You filed after a hailstorm. The insurance adjuster came out, walked around for fifteen minutes, and told you your roof is fine. Or maybe they approved coverage but for a fraction of what the actual replacement costs.
Sound familiar?
If you've been through the insurance process in Colorado, you know it can feel like an uphill battle. And here's the thing. It's designed to feel that way. Insurance companies are businesses, and every payout they make out comes off their bottom line. That doesn't mean they're trying to cheat you. But it does mean the process isn't set up to advocate for you.
After helping thousands of Colorado homeowners navigate the roof insurance restoration process over the past decade, we've learned what adjusters won't volunteer. Here's what you need to know.
Your Adjuster Works for the Insurance Company, Not for You
This sounds obvious when you say it out loud, but a lot of homeowners forget it in the moment. The adjuster who shows up at your house is either a direct employee of your insurance company or a third party contractor hired by them. Their job is to assess your situation fairly, yes. But "fairly" from the perspective of the company writing the check.
This doesn't mean adjusters are dishonest. Most of them are decent people doing their jobs. But they're not your advocate. They're not looking for damage. They're evaluating what you've reported and determining the minimum the company is obligated to pay.
That's a really important distinction.
You Have the Right to Be Present During the Inspection
When your adjuster comes to inspect your roof, you have every right to be there. Better yet, you have the right to have your contractor there too. And you absolutely should.
A qualified roofing contractor can point out damage that an adjuster might miss or dismiss. Hail damage on asphalt shingles can be subtle. It doesn't always look like an obvious hole or crack. Sometimes it shows up as bruising in the shingle mat, which you can only detect by pressing on the shingle and feeling for soft spots.
At Gates Enterprises, we meet adjusters on the roof regularly. We walk the roof together, identify damage together, and make sure nothing gets overlooked. This one step dramatically increases the likelihood of a fair outcome. insurance restoration support
The First Offer Is Almost Always Low
Insurance companies typically start with a lower estimate. This isn't a secret in the industry. The initial scope of work often misses items or underestimates quantities. Common things that get left off the first estimate include:
Drip edge replacement. Pipe boot replacement. Ice and water shield in valleys. Ridge cap replacement. Starter strip. Proper ventilation components. Haul away and disposal of old materials.
These aren't optional extras. They're required components of a proper roof installation. If they're not on the estimate, the estimate is incomplete.
You have every right to supplement an estimate. That means submitting additional documentation showing that the original estimate didn't capture the full scope of necessary work. This is standard practice, and insurance companies deal with supplements every day.
Depreciation Is Negotiable (Sort Of)
If you have an RCV (Replacement Cost Value) policy, your insurance company will initially pay you the depreciated value of your roof, also called the ACV (Actual Cash Value). They hold back a portion called depreciation, which they release after you complete the replacement.
Here's what most people don't realize. The depreciation amount on your initial check isn't always calculated correctly. Insurance companies use software to estimate depreciation, and those calculations can be challenged if they're inaccurate.
Also, you need to actually complete the work to recover your depreciation. If you take the ACV check and never replace the roof, you're leaving thousands of dollars on the table. The recoverable depreciation is yours, but only if you follow through with the project.
You Don't Have to Use the Insurance Company's Preferred Contractor
Some insurance companies will suggest or even strongly recommend a specific contractor. You are under no obligation to use them. In Colorado, you have the legal right to choose your own roofing contractor.
This matters because the insurance company's preferred contractor is working within the insurance company's pricing. Your contractor works for you. They can provide an independent assessment, identify all necessary work, and submit proper documentation to support your case.
When you choose a contractor who has experience working with insurance companies, they know how to document damage, write proper supplements, and communicate with adjusters in their language. That experience is invaluable. about Gates Enterprises
The "Maintenance Issue" Excuse
One of the most common reasons adjusters deny or reduce payouts is by attributing damage to "wear and tear" or "lack of maintenance" rather than the storm event. In Colorado, where roofs take a beating from hail, wind, UV, and temperature extremes, there's always some degree of weathering on any roof that's more than a few years old.
The question isn't whether your roof shows signs of aging. Of course it does. The question is whether the storm caused damage that warrants replacement, regardless of the roof's age. A 15 year old roof that gets hit by hail deserves the same consideration as a 5 year old roof that gets hit by the same storm.
If your adjuster attributes legitimate storm damage to maintenance issues, that's worth pushing back on. Documentation from a qualified contractor, including detailed photos with measurements, can help make the case that the damage is storm related.
Timing Matters More Than You Think
Most insurance policies in Colorado have a one year window from the date of the storm to file. Some have shorter windows. If you wait too long, you lose your right to file entirely.
But timing matters in another way too. After a major hailstorm, insurance companies get flooded with filings. The adjusters they send out are often from out of state, brought in to handle the volume. These adjusters may not be familiar with Colorado's specific roofing requirements, local building codes, or the unique challenges of roofing at altitude.
Filing promptly and having your contractor involved early gives you the best chance of a smooth process. Don't wait until six months after the storm to start thinking about your roof.
You Can Request a Re-Inspection
If your coverage was denied or the payout was too low, you're not stuck with that answer. You can request a re-inspection. This means a different adjuster comes out for a second look. Having your contractor present for the re-inspection is even more important than the first time.
In our experience, re-inspections frequently result in better outcomes, especially when new documentation or a contractor's professional assessment is included. Insurance companies don't want to underpay legitimate restorations because it creates legal liability. But they also aren't going to volunteer to pay more than they have to. You have to advocate for yourself.
Public Adjusters: When to Consider One
If your coverage has been denied and you've exhausted the standard process, hiring a public adjuster is an option. Public adjusters work for you, not the insurance company. They charge a percentage of the payout (typically 10% to 15%), and they handle the negotiation process.
For straightforward restorations, a good roofing contractor who knows the insurance process can usually get the job done without a public adjuster. But for complex or high value restorations, or when the insurance company is being particularly difficult, a public adjuster can be worth the fee.
How Gates Enterprises Supports Your Insurance Restoration
We've been through this process thousands of times. Our team supports insurance restoration projects from start to finish. We do the initial inspection, document every bit of damage with detailed photos and measurements, meet your adjuster on the roof, review the insurance estimate for accuracy, and submit supplements for anything that's missing.
We don't charge you anything for this support. It's part of what we do as your roofing contractor. With over 7,200 roofs completed and more than a decade of experience in the Colorado market, we know how the insurance process works and we know how to make sure you get what you're entitled to. insurance restoration support
Dealing with a roof insurance situation? Call Gates Enterprises at (720) 766-3377 or contact us for a free inspection and insurance restoration consultation. We'll make sure you're not leaving money on the table.