Storm damage and insurance claims, handled with you.

Why the claim stays yours

Missouri’s statute on contractors and insurance claims, section 407.725 of the Revised Statutes, sets three rules every roofer in the state has to follow. We think they are good rules, and you should expect any contractor you talk to to follow them too.

• No paying or rebating your deductible. A contractor may not advertise or promise to cover any part of it, and that includes discounts, gifts, credits or referral fees. Your deductible is your share of the loss under your policy.
• A five business day way out. If you sign a contract to be paid through your insurance and your insurer then tells you in writing that all or part of the claim is not covered, you can cancel before midnight on the fifth business day after that notice. Payments come back within ten days, apart from emergency work you approved in writing.
• No representing you on the claim. A contractor may not represent you or negotiate with your insurer for you, or offer to. If you want someone to negotiate, Missouri licenses public adjusters, and attorneys can help too.

Three things to understand on your scope

The adjuster’s estimate, often called the scope, lists the materials, quantities and labor the insurer agrees to pay for. We go over it with you line by line. Three terms do most of the work in deciding what you are paid.

• Your deductible: a flat amount or a percentage of your dwelling coverage, and some policies have a separate wind and hail deductible.
• Replacement cost or actual cash value: replacement cost coverage pays to replace the roof without subtracting depreciation; actual cash value coverage pays the depreciated amount. Some policies treat older roofs differently from the rest of the house.
• Recoverable depreciation: many replacement cost policies pay the actual cash value first and release the held-back depreciation once the work is done. DCI says the time limit to claim it typically runs six months to two years, so ask your adjuster for yours.

If more damage turns up, or the claim stalls

Sometimes a tear-off uncovers damage nobody could see at the adjuster visit, such as soft decking. DCI’s advice is to tell your insurer and adjuster about any damage that has not been reported or inspected, with photos and a written estimate. We document what we find so you have both.

If a claim is denied or you disagree with the amount, ask for the decision in writing and keep every document. Many policies include an appraisal clause for disputes over the amount, and DCI’s consumer hotline at 800-726-7390 takes questions and complaints. Our Missouri roof insurance claim guide walks through the whole process in more detail.