Roofing Tips & Guides
Expert Roofing Advice for Charlotte Homeowners
Learn from Charlotte's trusted roofing experts. Tips on maintenance, repair, replacement, and protecting your home from the elements.
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Learn from Charlotte's trusted roofing experts. Tips on maintenance, repair, replacement, and protecting your home from the elements.
Charlotte weather is beautiful. But it can also be very tough on your home. One minute the sun is out. The next minute, a summer thunderstorm drops hail the size of golf balls. Or a windstorm rips shingles right off your roof in Lake Norman. When these storms hit, they leave behind more than just a mess in your yard. They leave behind hidden damage to your biggest investment.
Dealing with insurance companies feels scary. Most people don't know the rules. They don't know what to say. And they certainly don't want to get stuck with a giant bill. That is why we wrote this guide. At Best Roofing Now, we are a veteran-owned company. We believe in honesty and hard work. We want you to have all the facts. This is the ultimate guide to winning your insurance claim in North Carolina.
When the storm ends, your first instinct is to look up. But please, stay on the ground. Walking on a storm-damaged roof is dangerous. Shingles can be loose. The wood underneath might be soft.
The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) says it best: “NRCA strongly encourages homeowners and business owners to assess roof damage from ground level and not attempt repairs on their own.”
Take a walk around your yard. Look for these things:
If you see these signs, your roof likely has damage too. In North Carolina, you have to act fast. Most policies want "prompt notice." If you wait six months, the insurance company might say the damage is just from old age. And that is a claim they won't pay.
Before you call your insurance agent, you need to find your "Declarations Page." This is a summary of your coverage. There are two main types of roof coverage. Knowing which one you have changes everything.
ACV is like a car insurance policy. As your roof gets older, it loses value. If a 15-year-old roof is damaged, the insurance company only pays what a 15-year-old roof is worth today. This means you will have to pay a lot of money out of your own pocket to get a new one.
This is what most homeowners want. RCV pays to replace your roof with a brand-new version of what you had. They don't care how old the roof was. If it was a GAF Timberline HDZ shingle, they pay for a new GAF Timberline HDZ shingle.
Expert Tip: Even with RCV, the insurance company sends two checks. The first check is the "depreciated" value. Once the job is done, they send the second check. This is called "Recoverable Depreciation."
Many people call their insurance company first. We think that is a mistake. Why? Because if the adjuster comes out and finds no damage, you still have a "claim" on your record. Too many $0 claims can make your rates go up.
Instead, call a trusted local pro like us. We offer a free roof inspection. We use chalk to mark every hit. We take high-resolution photos of the "bruises" in the asphalt.
As GAF explains, “Depending on your policy and the nature of the roof damage, your homeowners insurance may cover the cost of repair or replacement.” We help you figure out if you have enough damage to make a claim worth it.
Once you file a claim, the insurance company sends an "Adjuster." Their job is to look at the damage and decide how much the company should pay. Some adjusters are great. Others are very busy and might miss things.
This is why we always meet the adjuster at your home. We get on the roof with them. We show them exactly what we found. If they miss a dent in the flashing, we point it out. This isn't about being pushy. It is about making sure the "Scope of Work" is correct.
CertainTeed suggests this exact step: “If you find discrepancies, you may ask for a re‑inspection, where the insurance adjustor meets with the roofing contractor to review the damage together.”
Every state has different rules. North Carolina is unique. You need to know these three things:
In North Carolina, you generally have three years from the date of the storm to file a lawsuit if your claim is denied. But don't wait that long! The physical evidence of hail disappears as shingles wear down. The sooner you file, the stronger your case.
This is a tough one. Some states force insurance companies to replace the whole roof if the new shingles don't match the old ones. North Carolina does NOT have this law. The North Carolina Department of Insurance says they only have to pay for "direct physical damage."
If one slope of your roof is damaged, they might only pay for that slope. But here is the secret: We are experts at finding "discontinued" shingles. If your shingle is no longer made, we can often argue that a partial repair is impossible. This is where having an expert advocate matters.
If you have an RCV policy, you usually have 180 days from the date of the loss to finish the work and claim your depreciation money. If you wait too long, you might lose that second check.
Not all damage is obvious from the ground. Here is what we look for during our storm damage restoration assessments:
Hail hits the roof like a hammer. It knocks the granules off the shingles. These granules protect the asphalt from the sun. Once they are gone, the sun "cooks" the shingle. It gets brittle and leaks. We look for circular "bruises" where the matting underneath is broken.
Wind doesn't just blow shingles off. It "creases" them. The wind lifts the shingle up, breaking the seal. Then it flops back down. From the ground, it looks fine. But that shingle will never seal again. The next small wind will rip it away.
Charlotte has a lot of beautiful oak and pine trees. During a storm, branches fall. Even a small branch can puncture a shingle or damage the gutter system.
After a big storm, "storm chasers" flood the Charlotte area. These are companies from out of state. They knock on every door. They promise a "free roof."
Warning Signs of a Storm Chaser:
At Best Roofing Now, we are part of this community. We are veteran-owned. We stand by our work with lifetime warranties. We don't need to chase storms because our neighbors trust us.
We want to make this easy for you. Here is how we handle every claim:
If the insurance company is paying for a new roof, this is your chance to upgrade. You don't have to put back exactly what you had.
We can show you samples of all these at your kitchen table. No pressure. Just helpful advice.
When I started Best Roofing Now, I wanted to bring military discipline to the roofing industry. In the military, you follow a code. You don't take shortcuts.
Roofing is a lot like that. Most of the most important parts of a roof are hidden. The ice and water shield, the underlayment, and the flashing. If a contractor skips these, you won't know for years. But eventually, it will leak.
We do it right the first time. We treat your home like it is our own. And if there is a problem, we answer the phone. We aren't going anywhere.
Will my insurance rates go up if I file a claim?
In North Carolina, insurance companies usually cannot raise your rates for a single "Act of God" claim like a storm. However, they can raise rates for an entire zip code if many people file claims. If your neighbors are getting new roofs, your rates might go up anyway. You might as well get your roof fixed!
What if the insurance check is lower than your estimate?
This happens a lot. Insurance companies use a software called Xactimate. Sometimes they use old prices. We simply send them our estimate with local material costs. We "supplement" the claim to cover the difference. You should only be responsible for your deductible.
How long does the whole process take?
From the first inspection to the final shingle, it usually takes 2 to 4 weeks. The actual roofing work only takes 1 or 2 days for most homes.
Do you handle the mortgage company?
If you have a mortgage, your insurance check will likely have the bank's name on it. This can be a headache. We can't talk to the bank for you, but we can provide all the paperwork they need to release the funds quickly.
Storm damage is stressful. But it is also an opportunity to protect your home for the next 30 years. Don't let the paperwork scare you.
And remember, you don't have to settle for a cheap roof. You deserve a roof that is installed with care. You deserve a team that communicates.
If a storm just rolled through Charlotte or Lake Norman, give us a call. We will come out, take a look, and give you the honest truth. No sales pitch. Just expert advice from a veteran-owned team that cares about our city.
Ready to see if your roof has damage?
Schedule your free, no-obligation storm damage inspection today! Or give us a call at (704) 605-6047. We are here to help you win.
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