Document the roof before you file
The single most important step happens before a claim is opened. Get the roof photographed and documented while the evidence is still there — bruised shingles, granule loss in the gutters, dented metal flashing. If there is not enough damage to justify a claim, a good contractor tells you that, because a denied claim still goes on your insurance record and can raise your premium. A free inspection that says “wait” is worth more than a fast one that says “file.”
You file the claim — not the contractor
It is your policy and your carrier, so you open the claim yourself. Any contractor who offers to file the claim for you, or to “handle the insurance company,” is doing something Missouri licenses public adjusters to do. Your contractor should be your contractor — building the roof, not negotiating your settlement.
Meet the adjuster on the roof
This is the step that decides your money. When the carrier’s adjuster inspects, your contractor should be there with the photos and measurements taken earlier, so nothing gets missed and the approved scope reflects the actual damage. If a damaged item is left off the adjuster’s report, it can be supplemented with documentation — but only if someone was there to catch it.
Scope, supplement, and recoverable depreciation
Most homeowners’ policies pay out in two checks: an initial Actual Cash Value payment, and a second Recoverable Depreciation payment released once the work is complete. You should see a line-by-line walkthrough of what the carrier approved, what it pays for, and what it does not. When the install is finished and the certificate of completion goes back to the carrier, that second check is released — and every number should be visible before you sign anything.
Water coming in right now? Skip the guide and call (636) 667-2887. Emergency tarping is usually same-day.
