Insurance Claims, Without the Runaround
A storm rolls through, you find shingles in the yard, and your first instinct is to call your insurance company. Slow down. The smarter first call is usually a roofer you trust — because a claim only makes sense when the damage costs more than your deductible to fix, and you cannot know that until somebody who reads roofs for a living gets up there. Well Krafted Roofing inspects first and tells you straight whether a claim is worth filing. If it is, we photo-document everything, meet your adjuster on the roof, and build to the approved scope with GAF materials. We are a family-owned company out of New Albany serving Southern Indiana and Louisville, and we have walked plenty of neighbors through storm damage claims from first inspection to final nail. Here is how the whole thing works.
How We Support Your Claim
Inspection Before You File
We get on the roof and give you an honest read before you call your insurer. If the fix costs less than your deductible, we tell you — that claim is not worth filing.
Photo Documentation
Every hail hit, creased shingle, and torn flashing gets photographed and organized. Clear documentation is what supports your claim when the adjuster reviews it.
On the Roof With Your Adjuster
When your insurer sends an adjuster, we meet them at your home and walk the roof together, pointing out the damage we documented so nothing gets missed.
Scope Review in Plain English
The adjuster’s estimate — the scope — is dense and full of line items. We sit down with you and explain what it covers, what it pays, and what your share is.
Supplement Documentation
If the scope missed real damage or required work, we document it with photos and measurements and submit that documentation for your insurer to review. That is the supplement process, plainly.
Build to the Approved Scope
Once the claim is settled, we build exactly what was approved with GAF materials, backed by our workmanship guarantee. No shortcuts between the paperwork and the roof.
The Claim Is Yours. The Legwork Is Ours.
Let’s be clear about roles, because plenty of contractors blur them. Your insurance claim belongs to you — we are not adjusters and we do not negotiate with your insurance company on your behalf. What we do is make sure you walk in with everything an honest claim needs: a straight assessment of whether hail damage or wind damage actually crossed the line from cosmetic to claim-worthy, a full photo record of every hit and crease, and a roofer standing next to your adjuster when the inspection happens. Adjusters look at a lot of roofs. Documentation is what keeps real damage from getting overlooked.
The deductible is where most homeowners get surprised, so here is the plain version: if the fix costs less than your deductible, a claim pays you nothing. If half the roof took hail and you are looking at a full replacement, the math flips hard in your favor. That is the whole reason we say inspect first. Whether you are in Jeffersonville, Corydon, or across the river in Louisville, the inspection costs you nothing and tells you which situation you are in.
One more thing worth knowing: Indiana and Kentucky have different insurance rules, and policies vary carrier to carrier even inside the same state. Filing windows, depreciation handling, matching requirements — these are policy questions, and the honest answer is that they vary. Read your policy, ask your agent the direct questions, and lean on us for what we actually know: what is on your roof and what it will take to fix it right.
Schedule an InspectionBefore You File a Claim
- Get an inspection and honest damage assessment
- Look up your deductible — it drives the math
- Check whether your policy is RCV or ACV
- Note the date of the storm for your records
- Photograph any interior leaks or ceiling stains
- Ask your agent how a claim affects your policy
- Keep receipts for any temporary protection
Not sure where to start? Call 502-208-7089 and we will inspect before you file anything.
The Claims Journey, Step by Step
Inspect First
Call us before you call your insurer. We inspect, photograph the damage, and tell you honestly whether a claim makes financial sense.
File & Document
If a claim is worth filing, you file it with your insurance company. We hand you the photos and documentation that support it.
Adjuster Meeting
We meet your adjuster on the roof, walk the damage together, and make sure everything we found gets seen.
Scope Review & Build
We review the approved scope with you, document anything it missed, and build the roof to spec once you give the go-ahead.
Insurance Claim FAQs
Should I call my insurance company or a roofer first?
Call a roofer first. A claim only makes sense if the repair cost clearly exceeds your deductible, and you cannot know that until someone inspects the roof. Inspecting first means you file with real information — or skip a claim that would net you little or nothing.
What does my deductible actually mean?
Your deductible is the share of the repair you pay out of pocket, no matter what. If your deductible is $2,000 and the approved repair is $12,000, insurance pays $10,000 and you pay $2,000. Damage worth less than your deductible is not worth a claim.
Can a roofer waive or absorb my deductible?
No, and you should walk away from anyone who offers. Waiving deductibles is insurance fraud in many jurisdictions, and contractors who do it make the money back by cutting corners on your roof. Your deductible is your legal share of the claim. We will never play games with it.
What happens at the adjuster meeting?
Your insurance company sends an adjuster to inspect the damage and write an estimate, called a scope. We meet the adjuster at your home and walk the roof with them, pointing out everything we documented. The adjuster still makes the call — but they make it having seen the full picture.
What is a supplement?
Sometimes the adjuster’s scope misses something real — hidden decking damage, code-required items, a slope that was not fully inspected. A supplement is additional documentation submitted to your insurer showing that work with photos and measurements. Your insurance company then reviews it and decides. We document; they decide.
Will filing a claim raise my insurance rates?
It depends on your insurer, your policy, and your claim history, and the answer genuinely varies. Some carriers treat widespread storm events differently than isolated claims. We cannot predict what your carrier will do — that is a question worth asking your agent before you file, and one more reason to inspect first.
How long do I have to file a storm damage claim?
Filing windows vary by policy and by state — Indiana and Kentucky policies are not written identically, and individual policies differ even within a state. Some allow a year or more from the date of loss; some are shorter. Check your policy or ask your agent, and do not sit on visible damage.
Does insurance pay full replacement cost or just part of it?
It depends on whether your policy is replacement cost value (RCV) or actual cash value (ACV). RCV policies pay to replace the roof at today’s prices, usually in stages. ACV policies subtract depreciation for the roof’s age, which can leave a big gap. Your policy documents say which one you have.
What if my claim is denied?
A denial is not always the end. You can request a re-inspection, provide additional documentation, or ask your insurer about its appeal process. If we inspected your roof and believe the damage is real, we will provide the photos and documentation that support a second look — and if it honestly does not warrant a claim, we will say so.
How much does a roof replacement cost if insurance is involved?
Most full replacements in our area run $8,000 to $18,000 depending on size, pitch, and materials. With an approved claim, your out-of-pocket cost is generally your deductible plus any upgrades you choose beyond the approved scope. We walk you through those numbers before any work starts.
Found Damage? Inspect Before You File.
Serving New Albany, Southern Indiana, and Louisville. Call 502-208-7089 or fill out the form above and we will get your inspection on the schedule.