As a roofing contractor, understanding the most frequent insurance claims in your industry isn’t just helpful, it’s essential for protecting your business. When you know what goes wrong and why, you can take steps to prevent costly mistakes, reduce your insurance premiums, and keep your projects running smoothly. Many homeowners rely on their homeowners insurance to cover roof damage, and knowing how the insurance claim process works from their perspective can help you serve them better.
Here are the seven most common roofing claims contractors face, what insurance adjusters look for, and what you can do about them.
1. Property Damage During Installation: Understanding Insurance Coverage and Actual Cash Value
This is the claim adjusters see most often. A crew accidentally damages a homeowner’s property while working on the roof: broken windows, damaged landscaping, dented gutters, or scratched siding. Sometimes debris falls and damages vehicles parked in the driveway. When this happens, your insurance company will assess the damage and determine whether to pay based on actual cash value or replacement cost, depending on your insurance policy.
How to prevent it: Establish clear site protection protocols before every job. Use tarps to protect landscaping, move vehicles away from the work area, and assign a crew member to monitor debris throughout the day. Proper documentation is key, so photograph the property’s condition before work begins. This protects both you and the homeowner if they need to file a home insurance claim.
2. Water Damage from Incomplete Work: The Roof Insurance Claim Process Explained
When a roofing job extends over multiple days, unexpected rain can cause serious water intrusion. A partially torn-off roof left exposed overnight, even with tarping, can lead to interior water damage, ruined insulation, and mold growth. These claims get expensive fast. The insurance provider will send an insurance adjuster to assess whether the policy covers the damage, and repair costs can quickly exceed the homeowner’s deductible.
How to prevent it: Check weather forecasts religiously and plan your tear-off schedule accordingly. Keep quality tarps and roofing materials on every job site for temporary repairs. If rain is coming, prioritize getting the underlayment down before the crew leaves for the day. Help homeowners understand the claim process so they can file quickly and protect their house from further damage.
3. Worker Injuries and Falls: Why Insurance Carriers Require Proper Coverage
Roofing consistently ranks among the most dangerous construction trades. Falls from ladders and roofs, injuries from nail guns and power tools, heat-related illness, and accidents involving heavy materials are all too common. Workers’ compensation claims from roofing injuries can significantly impact your premiums for years. Insurance carriers will want detailed information about your safety protocols when determining your coverage and what services are covered.
How to prevent it: Invest in ongoing safety training, not just annual OSHA reviews but regular toolbox talks. Enforce fall protection requirements without exception. Provide adequate hydration and break schedules during hot weather. The cost of proper safety equipment and training is nothing compared to a serious injury claim. Make home safety a priority on every job site.
4. Faulty Workmanship and Roof Damage Claims: Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash
Leaks that appear months after installation, shingles that blow off in the first storm, and improper flashing around vents and chimneys: these workmanship issues lead to callbacks and roof damage claims. Homeowners expect a new roof to perform flawlessly, and when it doesn’t, they look to the roofing contractor. The insurer will determine whether repairs or roof replacement is necessary, and whether they’ll pay replacement cost or actual cash value based on the replacement cost policy terms.
How to prevent it: Follow manufacturer specifications precisely, as this protects both your warranty and your liability. Implement quality control checkpoints at critical stages: after decking inspection, after underlayment, and before the final shingle course. Document everything with photos. When a homeowner needs to file a roof insurance claim, your detailed estimate and repair estimates will help the insurance adjuster process the claim faster.
5. Vehicle Accidents: How Your Roofing Company Can Manage This Coverage
Your crews are on the road constantly, hauling materials and equipment between job sites. Auto accidents involving company vehicles or employees driving for work purposes generate claims that can include vehicle damage, third-party injuries, and even liability for cargo that comes loose. Your roofing company needs proper coverage to protect against these risks, and the total cost of an accident can be substantial.
How to prevent it: Screen drivers carefully and check MVRs regularly. Establish clear policies about vehicle maintenance, load securement, and distracted driving. Consider installing GPS tracking and dash cameras. They can help defend against fraudulent claims and encourage safer driving. Contact your insurance agent to explain your fleet operations and ensure you have adequate coverage.
6. Subcontractor-Related Claims: What Your Insurance Policy Should Cover
When you bring in subcontractors for specialized work like metal fabrication, solar installation, or gutter work, you may be held liable for their mistakes. If a sub causes property damage, injures someone, or performs defective work, the homeowner typically comes after the contractor first. Your insurance policy needs to address this point, and you should hire only subcontractors who carry their own coverage.
How to prevent it: Verify that every subcontractor carries adequate insurance and add your roofing company as an additional insured on their policy. Use written contracts that clearly define responsibilities and indemnification. Check their repair work before signing off on any project. If something goes wrong, having proper documentation will help you file a claim and get the money you need to make things right.
7. Equipment Theft: Protecting Your Property and Getting Covered
Tools and equipment left at job sites overnight are prime targets for theft. Nail guns, compressors, generators, and specialty roofing tools add up quickly. Beyond the direct financial loss, theft can delay projects and disrupt your schedule. Your insurer may require a specific period to pass before you can file, and you’ll need to provide additional information about what was stolen.
How to prevent it: Remove valuable equipment from job sites each night whenever possible. Use lockable storage containers and trailer locks. Mark all tools with your company name or a unique identifier. Maintain a detailed inventory with serial numbers to support any claim. Some contractors hire a security service or get a second opinion on their coverage from an attorney to ensure they’re fully protected.
Protect Your Roofing Business from Storm Damage, Hail Damage, Wind Damage, and Normal Wear Claims
Knowing these common roofing claims is the first step, but having the right roofing insurance coverage is what truly protects your business when something goes wrong. Whether you’re dealing with hail damage, wind damage, storm damage, or helping homeowners understand that normal wear isn’t covered, you need an insurance policy that fits your operations.
A comprehensive contractor insurance policy tailored to roofing operations can mean the difference between a manageable setback and a business-ending disaster. The right coverage will help you pay for roof repair or replace an entire roof when needed, and a good insurance agent can explain exactly what your policy covers.
At Farmer Brown Insurance, we specialize in roofing insurance for roofing contractors and construction professionals. We understand the unique risks you face and can help you find coverage that fits your operations and budget. For example, we can assess your current policy and provide a detailed estimate of what it would cost to get better protection. Contact us today for a free roofing insurance quote or call (888) 766-4991 and let us help you protect what you’ve built.
