After a storm damages a roof, call your insurance company before anyone starts work, because some insurers need an adjuster to approve repairs first. Photograph the damage, cover any opening with a tarp only if it is safe, and get a written estimate. Pay nothing without a written contract.
Key takeaways
- Some insurers need an adjuster to approve roof work before it begins, so the insurance call comes before any contract is signed.
- Photographs or video of the damage, taken before anything is moved or repaired, are the record a claim rests on.
- A tarp over a roof opening is a safety step for when it can be done without climbing onto a wet or damaged slope.
- A written estimate and a written contract come before any commitment, and nothing is paid up front without them.
- Storm chasers tend to knock on doors, rush the decision and offer a price good only now, which is the pattern the state warns about.
- Your policy and your adjuster decide what is covered, and no guide can make that call for your address.
What should I do first after a storm damages my roof?
Start with safety, then call your insurer before any repair work is agreed to. Some insurers need an adjuster to approve roof work before it begins, so the claim call sets the order of everything that follows.
Safety comes first. Stay off a roof that is wet, sagging or pulled loose from the house, and keep children and animals clear of fallen limbs and power lines. Once the area is safe, the North Carolina Department of Justice advises contacting your insurance company promptly, because the insurer may want to inspect the damage before anyone starts repairs.
Ask the insurer what it needs from you, and write down the name of the person you spoke with and the date of the call. A roofer who arrives before the insurer has seen the roof may be asking you to start work the insurer has not approved. That is not automatically a scam, but it is a reason to slow down and check. Your policy and the adjuster decide what is covered and how it is handled.
Why does the insurance call come before the contract?
Because some insurers need to approve roof work before it starts, and signing first can leave you arranging work the insurer has not yet seen. The two steps are linked, so the order matters.
The state's checklist tells homeowners to contact the insurance company and notes that some insurers need an adjuster to approve work before it begins. If a roofer signs you up and starts before the adjuster visits, the adjuster may see a roof that has already changed, and it becomes harder to tell which damage came from the storm and which came from the repair.
Ask your insurer whether an adjuster must approve the work, and whether it wants to meet the roofer before the job starts. Confirm any Certificate of Insurance with the company that issued it, as the Department of Justice recommends. A short call at the beginning can prevent confusion later, and it keeps the decision about what gets repaired with the people who will judge it.
How do I document roof damage so the record holds up?
Photograph or video the damage before anything is moved, covered or repaired, and keep the pictures with the date they were taken. That record is what the insurer and the contractor both work from.
The Department of Justice advises taking photographs or video of the damage where it is safe to do so. Stand back from the house and take wide shots that show the roof line, then closer ones that show missing shingles, torn flashing, a bent gutter or a broken window. Take pictures from inside as well, such as stains on a ceiling or water on a floor. Keep the original files rather than only sending them by text message.
Keep written notes beside the pictures. Write down what you saw, when you saw it, and what the weather was doing at the time. Do not throw away damaged pieces of shingle or metal until the insurer has had a look, since a loose piece can be the proof of what happened. A clear record makes the inspection simpler for everyone involved, and it protects you if a question comes up later.
When is it safe to cover a roof opening with a tarp?
Cover an opening only when you can do it without climbing onto a slope that is wet, steep or damaged. The state advice is to cover holes if it is safe, and to stop as soon as it is not.
The Department of Justice tells homeowners to cover roof or wall holes with a tarp if it is safe. For many people that means a tarp fastened from the ground, or from a ladder held steady by someone else, over a single opening, with the edges secured so wind does not lift it. A tarp that keeps rain out of a ceiling does more good than one rushed onto a roof in the dark.
A ladder on wet ground or a slope loosened by the storm is a fall risk, and a fall costs far more than a wet ceiling. If the damage is high, the roof is sagging or power lines are close, leave the tarp to a crew. A technician will look at the opening, check the decking under it and decide what covering the repair needs. Keep the tarp in place until the work is done, and photograph it before you take it off.
What belongs in a written estimate and a written contract?
A written estimate lists the work, the materials and the conditions before you commit. A written contract makes those terms binding, and the state advises paying nothing without one.
The Department of Justice asks homeowners to get a written estimate before committing. A useful estimate describes the area of roof to be repaired or replaced, the covering and underlayment to be used, whether flashing and gutter work are included, and who will clean up and haul away the debris. Ask whether the price covers work the crew finds once the old covering is off, and if it does not, ask how that work would be priced.
The contract should match the estimate and state the start and finish conditions in writing. The Department of Justice tells homeowners that a down payment may be reasonable, but to pay nothing up front without a written contract. Read the contract before signing, and keep a copy. If a salesperson changes the terms when you ask for them in writing, treat that as a reason to stop and think again.
Why should I avoid paying up front after a storm?
Money paid before a contract exists leaves you with no written terms to enforce. The state names up-front payment as a warning sign after a storm, and it is worth refusing.
The state's guidance is direct: do not pay anything without a written contract. A down payment can be reasonable once the contract is signed, but money handed over before that point is hard to recover if the work never starts or is never finished. Some people who move into storm-hit areas ask for cash, a deposit on the spot, or a fee to get you on a schedule.
Pay by credit card where you can, since card payments give you a path to dispute a charge if a job goes wrong. Before the final payment, the Department of Justice advises asking the contractor to confirm that subcontractors and suppliers have been paid, which helps you avoid liens. Keep receipts and a running log of every payment. A legitimate company will accept a written payment schedule, and one that refuses should get a second look.
How do storm chasers approach homeowners, and what are the warning signs?
Storm chasers often arrive after a storm, knock on doors and press for a fast decision. The warning signs are rushed timelines, door-to-door solicitation and a price offered only if you agree right away.
Most contractors are legitimate, the Department of Justice notes, but some scammers move into storm-hit areas. They can arrive uninvited, offer to inspect the roof for free and point to damage you did not notice. The state's guidance is to be wary of anyone who rushes you, solicits door to door, or offers a price that is good now or never.
A second warning sign is a request to sign on the spot, or to sign a document that is not a contract. Ask for a written estimate and time to read it. Ask anyone who says they are a government official for laminated photo identification, as the state's guidance recommends, and check any claim of an official inspection with the office that would issue it, using contact details you look up yourself.
How do I check a roofer and report a problem?
Get the company's full name, the name of the person who will sign, and a Certificate of Insurance that you confirm with the issuing company. Report suspected fraud to the Attorney General's consumer line or the department's website.
Ask for the full name of the business and the person who will sign the contract, then confirm the Certificate of Insurance directly with the insurer that issued it, as the Department of Justice recommends. Choose local companies with a good reputation in the area, and ask neighbors who have had roof work done rather than relying on a flyer or a knock at the door.
If someone takes your money and does not finish, or if a roofer pressures you into a decision, report it. The Attorney General's consumer complaint line is 1-877-5-NO-SCAM, and the North Carolina Department of Justice website carries complaint information. The line is there for people who are not sure a deal is legitimate too, so calling to ask first is a reasonable step.
Frequently asked questions
Can a roofer start work before my insurance company has looked at the roof?
Some insurers need an adjuster to approve work before it begins, so the safe answer is to ask your insurer first. Ask the roofer whether the job depends on that approval. A roofer who insists on starting before the insurer has seen the damage is a reason to slow down and check. Your policy and the adjuster decide what is covered, and this guide cannot say that for your address.
Should I pay a deposit to get on a crew's schedule?
The state advises paying nothing up front without a written contract. Once a contract is signed, a down payment may be reasonable, and the contract should state the amount and the payment schedule. Pay by credit card where possible, since that gives you a path to dispute a charge. A request for cash to hold a place in line is a warning sign.
Who should I ask for identification if someone says they are from the government?
Ask for laminated photo identification, as the state's guidance recommends. Then check the claim with the office the person names, using a phone number or address you look up yourself rather than one the person gives you. Do not sign anything at the door while you check. Keep the door closed until you are sure who is standing there.
What should I do if I think a contractor is a scammer?
Stop paying, keep every receipt and written document, and report it to the North Carolina Department of Justice. The consumer complaint line is 1-877-5-NO-SCAM, and the department's website carries complaint information. If you have already paid by card, contact the card company, since card payments can support a dispute. Keep a list of names, dates and what was said.
Does a written estimate guarantee the final price?
A written estimate sets out the work and the price the contractor expects, so it is the starting point for the contract. It is not the insurer's decision about what gets paid. Ask in writing whether the estimate covers work found after the old covering comes off, and what happens if the scope changes. The written contract is the document to rely on.
Sources
This guide is general information for Cleveland County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.