Roof Insurance Claims in Michigan: What to Do After a Storm

A branch comes down in a windstorm, or hail rattles the house for ten minutes, and suddenly you're staring at the ceiling wondering what to do first. A lot of homeowners freeze, and that's understandable. Here's how we walk people through the first steps. We're roofers, not your insurance company, so nothing in this article is a promise about what your policy covers. Your policy and your insurer decide that. What we can tell you is what helps.

Stay safe first

Before anything else, make sure everyone in the house is out of harm's way. If water is coming in, move valuables away from the drip, put a bucket under it, and keep people out from under any ceiling that sags with water. Don't climb onto the roof in the dark or in bad weather. A fallen tree on a house can be unstable, so stay clear and call for help if it's touching power lines.

Document everything

Your insurer is going to ask what happened and what it looks like, so start gathering that now. Photos and short videos are your friends, and the more, the better.

• Take wide shots of each side of the house, then close-ups of the damaged areas.
• Photograph any fallen limbs or debris before it gets moved.
• Shoot the ceiling and wall stains inside, and any water on the floor or in the attic.
• Note the date and time of the storm and when you first noticed the damage.
• Keep any receipts for temporary repairs or tarps.

Take the pictures from the ground or from inside. You don't need to be on the roof to make a good record. If you want a closer look, a roofer can go up and document it with you.

Stop more damage: tarping

Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. In plain terms, that means don't let rain keep soaking the house while you wait. If water is still coming in after a storm, we tarp the roof to stop it, and then we schedule the repair. A tarp is temporary. It buys you time to deal with the insurer and plan the real fix without the damage growing. Keep photos of the tarp going on and keep the receipt.

Call your insurance company

Contact your insurer, tell them what happened, and ask how to start a claim. Have your policy number handy, along with your photos and the date of the storm. Ask what they need from you, ask about the next step, and write down the name of whoever you talk to along with the claim number.

Generally speaking, homeowner policies cover sudden damage such as wind, hail or a fallen tree. They don't usually cover wear and tear from a roof that has simply aged out. That's a general rule of thumb, not a guarantee, and your own policy language is what counts. If you're not sure, ask your agent to explain it in plain words.

The adjuster visit

The insurer will usually send an adjuster to look at the damage. This is a good moment to have a roofer there. It isn't about arguing. It's about making sure the person looking at your roof sees everything a roofer sees, such as lifted shingles, creased tabs, damaged flashing or soft spots that aren't obvious from the ground.

We will meet your adjuster on site if needed. We'll walk the roof, point out what we see, and answer the technical questions. We won't tell you what the claim will pay, because that isn't ours to decide. What we will do is give you an honest written estimate for the work so you have a clear number to compare against whatever the insurer offers.

After the claim: repair or replace

Once there's an answer, the next question is what the roof actually needs. Our general rule is repair when damage is limited to one area and the decking is sound, and replace when damage is widespread, the decking is soft or repairs keep coming back. Sometimes storm damage turns up older problems that were already there. We'll tell you what we see, even if it's not what you hoped to hear.

If you pay out of pocket for any part of the work, remember that we'll beat any written estimate from a licensed and insured roofer. We're a Michigan Saves partner (Contractor ID 203929) if financing would help, and we offer discounts for seniors, veterans and first responders.

If a storm just hit your roof in Detroit, Dearborn, Southfield, Warren or anywhere nearby, call T&M Roofing at (313) 600-4538. We'll tarp it if water is coming in, and we offer free written estimates when it's time to fix it right.