After a major storm hits the Philadelphia area, door-to-door contractors flood your neighborhood offering "free inspections." Some are legitimate — many are storm chasers who'll file inflated claims and disappear after the check clears. This guide walks you through the correct process, protecting both your home and your insurance record.
ALFE Roofing has handled storm damage claims with every major carrier serving PA, NJ, and DE — State Farm, Allstate, Erie, Travelers, USAA, and more. Here's exactly what to do, step by step.
Step 1: Document the Damage Yourself First
Before calling your insurance company or any contractor, take your own photos and videos. Walk the perimeter of your home and photograph: missing or lifted shingles, dented gutters, damaged flashing, and any visible interior water stains. Date-stamp everything with your phone's camera.
This documentation protects you if there's any dispute about when the damage occurred or whether it was storm-related — especially important in the Philadelphia area after widespread nor'easters or hail events that affect hundreds of properties at once.
Step 2: Call Your Insurance Company
File your claim promptly — most policies require reporting damage within a reasonable timeframe after the storm event. When you call, have your policy number ready and describe the event: date of storm, type (hail, wind, falling tree). Ask your insurer what documentation they need, what your deductible is, and whether your policy pays Replacement Cost Value (RCV) or Actual Cash Value (ACV).
Step 3: Get an Independent Contractor Inspection
Before the adjuster arrives, have a licensed roofing contractor inspect and document the damage independently. ALFE provides free storm damage inspections with written documentation. Our reports include:
- Measured roof area and affected sections
- Photos of every damaged shingle, soffit, fascia, and gutter
- Estimated repair or replacement cost
- Evidence of storm-caused damage vs. pre-existing wear
Having this independent report means you're not relying solely on the adjuster's assessment — and you have expert support if supplementing becomes necessary.
Step 4: The Insurance Adjuster Visit
Your insurer will send an adjuster to assess the damage. Request to be present during the inspection, and have your contractor present or available by phone. A good contractor can point out damage the adjuster might miss — hail impacts on ridge caps, soffit dents, gutter bruising. This process is called "supplementing" and is completely legitimate.
PA law (HICPA) gives homeowners protections in this process. Your contractor cannot legally act as your public adjuster, but they can provide documentation and be present to answer technical questions during the adjuster's site visit.
Step 5: Review the Scope — Supplement if Needed
Insurance companies sometimes issue an initial estimate that misses items: underlayment replacement, code-required drip edge, ice & water shield upgrades required by current PA building codes, permit fees, or waste factor. Your contractor should review the adjuster's estimate and submit a supplement for any missing line items. ALFE handles all supplementing in-house at no additional cost.
Step 6: Choose Your Contractor Carefully
Use a PA-licensed contractor (verify at the PA Attorney General's HICPA registry). Avoid anyone who:
- Asks you to sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) before the adjuster visit
- Offers to waive your deductible — this is illegal under PA insurance law
- Pressures you for a same-day signed contract
- Cannot provide a physical Philadelphia-area business address and verifiable references
Storm chasers are a real problem in the PA/NJ/DE market after major weather events. A local contractor with a permanent address and years of verifiable work in Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Burlington County NJ, or New Castle County DE has accountability that a traveling crew does not.
Step 7: Claim Approval and the Replacement
Once the claim is approved, your insurer will issue an Actual Cash Value (ACV) payment — replacement cost minus depreciation. After the work is completed and you submit the final invoice, you receive the recoverable depreciation (if your policy is RCV). Your contractor should invoice the insurer directly for any supplements. Keep all documentation for at least 3 years after the project closes.
