After a storm, most homeowners have the same two questions: is my roof actually damaged, and what happens next with insurance. This page answers both.

Good Shepherd Roofing is a licensed general contractor, licence number GCCO009698, based in Dacula and trading since 2016. We inspect, document and repair. We are not public adjusters and we do not file or negotiate claims on a homeowner’s behalf. What we provide is evidence: a written report with photographs of what the storm did.

Call (833) 477-7663 or book a free inspection.

Stay off the roof. Storm-damaged roofs have loose material and can have soft decking. There is nothing you need to see up there that a roofer cannot photograph for you.

Photograph everything before anything is moved or covered. This is the single most useful thing you can do. Interior damage, fallen debris, dented gutters, anything on the ground. Mitigation of further loss is generally expected of a property owner after a covered event, but images of the original condition cannot be recreated once a tarp goes on.

Stop further damage where you safely can. Buckets under drips, move what can be moved. If the roof is open to the weather, temporary covering is the normal next step. See emergency tarping.

Get an independent inspection. Knowing what is actually there, with photographs, before you decide whether to file, puts you in a better position than filing blind.

Be careful who knocks. Widespread storms bring crews from out of state who are gone by the time anything goes wrong. Ask for a Georgia licence number. Ours is GCCO009698.

The sequence is broadly the same across carriers.

1. Damage is documented. Photographs, location, and what kind of damage it is. This is where we come in.

2. You report the loss to your insurer. The policyholder does this, not the contractor.

3. An adjuster inspects. A field adjuster attends and assesses the damage. We can be there to point out what we found and explain the scope of work, which is a practical thing rather than a representational one.

4. The insurer issues a scope and an estimate. This sets out what they consider covered and what they will pay.

5. Work is carried out. By a contractor of your choosing. You are not obliged to use anyone the insurer suggests.

6. Completion is documented and any withheld depreciation is released. See the next section for why that last step exists.

These two terms decide how much your policy pays for identical damage, and the difference catches people out.

Replacement cost is what it costs to repair or replace with materials of like kind and quality at today’s prices, with no reduction for wear.

Actual cash value is that same figure reduced for depreciation, reflecting the condition the roof was in immediately before the loss. The older the roof, the larger the deduction.

Replacement cost policies commonly settle in two stages. The insurer first pays the actual cash value, which is the claim amount less depreciation and less your deductible. Once the work is completed and documented, the withheld amount, called recoverable depreciation, is released.

The practical consequence is worth understanding clearly: on a replacement cost policy you generally have to complete the work, and evidence it, to receive the full benefit. If the work is never done, the settlement stays at actual cash value.

Policies also vary in ways that matter. Some provide replacement cost on the dwelling generally but actual cash value specifically on the roof, or restrict roof settlement by the age of the covering. Some exclude cosmetic damage expressly. Deductibles may be a fixed sum or a percentage, and separate wind and hail deductibles exist. Your policy documents are what govern.

More detail: how recoverable depreciation works.

It depends on the carrier, the type of claim and your history, and nobody outside your insurer can tell you for certain.

What can be said generally is that insurers treat weather-related claims differently from claims arising from negligence or liability, because a hailstorm is not something you caused. Carriers differ in how a single weather claim affects renewal, and some do not surcharge for it at all. Frequency tends to matter more than a single event.

This is a decision for you and your insurer or agent, not for a roofing contractor. What we can do is tell you accurately what damage exists, so the decision is an informed one rather than a guess.

A denial is not always the end of the matter.

Claims are denied for various reasons: the adjuster concluded the damage was pre-existing wear rather than storm damage, the damage was judged cosmetic under a policy excluding it, the loss fell below the deductible, or documentation was insufficient.

Where documentation was the problem, better documentation is the answer. A dated report with photographs showing the location and character of the damage is more useful than a description after the fact. If we inspected the roof, that evidence exists and you are entitled to it.

Many policies also contain an appraisal clause, a route for resolving disputes about the amount of a loss without litigation. Whether yours does, and how it works, is in your policy documents.

Georgia regulates insurance through the Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, which handles consumer complaints about claim handling. That is the correct destination for a dispute about how a claim was handled.

This part of the industry attracts overclaiming, so here it is plainly.

What we do. Inspect the roof. Document damage with photographs and locations. Provide a written report. Meet the adjuster on site and explain what we found and what the repair involves. Provide an estimate for the work. Carry out the repair or replacement the claim covers. Provide completion documentation for the depreciation release.

What we do not do. We do not file claims for you. We do not negotiate settlements with insurers. We do not act as your representative in a claim, and we do not work for a percentage of a settlement. Those are the functions of a licensed public adjuster, and we hold a general contractor licence, not a public adjuster licence.

Any contractor who offers to handle, maximise or fight your claim is describing work that is regulated, and it is reasonable to ask them what licence they hold to do it.

Hail. Bruising, which is a soft spot where the stone deformed the mat and is often easier to find by touch than by eye. Granule loss exposing the asphalt beneath. Fracture of the mat, which can be present on the underside while the face still looks intact. Adjusters also read soft metals, because gutters, vents and flashing dent readily and record impacts a shingle may absorb without visible trace. A key distinction is functional damage, which shortens the life of the roof, against cosmetic damage, which does not, since some policies exclude the latter. See hail damage on shingles.

Wind. Creased and lifted shingles, missing shingles, and damage that spreads across a slope from a starting point rather than appearing uniformly. Once the sealant bond under one shingle is broken it lifts, exposing the fasteners and the edge of the course above. See why shingles lift.

Good Shepherd Roofing holds Georgia general contractor licence GCCO009698, issued as a General Contractor Company licence. We have operated since 2016 and are based at 2505 2nd Ave, Dacula, GA 30019. We are here after the storm season as well as during it.

We inspect and repair storm-damaged roofs throughout Gwinnett County, including Dacula, Lawrenceville, Buford, Braselton, Duluth and Suwanee, and across North Georgia including Brookhaven, Cumming, Johns Creek, Roswell, Winder and Auburn.

How long do I have to file a roof insurance claim after a storm?

Policies set their own notice requirements and Georgia law sets outer limits, so the period depends on your policy and the date of loss. The practical advice is not to wait: evidence degrades, later damage gets attributed to the same event, and some policies require prompt notice. Check your policy documents or ask your agent.

Will my homeowners insurance go up if I file a roof claim?

It depends on the carrier, the claim type and your claims history, and only your insurer can answer it. Insurers generally treat weather-related claims differently from those arising from negligence, and frequency usually matters more than a single event.

What is recoverable depreciation on a roof claim?

On a replacement cost policy, the insurer initially pays the actual cash value, which is the claim less depreciation and your deductible. The withheld depreciation is released once the work is completed and documented. If the work is not done, the settlement stays at actual cash value.

What happens if my roof claim is denied?

A denial can be reviewed. Where the reason was insufficient documentation, a dated report with photographs addresses it directly. Many policies also contain an appraisal clause for disputes about the amount of a loss, and the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire handles complaints about claim handling.

Do you handle the insurance claim for me?

No. We inspect, document the damage with photographs, provide a written report, meet the adjuster on site, and carry out the repair the claim covers. We do not file claims, negotiate settlements or represent you to your insurer. That is the work of a licensed public adjuster and we hold a general contractor licence.

Should I get a roof inspection before filing a claim?

It is usually sensible. Knowing what damage actually exists, with photographs, lets you make an informed decision about whether to file rather than a blind one. Our inspection is free and carries no obligation.

What is the difference between actual cash value and replacement cost?

Replacement cost is what it costs to repair or replace with like kind and quality at current prices. Actual cash value is that figure reduced for depreciation based on the age and condition of the roof before the loss. Which applies to your roof is set by your policy.

This page is general information about how roof insurance claims work. It is not insurance, legal or financial advice, and it does not describe the terms of any particular policy. Your own policy documents, including declarations, endorsements and exclusions, are what govern your claim. For questions about your coverage, contact your insurer or agent. For complaints about claim handling, contact the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire.

Call (833) 477-7663 or book a free inspection. We will document what is there and give you the report, whether or not you decide to file.