Understand your storm damage insurance claim, document your property correctly, and know your rights as a homeowner. Free guidance from Summit Restoration Group.
Most homeowners have never filed a storm damage claim before. Here’s exactly what happens — and where Summit fits in.
Within hours of the storm, photograph and video every area of potential damage — roof, gutters, siding, windows, doors, and any interior damage. Time-stamp everything. Do NOT start cleanup before documenting.
Before calling your insurance company, let Summit perform a thorough damage inspection. We document every damaged item, measure affected areas, and prepare a complete repair scope with supporting storm data and code documentation.
Contact your insurance company to file the claim. Provide the basic facts — date of storm, type of damage. Do NOT accept or reject any settlement at this stage. Just file and confirm receipt.
Your insurance company will send an adjuster to inspect the damage. Have your documentation ready and ensure they inspect every area that was damaged — not just the most visible damage.
When you receive the insurance estimate, review it carefully. Items are frequently missed, and the unit pricing may not reflect current market rates. Don’t accept the first number if items are missing.
Once the claim is approved, Summit coordinates all repairs through our preferred contractor network. You pay your deductible — your insurance pays the rest directly to the contractor network.
The actions you take in the first 24–48 hours after a storm can significantly impact your claim outcome.
Most homeowner policies require you to report a loss "promptly" or within a specific period — commonly 24–72 hours for emergency damage, though some policies allow longer for discovering hidden damage. Check your specific policy. Missing a deadline can result in claim denial.
Most standard homeowner policies in storm-prone states have a separate hurricane deductible that is significantly higher than the standard deductible. It’s typically expressed as a percentage of your dwelling coverage (1–5%), not a flat dollar amount — and it applies whenever damage occurs from a named tropical storm or hurricane.
RCV pays to replace your damaged property with new materials at current prices. ACV pays RCV minus depreciation — meaning older roofs may receive significantly less than replacement cost. Summit works within your insurance-approved scope, which is set at either RCV or ACV depending on your policy. Most modern policies offer RCV for roofs.
This is extremely common. Adjusters work quickly and may miss code-required items, secondary damage, or materials that need replacement as a matching set. Summit’s claim supplementing service identifies missing items and provides the supporting documentation needed to recover those amounts.
We can help with documentation and scope — but if your claim was denied and you believe it should be covered, you may need a licensed public adjuster or attorney to formally dispute it. Summit operates as a contractor network coordinator, not a public adjuster. We can refer you to qualified professionals if needed.
Summit coordinates repairs through our preferred contractor network at the replacement cost value set by your insurance provider. You pay your deductible to the contractor — insurance pays the remainder. There is no additional fee to you for Summit’s scope documentation and coordination services on approved storm restoration projects.
Key terms every homeowner should understand before filing a storm damage claim.