What is the key to understanding a roof insurance claim?
Short answer. A roof claim is a request for your insurer to pay for sudden storm damage under the terms of your policy. A handful of terms decide the outcome: the date of loss, the deductible, replacement cost versus actual cash value, depreciation and supplements. Knowing them makes the estimate readable and the next steps clear.
The terms that decide your claim
- Date of loss. The storm date the claim is tied to. See date of loss.
- Coverage A. The dwelling coverage on your declarations page. The roof is part of it.
- Deductible. Your share. Many Georgia policies have a separate wind and hail deductible, sometimes a percentage of Coverage A.
- RCV. Replacement cost value: the price to replace with new materials of like kind and quality.
- Depreciation. Value deducted for age and wear. On a replacement cost policy it is usually recoverable after the work is done.
- ACV. Actual cash value: RCV minus depreciation. The first check is usually ACV minus the deductible.
- Line items. Each priced task in the estimate: tear-off, shingles, underlayment, drip edge per linear foot, starter, ridge cap, flashing, vents.
- O&P. Overhead and profit, added when a general contractor is reasonably needed to coordinate several trades.
- Supplement. A documented request to add items the first estimate missed.
- Reinspection and appraisal. The two main tools when you disagree.
How the pieces fit
A storm causes direct physical damage. You report it promptly, the adjuster inspects and writes an estimate, and the insurer pays ACV minus the deductible. The roof is replaced, and the final invoice releases depreciation and any approved supplements. Most disputes come down to three questions: did the storm cause it or did age, can the roof be repaired, and which line items belong in the estimate. Our Xactimate estimate guide walks through the estimate format, and ACV vs RCV explains the two settlement types.