What does 'underpaid' mean on a roof claim?

Underpaid usually means the claim scope or pricing did not include enough line items, quantities, code-required components, or documented damage to restore the roof system properly. It can also reflect missed accessories (vents, flashing, drip edge), overlooked slope counts, incorrect waste factors, or omitted building code items.

Should I sign anything before the roof is approved?

Avoid signing documents you don’t understand—especially assignments, blanket authorizations, or agreements that could restrict your options. It’s reasonable to schedule an inspection and request a written scope and documentation plan first.

What is the single most important thing to do after a storm?

Create a verifiable record: photos/video of each roof plane and elevations, close-ups with scale, and date-stamped notes. The strongest claims are built on evidence that can be reviewed independently—without relying on opinions.

Will a roofer ‘negotiate’ with my insurance company?

A contractor can document damage, write a restoration scope, and submit supplements with evidence and code references. Avoid anyone promising specific claim outcomes. The best approach is evidence-first documentation that stands up to third-party review.

Georgia Homeowners • Carrier-Neutral

Carrier-Neutral Roof Claim Explainer (Georgia)

This page is written for homeowners—not carriers, not contractors. It explains how roof claims become underpaid, what evidence matters, and what to do next after wind, hail, tree impact, or ice damage in Georgia.

Start the Checklist What “Underpaid” Means Request an Inspection

Neutrality pledge: We don’t write this to “fight” your carrier. We write it so your claim file is verifiable—meaning a desk adjuster, appraiser, or reviewer can confirm the facts without needing opinions. If the evidence can’t be independently verified, it can’t be trusted.

1) The 30-Minute Post-Storm Checklist 2) What “Underpaid” Actually Means 3) Evidence That Wins (and Evidence That Doesn’t) 4) What Not To Say or Do (Common Claim Killers) 5) The Scope Problem: How Items Get Missed 6) Code & Permitting: Why It Matters in Georgia 7) Typical Claim Timeline (Simple Version) 8) FAQ

Quick Start

If your home was hit by a storm, your best first move is not a sales appointment—it's a documentation plan. Your goal is a claim file that can be reviewed independently.

Evidence-first Carrier-neutral No outcome promises

If you want help building that documentation: contact our team.

Step 1

The 30-Minute Post-Storm Checklist (Georgia)

This is designed for wind, hail, tree impact, and ice events. Your goal is to preserve safety and create a clean, date-anchored record—without making mistakes that complicate coverage.

1) Safety first (no roof climbing)

If there are downed limbs, power lines, active leaks, or slick surfaces, do not climb. Document from the ground.

2) Wide photos first (prove “before the close-ups”)

Walk the exterior and take wide shots of each elevation. Get the gutters, downspouts, windows, screens, siding, fences, HVAC fins, vents, and soft metals (anything that can corroborate impact).

3) Roof evidence that’s actually useful

If you can safely photograph from a ladder at the eave (without stepping onto the roof), capture edge metal, drip edge, starter, and shingles at the perimeter. If you already have aerials or drone access, capture each roof plane in a repeatable sequence.

4) Interior check (attic + ceilings)

Take photos of stains, wet insulation, deck staining, and active drips. Note the exact room location. If possible, place a dated note in the photo (phone lock screen showing date/time works).

5) Temporary mitigation only (document it)

If there’s active leaking, temporary measures may be appropriate. Photograph the condition before/after, keep receipts, and avoid permanent repairs until your documentation is complete.

6) Write a simple timeline

Date of storm, first observed issues, where leaks occurred, and any emergency steps taken. Keep it factual—no guessing, no causes you can’t verify.

Best practice: The strongest claim files are built like a lab report: wide context → close detail → measurements → repeatability → clear notes.

Step 2

What “Underpaid” Really Means

Most homeowners assume underpayment is “the carrier being unfair.” Sometimes it is; often it’s simpler: the claim file didn’t contain enough verifiable evidence or scope detail to support everything required to restore the roof system properly.

Common reasons roof claims get underpaid

Missed damage: not enough documented hits/creases, poor photo quality, no scale, no sequence.
Incomplete scope: accessories and system components omitted (vents, flashing, drip edge, starter, ridge, pipe boots).
Incorrect quantities: wrong squares, slopes, waste factor, ridge/hip length, steep charges, tear-off layers.
Code items not supported: the file doesn’t show why code-required items apply for your jurisdiction/permit.
Mixed causes claimed without verification: statements that can be interpreted as wear/maintenance rather than a covered event.

Key idea: Underpayment is often a documentation + scope problem. Fixing it is less about arguing and more about building a claim file that a third party can validate.

Step 3

Evidence That Wins (and Evidence That Doesn’t)

Evidence that helps (reviewable, objective)

Clear photos with orientation + sequence (so a reviewer understands where each photo was taken).
Close-ups with a scale reference (coin, chalk circle, ruler, approved gauge).
Soft metal corroboration (when present) documented clearly and tied to roof elevations.
Interior leak evidence matched to likely roof areas (notes + photos).
A clean written scope that lists components and not just “replace roof.”

Evidence that hurts (or gets ignored)

Random photos with no sequence and no proof of location.
“Trust me” statements (opinions without measurements).
Repairs performed before documentation (it removes the ability to verify).
Overstated claims (it undermines credibility of everything else in the file).

Rule: If a desk reviewer cannot independently validate what they’re looking at, they will default to the safest interpretation for the file.

Step 4

What Not To Say or Do (Common Claim Killers)

This is not legal advice—just practical claim hygiene. The goal is to avoid adding ambiguity to a file that already requires verification.

Avoid these common mistakes

Don’t guess the cause if you can’t verify it. Stick to what you observed and documented.
Don’t exaggerate (it makes the whole file less credible).
Don’t sign forms you don’t understand (especially those restricting options or controlling claim communications).
Don’t repair permanently before documentation unless it’s an emergency and you documented before/after with receipts.
Don’t rely on one photo—build a sequence that proves the condition across the roof system.

Better approach: “Here is the condition, here are the photos, here is the sequence, and here is how each item ties to the restoration scope.”

Step 5

The Scope Problem: How Line Items Get Missed

Many underpaid files fail at the same place: the scope doesn’t describe the roof as a system. A roof is not only shingles—it’s ventilation, flashing, accessories, transitions, penetrations, perimeter, and code requirements.

System items that are commonly omitted

Drip edge / edge metal
Starter course
Ridge cap / hip cap
Pipe boots / flashings
Step flashing / counter flashing where applicable
Valley metal and valley details
Ventilation components (intake/exhaust)
Detaching/resetting satellite, solar components, or specialty accessories (as applicable)

Best practice: A good scope reads like a checklist of the roof system. That’s what makes it reviewable and reduces “missing item” denials.

Step 6

Code & Permitting: Why It Matters in Georgia

In many Georgia jurisdictions, roof replacement involves permitting and inspections. If code requirements apply, the claim file needs to show why—not just claim they exist.

How to keep code discussions clean and neutral

Identify the jurisdiction (AHJ) and whether a permit is required for the scope.
Document roof system components that are commonly checked at inspection.
Use verifiable language: “permit-required,” “inspection-required,” and “code-aligned scope,” not threats or absolutes.

Important: Code is not a magic word. It must be supported by the local permitting reality and the actual roof system conditions.

Step 7

Typical Claim Timeline (Simple Version)

1) Storm event → documentation

You create a record: exterior, interior, notes, timeline, and safety/mitigation evidence.

2) Carrier inspection

A field assessment happens. The outcome depends on what is documented and what is verified.

3) Initial scope/payment

You receive an estimate/scope. This is often where omissions or missed items appear.

4) Evidence-based supplement (if needed)

Missing items and quantities are addressed with documentation and a clean scope narrative.

5) Approval → permitting → restoration

Work proceeds under permit/inspection where required, and the claim closes based on completed scope.

FAQ

Common Questions (Carrier-Neutral)

Should I call a roofer or insurance first?

If there’s active damage, start with safety and documentation. Many homeowners open a claim after they have a basic evidence set and a professional inspection plan. The best outcome usually comes from clarity—not rushing.

What if my claim is approved but the scope feels short?

Ask for a line-item review. Compare what’s listed against the roof system components actually present on your home. Missing accessories and quantities can be supplemented with documentation and clear scope language.

Do I need a “forensic” inspection for every roof?

Not always. But when there’s an underpayment, dispute, or mixed-cause situation, a more disciplined, repeatable documentation process is often what makes the file reviewable.

Can a contractor guarantee my roof will be approved?

Be cautious with guarantees about claim outcomes. What can be guaranteed is the quality of the documentation: a clear, evidence-first file that supports independent review.

Want help building a reviewable claim file? If you're in North Metro Atlanta (Alpharetta, Milton, Roswell, Johns Creek, Sandy Springs, Cumming and nearby), our team can document storm damage with an inspection-first approach designed for third-party review.

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