Roof Insurance Claim Checklist

Roof claims in Louisiana have hard statutory deadlines, specific documentation rules, and a fast-moving timeline where mistakes cost real money. This checklist is what we run with every Clear Home client.

Phase 1 — First 48 hours

1. Stop active damage. If water is entering the home, tarp the roof or move belongings — but only if it's safe. If you can't reach the roof, call us at (504) 285-9060 for 24/7 emergency response. Tarp work is a covered loss-mitigation expense.
2. Document before you touch anything. Take wide, mid-range, and close-up photos of every damaged area from multiple angles. Date-stamped is better. If you can safely get on the roof, do so — but ground shots, attic shots, and interior water-damage shots all matter.
3. Save every receipt for emergency repairs, tarps, hotel stays, generator fuel, anything storm-related. These are often reimbursable under loss-of-use and additional-living-expense coverage.
4. Locate your policy. Read the declarations page (page 1). Note: your deductible (regular vs. named-storm), your wind/hail sub-deductible if separate, dwelling coverage limit, and whether you have RCV or ACV coverage on the roof.
5. Don't sign anything yet. Storm-chasing contractors will knock. Salespeople offering "free" inspections may try to get you to sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) on the spot. In Louisiana, AOBs come with serious gotchas — wait until you've spoken with a licensed local contractor.

Phase 2 — Filing the claim (days 2–7)

6. Call a licensed roofing contractor before your insurance company. A 20-minute inspection tells you whether you have a real claim worth filing. If it's clearly a covered loss, the contractor can document everything for the adjuster's later visit. If it's borderline, they'll tell you straight.
7. File the claim with your insurance carrier. Most carriers accept claims by phone or app — the call generates your claim number. Have ready: policy number, date of loss, description of damage, and any photos. Louisiana law gives carriers 30 days to acknowledge the claim and 30 days to pay after agreement.
8. Get your claim number in writing. Email yourself the confirmation. Every conversation with the carrier from this point forward should reference the claim number.
9. Schedule the carrier's adjuster inspection — but don't let it happen without you (or your contractor) present. Adjusters work for the insurance company. You want a second set of eyes documenting the same damage.
10. Be on the roof with the adjuster. Point out every damaged area. Bring your photos. Adjusters who work alone tend to write less — every claim we've worked has been larger when we accompany the inspection than when we don't.

Phase 3 — Reviewing the offer (days 7–30)

11. Read the loss estimate line by line. Insurance estimates use a software called Xactimate. The total at the bottom matters less than the line items. Look for: missing slope ventilation, missing ice-and-water shield, drip edge omitted, dumpster fee missing, code-upgrade items missing, and starter strip / ridge cap shorted.
12. Compare it to a contractor estimate. A good local roofing contractor builds their estimate in the same Xactimate-compatible format. If your carrier's number is $14,000 and a real-world replacement runs $22,000, that gap is what you negotiate — and there's a defined process for getting there.
13. Submit a supplement. If you find missing items, file a supplement with documentation. Most claims under-pay on the initial estimate. Supplements are normal — adjusters expect them when the contractor is competent.
14. Watch the ACV vs. RCV depreciation hold-back. Most policies pay actual cash value (ACV — depreciated) up front and release the remaining replacement cost value (RCV) after work is completed and invoiced. Make sure the carrier releases the recoverable depreciation. This is a multi-thousand-dollar item that gets forgotten.
15. Push back on a denial or lowball. Louisiana has specific statutes (R.S. 22:1973, R.S. 22:1892) that penalize bad-faith adjusting — failure to pay within 60 days, arbitrary denials, refusal to negotiate. If your claim is denied, get a second opinion before accepting. Clear Home has overturned dozens of denials with the right documentation.

Red flags during the process

• Adjuster says "you have a roof leak" but won't write damage — request a written denial with reason cited.
• Adjuster says "we don't pay for code upgrades" — code-upgrade coverage is standard in Louisiana policies (Ordinance & Law). Verify.
• Carrier offers a quick cash settlement well below contractor estimates — they're hoping you accept and waive future supplements.
• Storm chaser shows up the same day damage occurred, offers to file "no out-of-pocket" — read every word before signing.
• Adjuster recommends a specific contractor — they don't choose your contractor. You do.

What Clear Home does on a claim

Every Clear Home insurance claim engagement includes inspection, line-item Xactimate-compatible estimate, attendance at the carrier's adjuster inspection, supplement filing, communication with the carrier on your behalf, and final repair work to manufacturer-certified standards. Louisiana State Contractor License HI.565176. GAF Master Elite. HAAG Certified Inspector. Twenty-plus years on Greater New Orleans roofs.

Read more about our insurance claims service →

Disclaimer: This checklist is general guidance for Louisiana homeowners and does not replace the specifics of your insurance policy or licensed legal/insurance advice. Every policy is different. Call Clear Home for a free read on your specific situation.