What to Do After a Severe Storm: Should I Call a Roofer or My Insurance Company First?
- Staff
- 3 minutes ago
- 6 min read
After a severe thunderstorm, hailstorm, or windstorm, homeowners often ask us the same question: Should I call a roofer first, or should I call my insurance company?
The answer is: it depends. And if someone tells you that you should always call the roofer first, or always call the insurance company first, they're probably trying to sell you something, working from an agenda, or making assumptions about your situation.
There isn't one correct answer for every storm or every homeowner. It depends on what happened, what was damaged, how urgent the situation is, and what your insurance policy looks like.
First Priority: Stop Active Water Intrusion
If water is entering your home during or immediately after a storm, your first priority isn't figuring out who should inspect the roof or whether you're going to file an insurance claim.
Your first priority is stopping or minimizing the water damage. If you know a reputable roofer, or feel comfortable finding one quickly, it may make sense to call the roofer first.
For example, suppose a storm damages a small area of your roof and a roofer can temporarily repair or tarp it for a few hundred dollars. If you have a $2,500 deductible, there may be little reason to immediately start an insurance claim before you even know the extent of the damage.
Get the water stopped. Document what happened. Save your receipts.
You can always file an insurance claim afterward if an inspection reveals that the storm caused more significant damage.
Don't Forget About Your Deductible
Your deductible should be part of the decision. If you have a $2,500 deductible and the storm caused $800 worth of damage, filing a claim probably isn't going to accomplish much.
On the other hand, if a tree came through your roof, shingles are scattered across the yard, your siding is badly damaged, or there is clearly significant damage to multiple parts of the property, you may already know that the cost of repairs is going to substantially exceed your deductible. That's a very different situation.
When It Makes Sense to Call the Insurance Company First
If you're dealing with significant damage and already know that you're going to file a claim, there is nothing inherently wrong with getting your insurance company involved early. In some emergency situations, that can even be helpful.
Insurance companies may have contractors or emergency mitigation companies they regularly work with who can respond to things such as active leaks, fallen trees, temporary roof coverings, water extraction, or other immediate problems.
But there's something important homeowners should understand: Calling your insurance company does not mean you have to use their contractor for the permanent repairs.
You generally have the right to choose the contractor you want to perform the work. Your insurance company may recommend a contractor or have a preferred contractor program, but that doesn't automatically mean you're obligated to use that company.
Ask questions and understand exactly what you're agreeing to before authorizing permanent work.
When It Makes Sense to Call a Roofer First
There are also plenty of situations where calling a roofing contractor first makes more sense. Maybe a severe hailstorm just came through your neighborhood, but your roof isn't leaking and you don't see any obvious damage from the ground.
Why file an insurance claim before you even know whether you have damage?
A reputable contractor can inspect the roof and exterior of the house and give you a better idea of what happened. And sometimes the answer is: Your roof is fine.
That's an answer homeowners should be able to hear from a contractor. Not every hailstorm destroys a roof. Not every missing shingle means you need a new roof. And not every storm justifies an insurance claim.
On the other hand, an inspection may reveal legitimate storm damage that wasn't visible from the ground. At that point, filing a claim may make sense.
Hail Damage Can Be Especially Difficult to See
This is particularly important after hailstorms in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Hail damage isn't always dramatic.
A roof can have hail impacts without leaking immediately. Aluminum siding can have dozens or even hundreds of small dents that are almost invisible under certain lighting conditions. Gutters, downspouts, vents, flashing and other exterior components can also provide evidence of what happened during the storm.
That's why simply walking around the yard and looking up at the roof isn't always enough to determine whether a property was damaged.
What If I Call a Roofer and They Tell Me to File a Claim?
Ask them why. A contractor shouldn't tell you to file an insurance claim simply because there was a storm in your neighborhood. They should be able to show you what they're seeing.
If they're identifying hail impacts on your shingles, ask to see photographs. If they're saying your aluminum siding is dented, have them show you the dents. If shingles are creased or missing from wind, ask where.
You don't need to become a roofing expert. But you should understand the basic reason someone is recommending that you make an insurance claim. Be especially cautious about anyone who seems more interested in getting you to sign paperwork than explaining what actually happened to your house.
What If I Call the Insurance Company First?
That's okay too. Your insurance company will typically assign an adjuster to inspect the property and determine whether there is covered damage.
You can also have your own contractor involved in that process. In fact, if you already have a contractor you trust, having that contractor present for the insurance inspection can be helpful. The contractor and adjuster can look at the same areas of the property and discuss what they're seeing.
Just remember that the insurance adjuster represents the insurance company, while the contractor is evaluating the property from the standpoint of what may actually need to be repaired or replaced. Their roles are different.
It is also important to remember that the insurance inspection is typically one of the most important factors in determining the outcome of your claim. What the adjuster sees, documents, and identifies during that inspection can have a major impact on what is ultimately approved or denied.
For that reason, who is present during the inspection can matter. If you have already found a reputable contractor who is familiar with storm damage, having that contractor present can be beneficial. They can point out damage they observed during their own inspection, make sure relevant areas of the property are examined, and discuss their findings directly with the adjuster.
This doesn't mean your contractor determines whether the insurance company approves the claim—the insurance company makes that decision. But when possible, it can be helpful to have someone there who understands roofing, siding, and storm damage and who is familiar with your property.
So Which Should You Call First?
Here's the simplest way to think about it: If you have an emergency, deal with the emergency first. Stop active water intrusion and prevent additional damage where reasonably possible. If the damage is obviously significant and you know you're going to file a claim, calling your insurance company early is perfectly reasonable.
If you're not sure whether you even have storm damage, having a reputable roofing and exterior contractor inspect the property first can help you make a more informed decision.
And if the damage appears minor, consider your deductible before automatically filing a claim. There is no universal rule that says the roofer must come first or the insurance company must come first. It depends.
Anyone giving you an absolute answer without first understanding what happened to your property probably isn't giving you very useful advice.
Severe Storm Damage in Maryland or Pennsylvania?
JP Construction Services has been working on roofs, siding, gutters and storm-damaged homes for more than 20 years.
We work throughout Harford, Baltimore, Carroll, Howard, Cecil, Frederick, Montgomery and Anne Arundel counties in Maryland, as well as York, Lancaster and Chester counties in Pennsylvania.
If a storm recently came through your area and you're unsure whether your home was damaged—or whether an insurance claim even makes sense—we can inspect the exterior and explain what we find.
Sometimes that means recommending that you contact your insurance company.
Sometimes it means recommending a repair. And sometimes it means telling you that you don't need to do anything at all.
Call us today at (877) 846-9566 or schedule your free storm or hail damage inspection and consultation online.
