No homeowner looks forward to paying for a new roof out of pocket, but navigating the insurance claim process can be confusing and stressful. On a recent episode of the Roots to Renovation podcast, host Mike Downer sat down with Jody Peterson (Founder and CEO) and Ryan Peterson (CEO) of Peterson Roofing to discuss how roof insurance claims work Davenport Iowa homeowners can navigate storm damage recovery successfully.
The Petersons shared critical advice on how the claim process works, emphasizing that homeowners must take several proactive steps to protect themselves. These steps include having a reputable local contractor inspect the roof before contacting your insurer to avoid unnecessary claims, understanding the difference between Replacement Cost Value (RCV) and Actual Cash Value (ACV) coverage, and maintaining control of your project by refusing to sign “Assignment of Benefits” (AOB) contracts.
Additionally, homeowners must stay informed of local regulations, such as Iowa’s strict laws making it illegal for contractors to waive, rebate, or cover insurance deductibles. This guide outlines how to manage your storm restoration efficiently and legally.
Step 1: The Initial Assessment—Storm Verification & Inspection
The process starts immediately after a severe storm. If you hear hail or suspect wind damage, Jody Peterson recommends calling a trusted local contractor first.
“Our job is to come over and do an inspection beforehand,” Jody explains. “If there is damage, we’ll note that damage, take pictures, and document everything.”
Filing a claim without real damage can negatively impact your insurance record. Having a professional inspect the roof first ensures you have a legitimate claim before involving your insurer. Furthermore, relying on local contractors protects you from “storm chasers”—out-of-state door-knockers who sweep through neighborhoods after high-wind or hail events, offering low-quality work and high-pressure sales tactics.
Step 2: Filing the Claim and Coordinating the Adjuster Meeting
Once a professional inspection confirms storm damage, it’s time to file the claim via your insurer’s phone line, online portal, or mobile app. Make sure you have the exact date of the storm handy.
The insurance company will assign an adjuster—or a third-party inspector who may use technology like drones—to evaluate the damage.
Ryan Peterson highlights the value of having your contractor communicate with the adjuster directly: “We go over the scope of work and make sure nothing gets overlooked. Every adjuster wants that feedback from the contractor because it helps avoid mistakes.”
Step 3: Understanding Your Policy (RCV vs. ACV & Depreciation)
One of the most confusing aspects of a roofing claim is how the payout is calculated. Your coverage generally falls into one of two categories:
- Replacement Cost Value (RCV): The insurance company covers the entire cost of replacing your roof (minus your deductible). They send an initial check, then release the remaining “depreciation” amount once the contractor submits the final invoice proving completion.
- Actual Cash Value (ACV): If your roof is older (often 15+ years), your insurer may apply ACV coverage, paying only for the depreciated value of the roof at its current age. The homeowner must pay the difference to cover a full replacement.
Step 4: Beware of Shady Deductible and Supplement Schemes
During the podcast, Mike Downer brought up a common scenario: Can a contractor “help” a homeowner out by waiving or absorbing their deductible?
“You can’t do that. It’s against Iowa law,” Jody points out. Passed in 2024, Iowa law states that a roofing contract becomes void if the contractor offers to rebate, waive, or pay any portion of a residential policyholder’s insurance deductible.
What are Supplements?
Sometimes, additional damage is uncovered only after work begins—such as rotted decking or structural truss damage. Reputable contractors handle this through supplements, submitting documentation and photos of the hidden damage to the adjuster to ensure the additional costs are added to the insurance payout.
Working with Peterson Roofing
Throughout the restoration process, Peterson Roofing provides technical and administrative support to homeowners. While they cannot legally file the claim on your behalf, they assist by reviewing the insurance scope of work, coordinating directly with the adjuster to ensure all damage is documented, executing the physical repairs, and submitting the final invoice required to release depreciation funds.
For those planning to learn how roof insurance claims work Davenport Iowa residents can turn to Peterson Roofing, which offers pre-claim inspections to evaluate storm damage prior to contacting insurance providers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my insurance company raise my rates specifically because I filed a storm claim?
No, insurers cannot raise your individual premium for acts of God, though general regional rates may increase after a storm.
What should I do if my roof insurance claim is denied?
You can request a re-inspection with another adjuster, hire a public adjuster, or invoke your policy’s appraisal process.
What is an “Assignment of Benefits” agreement, and should I sign one?
It legally transfers your claim rights and payouts to a contractor; you should avoid signing it to maintain control of your project.
How long do I typically have to file a claim after a storm occurs?
Most insurance policies require homeowners to file their storm damage claim within one to two years of the storm date.
What is an insurance supplement in a roofing project?
It is an additional estimate submitted to your insurer for necessary repairs or hidden damage discovered only after work begins.
Can a contractor legally cover or waive my insurance deductible?
No, state laws (including Iowa’s 2024 statute) strictly prohibit contractors from waiving, rebating, or paying any portion of your deductible.
Mike Downer: Hey everybody, welcome to Roots to Renovation. I’m your host, Mike Downer, and I am joined today by Jody Peterson and Ryan Peterson. Jody is the founder and CEO of Peterson Roofing, and his ever-so-handsome son Ryan is the COO. How are we doing today, gentlemen?
Jody Peterson: Doing wonderful, thank you.
Ryan Peterson: Doing great. Thanks, Mike.
Mike Downer: Perfect. So today is going to be an interesting topic. I know that a lot of homeowners have a lot of questions when it comes to this because nobody likes to pay for their own roof at all. So you’ve got to make sure you do things right with the insurance company. Am I on base or off base with that statement?
Jody Peterson: Yes, right.
Mike Downer: Perfect. I don’t like to pay for anything myself, if I’m being honest. If somebody else wants to pay for it, sure. But I guess you’ve got to realize you are paying if your insurance company is paying to put it on, bro. You’ve been paying your insurance.
Ryan Peterson: Absolutely. Absolutely.
Mike Downer: So we’re going to walk people through step-by-step how the insurance process actually works. Today we’ll be covering the step-by-step process for filing a roof damage insurance claim and what homeowners should expect from their insurance company.
So what should homeowners do first after discovering roof damage to support their insurance claim? Jody, go ahead and take this one.
Jody Peterson: Yeah, good question. Here in Davenport, Iowa, in the Quad Cities area, we’ve been helping homeowners for many years navigate the insurance process and filing claims.
I would say the number one thing they need to do is make sure there actually was a storm. Like I was just telling Ryan earlier, I had a customer call from last night saying she heard hail. So she called us, and our job is to come over and do an inspection beforehand. If there is damage, we’ll note that damage, take pictures, and document everything. If there isn’t any damage, we’ll tell you not to worry about it.
Then, after calling us, the second thing you’ll want to do is file a claim if there is damage. Contact your insurance company however you prefer, and make sure you know the date of the storm. After that, they’ll set up a time for their adjuster—or a third-party adjuster—to come out and inspect it. Some companies still just say, “Get an estimate and contact us with that estimate when you’re done.” Then you go from there.
Mike Downer: That was a great answer and really walked people through the process step-by-step.
When it does come time to contact the insurance company, how should homeowners contact them after roof damage, and what should they expect during the process?
Ryan Peterson: Well, I think Dad already touched on that. First, you want to find out if you actually have damage. Then you’re going to call your insurance company using their phone number, claims portal, claims email, or whatever method they provide.
They’ll set you up with somebody who’s going to come out and inspect it. A lot of times, we talk to those adjusters directly. They might have a desk adjuster or somebody physically inspecting the roof. Like Dad said, it could be someone from the insurance company or a third party.
A lot of times, we communicate with them directly. Maybe we’ll meet them on the roof or discuss the siding damage. I was just looking at one this year where there was obvious large hail—close to three-inch hail.
I talked to the adjuster beforehand on that job, which was maybe an hour away from here. He had already seen the pictures I’d taken, and I asked him if he wanted me there walking around with him on the roof. He said, “No, it’s fine. I’ll just call you when I’m done.” So really, it’s just about communicating and working together.
Jody Peterson: Here’s another important thing. Sometimes when you call your insurance company, they’ll tell homeowners not to file a claim because their rates will go up. I won’t name any insurance companies, but that’s happened before, and that’s not right.
If you have damage, that’s why you pay your premiums. You should report the claim. If rates go up, everybody’s rates in the area are going up. They shouldn’t single you out and say, “If you file a claim, we’re raising your rates.”
Mike Downer: That makes perfect sense. That’s kind of an old scare tactic from decades ago with auto insurance when you got into an accident that was your fault. But homeowners insurance is different because storm damage is considered an act of God. You had no control over it. I love that you brought that up.
This next one is huge because if homeowners do this wrong, it can cost them in the long run. Can you explain why it’s important to get a professional roof inspection before the insurance adjuster arrives?
Jody Peterson: Absolutely. If it’s a big storm, somebody will probably be knocking on your door within hours. Many of those people have no credibility. You didn’t contact them—they contacted you. They could just be some random guy off the street who only wants to sell a roof job and doesn’t actually know anything about roofing or storm damage.
You’re far better off calling a contractor you trust and having them inspect the roof beforehand. Let them tell you what’s going on before deciding whether to file a claim.
And use a local contractor so you don’t get caught up with one of these fly-by-night companies.
Mike Downer: I’ve heard stories where someone signs up with a company that knocks on the door, and then the work doesn’t get done for months and months. The homeowner doesn’t know what to do because they already signed contracts.
So once homeowners contact you and decide they should notify the insurance company, how does the adjuster inspection process work for roof damage claims?
Ryan Peterson: Like I mentioned earlier, they’ll usually send somebody out to inspect it. I’ve had jobs where I was already on the roof waiting when I saw the adjuster pull up. One guy got a drone out of his trunk, and I thought, “What’s this?”
Turns out, he was just a third-party inspection guy. His entire job was to take pictures of the roof and send them to the actual adjuster who understands policy coverage and payouts.
He told me I didn’t even need to stay up there because he was handling the photos himself. Later, I stayed in contact with the actual adjuster.
Jody Peterson: And there’s nothing wrong with being in contact with the adjuster. Homeowners are often worried that something might get missed.
If possible, we can meet the adjuster there and review everything. We can’t act as a public adjuster or represent the homeowner legally, but we can go over the scope of work and make sure nothing gets overlooked.
Every adjuster wants that feedback from the contractor because it helps avoid mistakes.
Mike Downer: I wanted to touch on something we discussed earlier. Let’s say the claim is progressing and I have a thousand-dollar deductible. What if I ask you to help me out with that deductible?
Jody Peterson: You can’t do that. It’s against Iowa law.
I believe the law was passed in 2024. According to Iowa law, a contract becomes void if the contractor advertises or promises to rebate all or part of your deductible or negotiates directly with the insurance company on your behalf.
So contractors cannot say, “Give me the job and I’ll waive your deductible.” That’s illegal.
Some companies still do it, but we don’t want our customers—or ourselves—in legal trouble.
Mike Downer: I wanted to bring that up because some companies use shady tactics to cover deductibles. That’s why it’s important to work with reputable local contractors like Peterson Roofing.
So what is the supplement process in a roofing insurance claim?
Ryan Peterson: Supplementing usually happens when you discover additional damage during the repair process. For example, maybe there’s hidden wood damage, flashing issues, insulation problems, or structural damage you couldn’t see initially.
We had a case where a large tree limb fell on a garage. Once repairs started, they discovered additional work was needed with trusses and insulation.
Those additional costs become supplements to the original insurance claim. Since we work closely with adjusters, we can communicate those findings and get the additional work added to the claim.
Jody Peterson: The supplements need to be legitimate. Some companies make things up and send them in, and that’s one reason laws have tightened in Iowa and other states.
Mike Downer: That’s exactly why I asked. It’s another one of those shady ways companies try to manipulate claims.
So this next topic is a big one because homeowners often misunderstand it. What’s the difference between depreciation and replacement cost in a homeowner’s insurance policy?
Ryan Peterson: This confuses a lot of homeowners because they never see this stuff regularly, but we deal with it all the time.
You generally have two types of coverage. First, there’s full replacement coverage, where the insurance company pays to restore everything back to normal after you pay your deductible.
Then there’s ACV, or actual cash value coverage. If your roof is older, insurance companies may downgrade you to an ACV policy. I’m seeing this happen a lot now with roofs that are fifteen years old or older.
In those cases, if you get hail damage, the insurance company won’t pay the full replacement amount.
Also, depreciation confuses people. They look at the paperwork and think they’re responsible for all these numbers, but they’re not. Usually, the insurance company sends an initial check, and after all the work is completed, they release the depreciation amount.
The homeowner is typically only responsible for the deductible.
Jody Peterson: Exactly. Once the job is completed and the invoice is submitted, the insurance company sends the final depreciation payment.
Mike Downer: Now let’s talk about claim denials. What are some common reasons roofing insurance claims get denied, and how can homeowners appeal them?
Ryan Peterson: Claims do get denied, sometimes for reasons that don’t make sense. Contractors like us can only go so far legally. We can’t act as public adjusters or argue policy language.
That’s where public adjusters come in. They can step in and help homeowners appeal denied claims or move into appraisal.
I looked at one roof a couple years ago that was clearly destroyed by hail. Every house in the neighborhood got approved except that one. Eventually, through a public adjuster and appraisal process, the homeowner finally got it approved years later.
Sometimes, honestly, I don’t know why claims are denied because the damage is obvious.
Jody Peterson: Insurance companies sometimes deny claims simply because they want to deny them. That’s why it’s important to read your policy carefully and ask for a detailed explanation.
There are appeal processes, and many policies require appeals within a certain timeframe—often sixty to one hundred eighty days.
Unfortunately, it’s not only contractors who behave badly. Insurance companies can act in bad faith too. If you know you have legitimate storm damage, it’s important to pursue the claim properly.
Mike Downer: Let’s wrap this up. Once homeowners have gone through the entire process correctly, how does Peterson Roofing help them navigate the insurance process from start to finish?
Jody Peterson: First of all, we can’t file the claim for you. The homeowner has to contact the insurance company.
Once the claim is filed, we help by reviewing the scope of work, making sure nothing is missed, and ensuring everything damaged by the storm is properly addressed.
A lot of roofing companies just want to collect a check and leave. We make sure the repairs are done correctly and that the homeowner is happy. If something gets overlooked, we’ll point it out to the adjuster.
Once the settlement is finalized, we schedule the work, complete the repairs, inspect everything afterward, and send the final invoice.
The homeowner files the claim and pays the deductible, and we handle the rest.
Also, avoid signing over your insurance benefits through assignment of benefits agreements. Iowa law strongly discourages that.
If you sign everything over to a contractor, you can lose control of the project. Some homeowners end up waiting years for work to be completed because the contractor controls the entire claim process.
It doesn’t always happen, but it can. Homeowners should stay involved and maintain control.
Mike Downer: Perfect. Well guys, thanks for walking everyone through how to handle a roofing insurance claim the right way, what to avoid, and what the laws are.
As always, you guys are a lot of fun, and I enjoy spending time with you both.
I’d like to thank everyone for joining us on Roots to Renovation with Jody and Ryan Peterson, owners of Peterson Roofing in the greater Quad Cities area.
Thank you guys, and we’ll talk to you on the next episode.
Ryan Peterson: Thank you, Mike. Appreciate you.
