How do you make an insurance claim for cracked roof tiles?
Short answer. Document the cracked tiles with photos from the ground or by drone, note the storm date, and report the claim; the insurer will weigh whether the cracks came from hail or wind impact versus foot traffic, age, or installation. Use a roofer experienced with tile, since walking a tile roof carelessly breaks more tiles and muddies the evidence.
Step 1: document before anyone walks on it
- Photograph cracked, displaced, or missing tiles from the ground with a zoom lens, or by drone
- Photograph broken pieces on the ground or in gutters
- Note collateral damage: dented gutters, vents, screens, and air conditioner fins point to hail
- Check the attic and ceilings for new stains
Step 2: tie it to a storm
Storm cracks tend to be fresh, with clean, unweathered edges and fragments nearby, and spread across slopes facing the storm. Age and traffic cracks tend to be weathered, concentrated along walking paths, or at fastener points. Pin down the storm date; see hail size and roof damage.
Step 3: file and prepare for the inspection
Report the claim with the date and a factual description. Ask that the adjuster and your roofer coordinate so the roof is walked once, carefully, on the strongest points of the tiles, or inspected by drone.
Step 4: plan for matching and underlayment
- Clay and concrete tile profiles and colors are often discontinued, and new tiles rarely match weathered ones. If enough tiles are broken and no reasonable match exists, the claim may grow beyond spot repairs, depending on your policy. See partial replacement and matching.
- The underlayment beneath tile does the waterproofing. If it is near the end of its life, repairs may require lifting and relaying tiles, and the age related portion is usually not covered.
- Ask whether salvaged tiles from a less visible slope can be used on the front.
Step 5: temporary protection
If tiles are missing, have the opening covered to prevent water damage, and keep the receipts.