Roof Storm-Damage Documentation
Documentation. Adjuster Meeting. No AOB.
We document the actual damage, attend your adjuster's inspection, and complete repair to claim scope. We don't chase claims, we don't inflate scopes, and we don't use Assignment of Benefits. You stay in control of your claim throughout.
How We Document Storm Damage
The Contractor's Role After a Storm
Brown's Roofing documents storm damage, attends adjuster inspections, and repairs to the approved claim scope. We are not your insurance agent and we are not a public adjuster — those are different roles you may also need depending on how your claim progresses. What we do is document what's actually present on your roof, support the carrier's adjuster in seeing that damage, and complete the repair to manufacturer specification once the claim is approved.
The single most important thing we do is the damage documentation on the initial inspection. We walk the roof, photograph every damage point with measurement scale, count strikes by slope, classify severity, and produce a written report formatted for claim use. Adjusters scoping from a ladder, drone, or ground-only inspection routinely miss damage we've documented. Brown's damage documentation provides evidence for the carrier's adjuster. Complete initial documentation reduces the need for follow-up inspections.
We do not chase claims that aren't there. If your roof doesn't have documentable storm damage, we'll tell you that. And if the documented damage is below your deductible, that's worth knowing before you file — a below-deductible claim generally can't produce a payout. The decision to file is yours. Filing claims for damage that doesn't exist hurts homeowner insurability long-term — and we don't inflate scopes for marginal damage either. The carrier pays what's actually owed; the homeowner gets actual repair.
And we don't use Assignment of Benefits. AOB transfers your claim rights to the contractor — and has been heavily abused by opportunistic contractors who use it to inflate claims and disappear before warranty calls happen. Florida significantly reformed AOB law in 2022–2023 specifically because of the abuse. Our engagement works the way the homeowner's insurance system was designed: you control your claim, you receive the carrier's payout, and we get paid for the work we've completed.
Why Our Storm-Damage Work Is Different
We Don't Chase Claims
We don't door-knock through neighborhoods after storms looking for inflated-scope claims. We document what's actually present and let carriers pay what's actually owed. Filing claims for non-existent damage hurts homeowner insurability long-term.
We Don't Use AOB
Brown's Roofing does NOT use Assignment of Benefits. AOB transfers your insurance claim rights to the contractor — and has been heavily abused by opportunistic contractors who use it to inflate claims and disappear. You retain full control of your claim throughout our engagement; we work directly for you, and you deal with your carrier.
Adjuster Meeting at No Charge
We attend your insurance adjuster's on-site inspection at no charge. Walk the roof with the adjuster, point out the damage we documented, and provide our supporting documentation. Standard service on every storm-damage engagement; not an upsell.
Written Documentation Reports
Every storm-damage inspection produces a written report with photographs, slope-by-slope damage counts, severity classification, and recommended scope. Format aligns with what adjusters and carriers recognize — speeds claim review and reduces back-and-forth.
Manufacturer-Certified Repair
GAF Certified Contractor, Owens Corning Platinum Preferred, CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster, and IKO ROOFPRO Select certifications mean storm-claim replacement maintains manufacturer warranty validity. Critical when claim work spans full roof — repair by uncertified contractors using non-spec materials can void manufacturer warranties.
FORTIFIED + Class 4 Bundle Pricing
Storm-claim replacements are the natural moment to add FORTIFIED designation and Class 4 impact-rated shingles. Combined upgrades typically pay back through ongoing insurance discounts in 4–8 years. Louisiana Fortify Homes Program grants up to $10,000 can subsidize the FORTIFIED differential.
Local Crews, State-Licensed
Six offices, state-licensed in every market we serve, fully insured. Verifiable on state contractor license database. The opportunistic out-of-state contractors flooding markets after named storms — many uninsured, unlicensed — are not us.
Long-Term Documentation
Every storm-claim engagement produces records archived in our system for the life of the property. When you sell, the new owner inherits the records. When the carrier asks about repair history, we provide it. The paperwork outlasts any single project.
What We Don't Do
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No Assignment of Benefits
You retain control of your claim throughout.
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No Door-Knocking Storm Chasing
We don't fan out through neighborhoods after storms.
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No Inflated Scopes
We document what's actually present, not what we wish was present.
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No Adjuster Meeting Charges
Always included at no charge on storm-damage work.
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No Public Adjuster Role
We don't represent you in formal appeals or denials.
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No Off-Spec Repair Materials
Manufacturer-certified work that maintains warranty validity.
Considering FORTIFIED?
Storm-claim replacement is the natural moment to add FORTIFIED designation. LFHP grants in Louisiana subsidize the upgrade differential.
FORTIFIED Roof →The Storm-to-Repair Sequence
Six Steps from Storm to Repaired
The sequence every storm-damage homeowner moves through. We document the damage and repair to the approved scope; you file and control the claim as the homeowner-principal.
Free Damage Inspection & Documentation
We walk the roof, document every damage point with photographs, and produce a written report. This becomes your claim's evidence base. We do this before any tarp goes up so the documented condition is accurate. Free of charge whether or not you ultimately file a claim or hire us for the work.
You Decide Whether to File
If the documented damage is below your deductible, paying out of pocket may make more sense — that's your decision. A claim that costs less than the deductible generally can't produce a payout and may affect insurability. We provide the written estimate; weighing it against your deductible and deciding whether to file is your call.
File with Your Insurance Carrier
You file the claim — most carriers accept claim filings 24/7 online or by phone. Provide the date of loss, basic damage description, and our pre-tarp documentation if helpful. The carrier issues a claim number and assigns an adjuster who schedules the on-site inspection.
Adjuster Inspection (We Attend)
The carrier's adjuster schedules an inspection — typically 3–10 days post-event, longer after named storms with high claim volume. Brown's Roofing attends at no charge, walks the damage with the adjuster, and points out the damage documented in our written report. Adjusters scoping alone routinely miss damage we've documented.
Review the Claim Approval
The carrier issues a claim approval document with covered scope, depreciation, and recoverable depreciation terms. You and your carrier review and decide what the claim covers. We keep our damage photographs and written report on file so you have a complete record of the documented storm damage; you decide what, if anything, to share with your carrier.
Repair to Claim Scope (+ Optional Upgrades)
We complete repair or replacement to the approved claim scope and capture before-and-after photos and completion documentation for your records — which you or your agent can submit to the carrier to request recoverable-depreciation release. Optional upgrades (Class 4 shingles, FORTIFIED designation, metal upgrade) commonly bundle on top of insurance scope; homeowner pays the differential.
Concepts to Know
Insurance Claim Vocabulary
Six concepts that come up on every storm-damage roof claim. Understanding them helps you discuss your claim with your adjuster and carrier.
When Out-of-Pocket May Make More Sense
If documented damage is below your deductible, a claim generally can't produce a payout and may affect insurability. We give you the documented repair cost so you can make that call.
What an Adjuster Looks For
Carrier adjusters check for date-of-loss-consistent damage patterns (vs. wear and tear), match to the documented storm event in the area, and damage severity threshold for replacement vs. repair. We document with that lens.
Matching Shingle Provisions
Some policies and state laws address visual consistency, or "matching," of roofing materials. Whether and how any matching provision applies is determined by your policy language and your carrier. Read your own policy or ask your agent or carrier how it applies to your situation.
Recoverable Depreciation
Insurance claim payouts often hold back "recoverable depreciation" until repair completion. Completion photos and documentation can be submitted to your carrier to request recoverable depreciation release. We prepare the photos and documentation; you or your agent submit to the carrier.
Hurricane vs. Standard Deductibles
Florida and Gulf Coast policies often carry separate (higher) deductibles for named-storm events. Damage from non-named-storm events may be under the standard deductible. Different deductibles may apply to named-storm vs. standard events. Check your policy or contact your agent to clarify your deductible structure.
Public Adjusters & Attorneys
When claims are denied or under-scoped despite documented damage, public adjusters and storm-claim attorneys are the right escalation path. We can refer to firms experienced in your state — we're not the right party for the formal denial fight.
Pairs With
Related Storm-Damage Resources
Hail Damage
What hail damage looks like, how to document it, and how Class 4 upgrades pay back through insurance discounts.
Learn more →
Wind Damage
What wind damage looks like (often more than the visible signs), and how FORTIFIED upgrades reduce future loss.
Learn more →
FORTIFIED Roof
Combining storm-claim replacement with FORTIFIED designation. State-law-mandated insurance discounts in LA/AL/MS/SC.
Learn more →
FAQ
Storm-Damage Documentation FAQ
- No. Attending the adjuster's on-site inspection is included at no charge on every storm-damage engagement we handle. We walk the roof with the adjuster, point out the damage we documented, and provide our supporting documentation. There's no upsell or itemized fee for this; it's standard service. Some contractors charge for adjuster meetings; we don't.
- AOB is a legal document that transfers your insurance claim rights to the contractor — meaning the contractor (not you) controls the claim, the payout, and the repair scope. AOB has been heavily abused in Florida and other markets by opportunistic contractors who use it to inflate claims, perform incomplete work, and disappear before warranty calls happen. Florida significantly reformed AOB law in 2022–2023 specifically because of the abuse. Brown's Roofing does NOT use AOB. You retain full control of your claim throughout our engagement.
- Our role is with you, not your carrier. You file and manage the claim and talk to your carrier directly. What Brown's Roofing does for you across LA, AR, KS, AL, MS, TX, and FL is document the storm damage in a written report, attend the adjuster's on-site inspection to point out the documented damage, and provide you photos and repair records. You or your agent submit anything to the carrier. We are not contracted with any specific carrier as a "preferred contractor," which means we work for you, not the carrier.
- If your claim is denied despite documented damage, the typical paths are: (1) request a re-inspection with our additional documentation submitted as supporting evidence, (2) hire a public adjuster for a second professional opinion, or (3) escalate through the carrier's appeal process or with a storm-claim attorney. Brown's Roofing isn't a public adjuster and doesn't represent you in formal appeals. We can provide contractor estimates and damage photos you can share with the carrier if you choose to pursue a dispute.
- After a named storm, total cycle time typically runs 30–90 days from claim filing to repair completion. The components: claim filing to adjuster inspection (3–14 days), adjuster inspection to claim approval (5–21 days), claim approval to scheduled repair start (7–30 days, depending on contractor capacity post-storm), and repair completion (2–7 working days for most asphalt replacements). Named-storm claim volume can push every component longer; non-storm-driven claims close faster.
- Storm-damage claims (named-peril claims) typically don't cause premium increases on their own — they're classified as covered events that policyholders are paying premiums to insure against. Multiple claims within a short window can affect insurability. The bigger insurability concern is non-renewal — some carriers exit high-risk markets after named storms regardless of individual claim history. Class 4 / FORTIFIED upgrades during claim work commonly improve renewal odds and produce ongoing discounts that offset any indirect impact.
- Most homeowners insurance policies require claims to be filed within 30–365 days of the date of loss; some carriers and states have shorter windows for hurricane and named-storm events (Florida is 1 year). The practical advice: document the damage now (free with us), even if you delay claim filing while you decide whether the math works. Documentation captures the date-of-loss evidence; you can use it to file later. Delayed claims can be denied for "failure to mitigate further damage" if the carrier argues you allowed deterioration to compound.
Storm-Damage Documentation in Your Market
Free Assessment
Need Roof Storm-Damage Documentation?
Free post-storm inspection, written documentation report, and adjuster meeting attendance at no charge. We work directly for you — no AOB, no inflated scopes.