Filing a Roof Storm Damage Insurance Claim in Colorado
If a storm has passed over your home, filing an insurance claim can feel confusing and adversarial. It does not have to be. This guide walks through what to do, what your policy actually covers, and the specific rights Colorado law gives you as a homeowner. Precision Exteriors has completed 3,000+ projects across the Denver metro since 2016, and we self perform restoration work rather than subcontracting it out, so we see the full claim lifecycle every week.
Colorado is Hail Alley, and claims do not have to be adversarial
Direct answer: Colorado sits in the middle of what meteorologists call Hail Alley, the corridor along the Front Range that records the highest frequency of large hail in North America. Hail is the most expensive insured catastrophe in the state, and single storms routinely cross the billion dollar mark.
The May 8, 2017 storm that hit the Denver metro caused an estimated 2.3 billion dollars in damage, and the May 30, 2024 storm caused close to 2 billion. Our goal here is to help you make an informed decision, whether or not you ever call us. Precision Exteriors provides a free roof inspection with photo documentation across the Denver metro.
What to do in the first 48 hours after a storm
Direct answer: The steps you take right after a storm can protect both your home and your claim. Document the damage, take reasonable steps to prevent it from getting worse, save your receipts, get a professional inspection before you file, and do not rush to sign anything.
Document everything
Photograph the roof from the ground, any dented gutters, downspouts, window screens, air conditioner fins, and soft metal surfaces where hail leaves obvious marks. Photograph interior water stains on ceilings and walls. Note the date of the storm. This creates a clear record of when the damage happened and how severe the event was.
Prevent further damage
Most homeowner policies require you to mitigate, meaning you must take reasonable action to stop a bad situation from getting worse. In practice that means tarping an exposed section of roof, covering a broken window, or shutting off water if a pipe fails. If you skip this step, later damage that flows from the original loss may not be covered.
Save your receipts
Reasonable costs for temporary repairs and materials used to protect your property are typically reimbursable on a covered claim, so keep every receipt for tarps, plywood, and emergency labor.
Get a professional inspection
Hail and wind damage to a roof is often invisible from the ground. A qualified inspection tells you whether the damage is real and significant enough to justify a claim. Precision Exteriors provides a free roof inspection with photo documentation so you have an honest read on your roof before you involve your carrier.
Do not rush to sign anything
In the days after a storm, crews you have never heard of will knock on doors across the neighborhood. There is no need to sign a contract that afternoon. Take the time to understand your roof and your options first.
Should you file a claim?
Direct answer: Filing is not automatic. A claim makes sense when the damage clearly exceeds your deductible and affects the function or lifespan of your roof. It may not make sense for very minor damage.
Understand your deductible
Many Colorado carriers no longer use a flat dollar deductible for wind and hail. Instead they apply a percentage of your dwelling coverage, commonly in the range of 1 to 5 percent, which is separate from your standard all peril deductible. On a home insured for 500,000 dollars, a 2 percent wind and hail deductible means you pay the first 10,000 dollars before your insurer contributes. Check your declarations page for the exact figure. This one number drives the entire decision.
Do the math honestly
If a qualified inspection estimates that repair or replacement will run well above your deductible, filing is usually worthwhile. If the estimated damage is close to or below your deductible, filing may cost you more in the long run than it returns.
Consider claim frequency
Insurers track claim history. Filing multiple claims in a short period can affect your premium or your renewal. That is not a reason to skip a legitimate claim for real storm damage, but it is a reason to file thoughtfully and only when the damage warrants it. An honest inspection up front keeps you from filing a claim that goes nowhere.
The claim process, step by step
Direct answer: Once you decide to file, give notice to your carrier, let the assigned adjuster inspect, review the estimate line by line, understand how ACV and RCV pay out, complete the work, and recover the withheld depreciation as a second payment.
1. Give notice to your carrier
Contact your insurer or agent and report the loss. Provide the date of the storm and your documentation. Your policy will ask you to report the loss promptly, so do not sit on it once an inspection confirms damage. Suburban homeowners can also review our Denver insurance claims guidance for local specifics.
2. The carrier assigns an adjuster
Your insurer sends a field adjuster to inspect the roof and property and to write an estimate of the damage. You are allowed to have your roofing contractor present. Under Colorado law, your contractor may discuss the scope of repairs directly with your insurer on your behalf, as long as the contractor holds a valid contract with you.
3. Review the estimate
The adjuster produces a written estimate, often built in Xactimate, the software most carriers use. Compare it line by line against your contractor assessment. Missed items and underestimated quantities are common, and they are correctable through a supplement, which is a request to the carrier to revise the estimate based on documented conditions.
4. Understand ACV and RCV
Actual Cash Value, or ACV, is the depreciated value of your roof. Your carrier pays this first, minus your deductible. A roof loses value with age, so an older roof yields a smaller first check. Replacement Cost Value, or RCV, is the full cost to replace the roof with new materials. If you carry replacement cost coverage, the difference between ACV and RCV is held back as recoverable depreciation.
5. Complete the work
You choose a contractor and the roof is replaced or repaired. Keep the final invoice. For damage beyond the roof, see our multi trade storm damage insurance claim guide.
6. Recover the depreciation
After the work is finished and you submit the final invoice, your carrier releases the withheld recoverable depreciation as a second payment, bringing you up to the full replacement cost. Many policies set a deadline to claim that depreciation, so read your policy and submit your completion documents promptly. Your out of pocket cost on a covered replacement is generally your deductible, not the full price of the roof.
Colorado specific rights and laws
Direct answer: Colorado gives roofing consumers protections many homeowners do not know they have. The central one is Senate Bill 38, the Consumer Protection and Residential Roofing Bill, which took effect June 6, 2012 and is codified at C.R.S. 6-22-101 through 6-22-105 ( Colorado Roofing Association).
A written contract is required
For residential roofing work over 1,000 dollars, Colorado law requires a written and signed contract. It must include, at a minimum, the scope of work and materials, the cost based on the damage known at signing, approximate dates of service, the contractor contact information, and the contractor surety and liability insurer.
You have a 72 hour right to rescind
The contract must let you cancel within 72 hours after signing and receive a full refund of any deposit. There is a second rescission right for storm claims: if you are paying through an insurance claim and your insurer denies the claim in whole or in part, you may rescind within 72 hours after receiving that notice. After you rescind, the contractor must return your deposit within 10 days, though under C.R.S. 6-22-104 the contractor may keep the amount needed to cover roofing work already performed in a workmanlike manner before the rescission.
Your contractor must hold payment in trust
The law requires the contract to state that the contractor will hold any payment you make in trust until roofing materials are delivered to the jobsite or a majority of the work is performed. This protects you from paying in full for work that never happens.
No one can pay or waive your deductible
Under C.R.S. 6-22-105, a roofing contractor may not pay, waive, or rebate your insurance deductible, and may not advertise or promise to do so. If a contractor offers to eat your deductible, that is a violation of Colorado law. Your insurer is not obligated to consider that contractor estimate, and you or your insurer may bring a court action for damages.
Deadlines: reporting versus suing
Two different clocks. Reporting: your policy sets this, often described as as soon as practicable, so read the duties after loss section and file as soon as an inspection confirms damage. Suing: a homeowner generally has three years to sue an insurer over a property claim, measured from when the breach is or should have been discovered, not simply from the storm date. Under C.R.S. 10-4-110.8(12), an insurer cannot issue or renew a homeowner policy that shortens the time to sue below the applicable statute of limitations. Confirm your own timeline with a licensed attorney.
The practical takeaway is simple. Report your claim early because your policy expects it, and know that Colorado protects your longer term right to challenge an unfair outcome in court.
How to choose a contractor for insurance work
Direct answer: The contractor you pick shapes the entire claim. The right one documents damage thoroughly, communicates cleanly with your adjuster, and stands behind the work. Here is how to separate the calm local expert from the storm chaser. Compare candidates against our roofing contractors standards.
Red flags to walk away from
- An offer to pay, waive, or rebate your deductible. This is illegal in Colorado.
- High pressure to sign the same day the crew knocks on your door.
- No physical local address, or a company that appeared in town only after the storm.
- A contract missing the elements Colorado law requires, such as the surety and liability insurer or the 72 hour rescission clause.
- A request for full payment up front, which conflicts with the hold in trust requirement.
- A contractor claiming to be your public adjuster. Colorado law prohibits a roofing contractor from acting as or claiming to be a public adjuster on the same loss.
Green flags to look for
- An established local track record, not a company that follows storms from state to state.
- Manufacturer credentials that require vetting, such as Owens Corning Preferred Contractor and CertainTeed Shingle Master Installer status.
- A verifiable Colorado roofing license and current insurance.
- A written, itemized contract that meets Colorado requirements.
- A crew that self performs the work rather than handing your roof to an unknown subcontractor.
Precision Exteriors is an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, a CertainTeed Shingle Master Installer, a member of the National Roofing Contractors Association, and carries a BBB A+ rating. We hold CO License #0248041 and have operated in the Denver metro since 2016. We self perform restoration work, which means the people who inspect your roof are accountable for the finished result.
What if the claim is denied or underpaid
Direct answer: An unfavorable first answer is not always the final answer. Ask for the reasoning in writing, correct missed items through a documented supplement, use your policy appraisal clause for amount disputes, and file a complaint with the Division of Insurance if a claim is handled unfairly.
Ask for the reasoning in writing
If a claim is denied or the payment seems low, request the specific basis in writing and compare it against your own documentation and your contractor assessment. Many underpayments trace back to missed line items that a documented supplement can correct.
Use the appraisal clause
Most Colorado property policies contain an appraisal clause, an alternative dispute resolution tool for disagreements over the amount of a loss. Each side selects an appraiser, the appraisers select an umpire, and they resolve the dollar amount out of court. Appraisal settles the amount of a loss, not whether something is covered, and the parties typically split the cost, so it fits larger disputes better than small ones.
File a complaint with the Division of Insurance
The Colorado Division of Insurance, part of the Department of Regulatory Agencies, oversees carrier conduct and accepts consumer complaints when a claim is handled unfairly. Colorado law also holds insurers to strict standards on unreasonably delaying or denying claims, and a carrier that violates those standards can face additional damages and attorney fees under C.R.S. 10-3-1115 and 10-3-1116.
Consider a public adjuster or attorney
A licensed public adjuster or an attorney can represent you on a difficult claim. Colorado law separates these roles from the contractor who does the work, so the person adjusting your claim should not be the one profiting from the repair.
Ready for an honest look at your roof
Direct answer: If a storm has passed over your home, the first step is knowing whether you have real damage. Precision Exteriors provides a free roof inspection with full photo documentation across the Denver metro, so you can decide about a claim from a position of knowledge rather than pressure.
We serve homeowners throughout the Front Range from our Colorado base, and we treat your roof, and your claim, with the care we would want for our own. Book a local inspection in Denver, Aurora, Westminster, or Littleton, or call (720) 408-1840.
Book your free roof inspection
Pick a time and we send a written roof report with photos within 24 hours. We will give you a straight answer, including when we do not think a claim is warranted.
Colorado roof claim questions, answered
How long do I have to file a hail damage claim in Colorado?
Does homeowners insurance cover roof hail damage in Colorado?
Can a roofer waive or pay my insurance deductible in Colorado?
What is the difference between ACV and RCV on a roof claim?
How does a wind and hail deductible work in Colorado?
Should I file a claim for minor roof damage?
Do I have to use the contractor my insurance company recommends?
What can I do if my roof claim is denied or underpaid?
Book a free, no-obligation roof inspection
Get a written report with photos in 24 hours. We inspect, we document, and we give you a straight answer about your storm claim so you can decide from knowledge, not pressure.
