Since 1993, Excel Roofing has helped thousands of Denver-area homeowners navigate hail damage claims from start to finish. In this post, I'm walking you through exactly how deductibles work, what your insurance company will and won't cover, and how to protect yourself at every step.
The first move after any significant hail event is to have a qualified, reputable roofing contractor inspect your roof to confirm actual damage exists. This matters more than most homeowners realize.
Here is why: when you contact your insurance company and they send an adjuster out, a claim gets filed. That is true even if no payout is made. A filed claim, including a denied one, can affect your premiums or your ability to renew your policy.
Think about how you handle your car. If a small dent costs less to repair than your deductible, you would never file a claim. The same logic applies to your roof. Yet door-to-door roofers all over the Denver metro will tell you to file anyway. Their approach is a numbers game: get enough people filing, and eventually they land a payout. Your situation is just a roll of the dice to them.
If a reputable roofer confirms real damage, then and only then should you contact your insurance company.
Once damage is confirmed, ask your roofer to prepare an Xactimate report before the insurance adjuster shows up. Xactimate is the same software insurance adjusters use to calculate a claim, based on roof size, pitch, material type, and other factors. Having your own report in hand before that meeting puts you in a far stronger position.
A lot of roofers will not provide one. Either they do not know how, or they do not want to put in the effort. At Excel Roofing, preparing an Xactimate report is a standard part of our process. We will also attend the adjuster meeting on your behalf to negotiate the full scope of your claim.
After the adjuster reviews the damage, they will advise you whether your policy carries RCV (Replacement Cost Value) or ACV (Actual Cash Value) coverage. This distinction has a major impact on your final settlement.
RCV coverage means the insurance company pays the full replacement value of your roof. If your roof is valued at $20,000, the settlement is $20,000.
ACV coverage depreciates the roof based on its age. A 15-year-old asphalt roof, for example, may be paid out at 50 cents on the dollar. On a $20,000 claim, that means a $10,000 settlement with no additional funds released after repairs.
With RCV coverage, your insurance company will typically issue two separate payments.
First check: Issued after the claim is agreed upon. On a $20,000 claim, the insurer calculates the initial payment at roughly 60% of the total, then subtracts your deductible. With a $2,000 deductible, that first check comes out to approximately $10,000.
Second check: Issued after you submit the completed work invoice. The insurer releases the remaining held-back depreciation, in this case $8,000.
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Deadline: Do Not Miss This. If repairs are not completed within one year of the storm date, you typically lose your right to collect the held-back depreciation. Denver's hail season runs hard from May through September. Do not let delays cost you thousands of dollars. |
If your policy is ACV only, the math is more straightforward but less favorable. That same $20,000 claim gets reduced to $10,000 to reflect depreciation, then your deductible is subtracted. You receive $8,000. There is no second check. The remaining cost of your new roof comes out of pocket or through financing.
Not sure which type of coverage you have? Call us before you talk to an adjuster. We will help you read your policy.
An experienced company like Excel Roofing does not just install your new roof. We manage the entire claim on your behalf, from the initial Xactimate estimate through final invoice submission, so nothing falls through the cracks and you collect everything you are entitled to under your policy.
Since 1993, we have helped tens of thousands of Denver-area homeowners through this process. We are an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor and know the insurance process from both sides. When you work with us, you are not navigating this alone.
Q: If only one side of my roof was damaged by hail, is the insurance company required to replace the other sides to match?
No. Insurance companies are not legally required to replace undamaged portions of the roof to achieve a match. Some circumstances or policy language may allow for it, but there is no blanket legal requirement in Colorado.
Q: Can an insurance company cancel my homeowner's policy after a hail claim in Colorado?
Colorado law does not require insurers to renew your policy after a hail claim. If you have had multiple losses, you face a higher risk of a premium increase or non-renewal.
Q: What types of storm damage are covered by my homeowner's insurance?
Wind, hail, fire, and damage from fallen trees are all typically covered under a standard homeowner's policy.
Q: What storm damage is NOT covered?
Age-related shingle deterioration is not covered. Neither is damage caused by lack of maintenance, such as gutters that were never cleaned, or a tree branch that sat on the roof for years without being removed. If the insurer determines the damage resulted from neglect, the claim will be denied.
Q: If only part of my roof is damaged, will the insurance company pay to replace the entire roof?
If a repair is not feasible, the insurer may pay for a full replacement. In situations where an exact material match is not available, such as with concrete tile, it is sometimes possible to salvage material from a less visible section, use it to repair the front, and re-roof the back with a close match so there is no visible difference from the street.
Q: What happens if my hail damage claim is denied?
The standard threshold for a full asphalt shingle replacement is typically 9 to 10 hail impacts per 100 square feet. If your damage falls below that threshold and the claim is denied, it is your decision whether to dispute it. Make sure the actual damage warrants the effort before pushing back.