Roof insurance claims: what's covered, ACV vs RCV, and the real timeline
Storm damage is usually covered. Age isn't. Here's how the claim actually moves, week by week.
What insurance covers — and what it never will
Sudden storm events are the covered territory: hail, straight-line winds, fallen tree limbs, snow load. Normal aging, wear, and neglected maintenance are not — no policy pays to replace a roof that simply got old. The dividing line the adjuster draws is 'sudden event' versus 'gradual deterioration'.
ACV vs RCV — the two letters that decide your payout
An Actual Cash Value (ACV) policy pays the depreciated value of your roof — a 15-year-old roof gets 15 years of depreciation subtracted. A Replacement Cost Value (RCV) policy pays what it actually costs to replace it, typically in two checks: ACV up front, the recoverable depreciation after the work is done. Read your declarations page before you file; it changes everything about what to expect.
What the adjuster is looking for
On hail claims, adjusters look for 'bruising' — soft dark spots where granules were knocked off and the mat is exposed. A good roofer documents this damage with chalk and photos before the adjuster visit, and meets the adjuster on the roof to point at every mark. Claims typically take 2–4 weeks to approval, longer in a busy storm season; work is usually scheduled within 1–2 weeks after.
- Check your policy: ACV or RCV, and your wind/hail deductible.
- Get a documented inspection with photos first — free from any serious roofer.
- File with dates, photos, and your mitigation receipts attached.
- Have your roofer meet the adjuster on site.
- Never sign over your claim to a door-knocker before all of this.
Otumia answers every call, books the job, and proves every recovered dollar — for roofing companies first.