof, limb damage to shingles
• Lightning strike — structural damage from a direct hit
• Fire — including fire from a neighboring property
• Weight of ice and snow — structural failure from ice accumulation (less common on LI but possible)

Insurance does not cover:

• Wear and tear — a 25-year-old roof that simply wore out is not a covered event
• Lack of maintenance — clogged gutters that caused ice dam damage, unfixed flashing that allowed slow leaks
• Gradual deterioration — moss, algae, slow rot
• Cosmetic damage — hail that dented but did not crack or compromise the shingle
• Code upgrades — if the replacement requires code upgrades (different ventilation, different ice shield), those are usually your cost unless you have an Ordinance or Law endorsement on your policy

Step 1: Document the damage immediately

Take photos from the ground. Do not go on the roof. Note the date and time of the storm or event. If there is an active opening in the roof, call your contractor for an emergency tarp (this is covered as "reasonable mitigation" under your policy).

Step 2: Call your insurance company

Report the claim. Get a claim number. Ask when the adjuster will come.

Step 3: Call your roofing contractor

Have your contractor inspect the damage before the adjuster comes. A good contractor will produce a written scope of damage with photos that you can give to the adjuster. This is what we do on every insurance job.

Step 4: The adjuster inspects

The insurance adjuster (either a staff adjuster or an independent adjuster hired by the carrier) will inspect the roof. They may go up on the roof or they may inspect from the ground and use satellite imagery. Have your contractor meet the adjuster on site. This is critical. Your contractor can walk the adjuster through the damage and make sure nothing is missed.

Step 5: The adjuster writes a scope of loss

The adjuster produces a written estimate using Xactimate software (the industry standard). This document lists every item that needs repair or replacement and assigns a price to each line item.

Step 6: Compare the adjuster's scope to your contractor's scope

This is where most homeowners lose money. The adjuster's scope may be lower than your contractor's scope. Common items adjusters miss or undercount:

• Drip edge replacement
• Ice and water shield (they may allow felt paper instead)
• Ridge vent replacement
• Proper chimney flashing (they may allow re-seal instead of replacement)
• Decking replacement (cannot be assessed until tear-off)
• Steep pitch charges
• Code-required upgrades

If the adjuster's scope is lower, your contractor can write a supplement (a detailed line-by-line explanation of why the scope should be higher) and submit it to the insurance company for review. We do this routinely and it results in an adjusted payout 70-80% of the time.

Step 7: Receive payment

Insurance pays in two checks: the first check (minus your deductible) when the claim is approved, and the second check (the depreciation holdback) after the work is completed and documented. Some carriers release the full amount upfront if the mortgage is not escrowed.

Step 8: Get the work done

Hire your contractor, complete the repair or replacement, and submit the final invoice and photos to the insurance company to release the depreciation holdback.

Mistake 1: Not calling the contractor before the adjuster. If your contractor is not present at the adjuster's inspection, the adjuster controls the narrative. Your contractor should be there to point out every area of damage.

Mistake 2: Accepting the first adjuster estimate without review. Adjuster estimates are often low. Not because adjusters are dishonest, but because they inspect many roofs and may miss details. Compare the adjuster's scope to your contractor's scope and supplement if needed.

Mistake 3: Signing an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) with a storm-chasing contractor. AOB transfers your insurance rights to the contractor. This is legal in New York but can result in your contractor and your insurance company litigating without your input. We do not use AOBs.

Mistake 4: Waiting too long to file. Most policies require you to report damage within a reasonable time frame (usually 1 year, sometimes less). Waiting 6 months weakens your claim because the insurance company will argue the damage could have been caused by events after the one you are claiming.

Mistake 5: Not documenting the roof condition before storm season. If you had an annual inspection or a recent photo of your roof in good condition, it strengthens your case that the damage was caused by the specific event. We recommend pre-season inspections for this reason.

Most Long Island homeowners policies have two deductible structures:

Standard deductible: A flat dollar amount ($1,000-$5,000) that applies to all claims including roof damage.

Wind/hail deductible (percentage-based): Some LI policies have a separate wind/hail deductible that is 1-5% of the dwelling coverage amount. On a $500,000 dwelling, a 2% wind deductible is $10,000. This can be a surprise if you did not read your policy carefully.

Check your policy now. Know your deductible before you have a claim. If your wind deductible is percentage-based and high, you may want to negotiate a flat deductible with your carrier at renewal time.

We have done this over 300 times. Here is what we provide:

1. Free storm damage inspection with documented photos
2. Written scope of damage with line-item pricing
3. Adjuster meeting — we meet the adjuster on site and walk the damage together
4. Supplement preparation if the adjuster's scope is low
5. Emergency tarping (same-day when possible, billed to the claim)
6. Complete repair or replacement per the approved scope
7. Final documentation with photos for the depreciation holdback release

We do not charge extra for insurance paperwork. It is part of the job.