A step-by-step guide from a GAF Certified contractor who has documented and managed hundreds of storm damage claims across PA, NJ & Delaware.
After a major storm — hail, high winds, or a fallen tree — many Pennsylvania and New Jersey homeowners are unsure whether they have a valid insurance claim, how to start one, or whether calling a roofer first is even the right move. This guide walks you through the entire process clearly.
Before anything else, take photos. Get every visible sign of damage — missing shingles, dented gutters, damaged flashing, debris on the roof. Date-stamp the photos if your phone doesn’t do it automatically. This becomes your baseline evidence.
If it’s safe to do so, look in your attic for water stains, wet insulation, or daylight. These are critical to capture before they dry out or fade.
This is the step most homeowners get backwards. Call a qualified contractor before you call your insurance company. Here’s why: a trained roofing inspector can document damage that a desk adjuster will never identify — hail hits on pipe boots, cracked ridge caps, damaged underlayment exposed by lifted shingles. This documentation becomes the basis for your entire claim.
We provide professional damage documentation at no cost as part of our storm damage service. We’ve worked with every major insurer operating in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Pennsylvania law generally gives homeowners two years from the date of loss to file a storm damage claim, but practically speaking — the sooner you file, the better. Insurers become skeptical about damage that’s reported months after a documented storm event.
When you file, have your policy number ready, the approximate date of the storm, and your initial documentation. Your claim will be assigned to an adjuster who will schedule an inspection.
Never let an adjuster inspect your property without a roofing contractor present. This is not adversarial — it’s practical. Your contractor knows what to look for and can point out damage the adjuster might otherwise miss, walk, or overlook.
We always accompany our clients during adjuster visits at no extra charge. Our documentation and the adjuster’s report should match closely — if they don’t, we can support a supplemental claim.
After the adjuster’s visit, you’ll receive a Scope of Loss document that details what the insurer will pay to repair or replace. Review this carefully:
If anything looks incomplete, your contractor can help you file a supplement — a common and legitimate process.
Once the claim is approved, select a licensed, insured contractor. Be very cautious of out-of-state contractors who appear after storms — storm chasers — who take your money, do substandard work, and leave before problems appear. Always choose a local, established contractor with a verifiable address and references.
Document and report within days of the storm event. Waiting weeks or months invites adjuster skepticism.
First scopes are often incomplete. Supplements are normal and should be expected when significant components were missed.
Never sign an Assignment of Benefits agreement. These transfer your insurance rights to a third party and are illegal in many states. A legitimate contractor will never ask you to sign one.
If you’ve experienced storm damage anywhere in PA, NJ, or Delaware, contact us immediately for a free inspection and documentation report.
Before your claim is settled, you need to know which type of policy you have. This single factor can mean tens of thousands of dollars difference in what you receive.
Actual Cash Value (ACV) — The carrier pays the depreciated value of your roof. If your 20-year-old architectural shingle roof costs $18,000 to replace, and the carrier depreciates it at 3% per year, you may receive as little as $7,200 — and pay the remaining $10,800 out of pocket (plus your deductible). ACV policies are cheaper to carry but significantly more expensive when you file a claim.
Replacement Cost Value (RCV) — The carrier pays the full cost to replace the roof with like materials. Typically, they release an initial payment (less the deductible) when the claim is approved, and a second “recoverable depreciation” check after the work is completed. Most newer policies are RCV — but verify this before assuming.
To find out which type you have: look at your declarations page (the summary page of your policy) and search for “loss settlement” or “coverage basis.” If it says “ACV,” call your agent about upgrading — it is often a small premium difference for a significant protection gain. If you have a separate wind or hail deductible — common in NJ and coastal zones — that will also appear on your declarations page as a percentage of your dwelling coverage rather than a flat dollar amount.
Denial is not the end of the process. It is a starting point for an appeal. Here is how to respond:
Your carrier is required to provide a written explanation. The reason matters — “wear and tear” denials are handled differently than “filed too late” denials or “not covered event” denials.
Most claims are denied because the adjuster’s inspection was insufficient — often conducted from the ground, or on a roof where the damage type (hail bruising, lifted underlayment) was not apparent to a non-specialist. A contractor report with drone photography, hail impact measurements, granule loss documentation, and identification of compromised components gives you a formal basis to appeal. We provide written reassessments specifically structured to support insurance appeals.
Most homeowner’s policies include an appraisal clause: if you and the insurer disagree on the amount of loss, both parties hire independent appraisers, and a neutral umpire resolves the dispute. This is a legal right, not a courtesy — read your policy’s “appraisal” section. The appraisal process is distinct from filing a complaint with your state’s insurance commissioner, which is a parallel option if the carrier acted in bad faith.
If the denial involves a large, expensive, or materially complex roof (slate, copper, cedar shake) and your appeal has already been rejected, a licensed public adjuster can represent your interests in a way a contractor cannot. Public adjusters charge 10–20% of the final settlement, so weigh that cost against the disputed amount. For most standard shingle claims under $25,000, the appraisal process or a contractor re-documentation is more cost-effective.
A “supplement” is a request to the insurance carrier to add items to the scope of loss that were missed in the initial estimate. Supplements are standard practice in the roofing industry — the average residential claim requires at least one supplement because adjusters are generalists, not roofing specialists, and commonly miss:
We prepare supplement requests using the same line-item format adjusters use (Xactimate is the industry-standard estimating software used by virtually all major carriers). When items are missing from your scope, we document them, price them, and submit them to your carrier before the project begins. Most supplements are approved — the process typically adds 1–3 weeks.
PA homeowners have 2 years from the date of loss to file a claim under the statute of limitations. Most carriers also have policy-level deadlines that are shorter — check your policy’s “duties after loss” section. Pennsylvania does not allow “assignment of benefits” (AOB) agreements for roofing — never sign one. A PA HIC license (Home Improvement Contractor) is required for all roofing work — verify your contractor’s license number at the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s website. Shelby Roofing Services holds PA HIC License #PA-178363.
NJ policies — especially in areas near the coast — often carry a separate wind/hail deductible expressed as a percentage of your dwelling coverage (typically 1–5%). On a home insured for $400,000, a 2% wind deductible means you pay $8,000 before insurance kicks in. Check your declarations page for this. New Jersey also has stronger consumer protection provisions around claim denials — if your claim was denied and you believe the carrier acted in bad faith, the NJ Department of Banking and Insurance handles formal complaints.
Delaware follows a 2-year statute of limitations for first-party insurance claims. Delaware homes — particularly in New Castle County, Greenville, and Hockessin — often have slate, copper, and historic roofing systems that require specialist documentation. Standard adjuster estimates frequently underprice these materials because they’re priced from regional shingle databases rather than specialty material suppliers. We provide material-specific damage documentation for historic systems and work with carriers to ensure accurate replacement pricing.
ACV (Actual Cash Value) pays the depreciated value of your roof. RCV (Replacement Cost Value) pays full replacement cost, typically releasing a second “recoverable depreciation” check after work is complete. Check your declarations page to confirm which type you have — it can mean tens of thousands of dollars difference.
A supplement is an additional filing to add items the adjuster missed in the initial scope of loss — commonly pipe boots, drip edge, ridge cap, gutters, underlayment, and permit costs. Supplements are standard and legitimate. We prepare them using the same Xactimate line-item format insurers use.
Get the denial reason in writing. In most cases, a formal re-inspection with drone photography and written damage measurements gives you the documentation to support an appeal. Most policies also include an appraisal clause — a legal right to dispute the claim amount through independent appraisers. We provide written reassessments for denied and underpaid claims across PA, NJ, and Delaware.
For most standard hail or wind claims, no. Public adjusters charge 10–20% of your settlement. Thorough contractor documentation and presence at the adjuster visit is usually sufficient. For complex disputes involving slate, copper, or cedar shake systems, or for claims that have already been denied once, a public adjuster can be worth the cost.
Pennsylvania and Delaware: 2 years from date of loss under state statute. New Jersey: 2 years, though policy-level deadlines may be shorter. In all three states, file as soon as possible — delayed claims invite adjuster skepticism about whether damage is truly storm-related.
Call your roofer first. A trained inspector documents damage that adjusters routinely miss — hail bruising on pipe boots, cracked ridge caps, lifted underlayment. This documentation becomes the basis for your entire claim. Filing before you have professional documentation often leads to underpaid or denied claims.
Schedule a free, no-obligation roof evaluation and quote. We serve Blue Bell, PA and all surrounding areas across PA, NJ & Delaware.