If a storm has come through your neighborhood and you think your roof took a hit, filing an insurance claim is probably on your mind. For most homeowners, it’s not a process they’ve been through before — and the combination of adjusters, estimates, depreciation schedules, and supplement requests can feel like a lot to navigate all at once. Here’s a straightforward look at how the process works and where we fit into it.
Start with a roof inspection before you call your insurance company
This is the step a lot of homeowners skip, and it often causes problems later. Before you file a claim, it’s worth having a roofer take a look first. Not because you need permission, but because you want to know what you’re actually dealing with. If the damage is minimal and unlikely to meet your deductible, filing a claim may not be worth it. If the damage is legitimate and significant, going into the process with documentation from a roofing professional puts you in a much stronger position.
We inspect roofs across Noblesville, Indianapolis, Carmel, and the surrounding areas regularly after major storm events, and we can tell you quickly whether what we’re seeing is worth pursuing with your carrier.
What happens when the adjuster comes out
Once you file, your insurance company will send an adjuster to assess the damage. Their job is to document what they find and determine what the policy covers. Adjusters aren’t always roofing experts, and they’re working quickly across a lot of properties — especially after a widespread storm event. It’s not uncommon for legitimate damage to get undercounted or missed entirely on the first inspection.
Having a roofer present during the adjuster visit, or having a detailed inspection report ready to share, makes a real difference. We’ve worked alongside adjusters on claims throughout Fishers and Westfield, and having eyes from both sides on the same roof leads to more accurate outcomes.
Understanding your estimate and the supplements process
After the adjuster’s visit, you’ll receive a scope of loss — essentially the insurance company’s version of what needs to be repaired and what it should cost. Compare that against your roofing contractor’s estimate carefully. If there are items your contractor identified that weren’t included in the adjuster’s scope, those can be submitted as supplements. This is a normal part of the process, not a confrontation — it’s simply making sure everything that needs to be addressed actually gets addressed.
Your deductible is your responsibility
One thing worth knowing going in: any contractor who offers to waive your deductible is asking you to participate in insurance fraud. It’s not a deal — it’s a liability. Your deductible is part of the contract you have with your insurance company, and it’s your portion of the repair cost, plain and simple.
Tedricks Roofing works honestly through the claims process from start to finish. If you’ve had storm damage and aren’t sure where to begin, give us a call and we’ll help you figure out your next step.