Should I sign a contingency agreement with a roofer after a storm?

Read it carefully first. These agreements often commit you to using that contractor if the claim is approved, sometimes with a cancellation fee. That may be fine, but it should be a decision you made, not a form you signed on your porch.

Can you help with a denied roof claim?

Frankly reviews the estimate, scope, and documentation independently so you can see whether the work being claimed is supported by the evidence. We are not a public adjuster and do not negotiate with insurers on your behalf.

Storm damage claims on a San Diego roof

After a heavy winter storm, crews go door to door offering free inspections and free claim help. Some of it is legitimate. Here is how to keep control of the process.

Document before anyone climbs up

Photograph interior staining, ceiling drips, and anything on the ground — displaced tile, granule piles, torn flashing. Date-stamped photos taken before any contractor touches the roof are the most useful evidence you will ever have, both for the insurer and for your own comparison later.

Your insurer decides the claim, not the contractor

A roofing company can document damage and provide an estimate. It cannot approve your claim, and it should not be filing or negotiating on your behalf unless you understand exactly what you have authorised. Read anything you are asked to sign at the door.

Watch for damage that appears after the visit

The uncomfortable reality of storm-chasing work is that some damage gets created during the inspection. You do not need to assume bad faith to insist on being present, or to ask for photos with recognisable context rather than tight close-ups of anonymous shingles.

Compare the insurer's scope with the contractor's

When the adjuster's scope and the contractor's estimate differ, that gap is where disputes live. Getting a written, independent read on which items are genuinely required gives you something concrete to bring to both parties.

Frequently asked

Should I sign a contingency agreement with a roofer after a storm?: Read it carefully first. These agreements often commit you to using that contractor if the claim is approved, sometimes with a cancellation fee. That may be fine, but it should be a decision you made, not a form you signed on your porch.
Can you help with a denied roof claim?: Frankly reviews the estimate, scope, and documentation independently so you can see whether the work being claimed is supported by the evidence. We are not a public adjuster and do not negotiate with insurers on your behalf.

Written by Frankly's consultant, who has spent 10+ years in the roofing industry and now reviews estimates for homeowners only — no roofing work is sold here.

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