If a Memphis storm just came through your neighborhood, your homeowner's policy probably already covers a new roof. The hard part isn't the coverage — it's proving the damage and getting the carrier to pay the full scope. Here's exactly how the process works in Shelby County, in the order it happens.
Step 1: Get an inspection before you call your insurance
Call your carrier first and you're filing blind. A free roof inspection tells you whether the damage is claim-worthy at all, which matters, because a denied claim still shows up on your claims history. We climb the roof, photograph every slope with date stamps, and give you a written damage report. If there's nothing there, we'll tell you not to file.
Step 2: Find your storm date
Insurers want a specific date of loss. NOAA keeps hail and wind records by zip code, and we pull those for the 38016–38141 range regularly. Match your damage to the closest qualifying storm and use that date when you call.
Step 3: Call the claims line
The claims number is on the back of your insurance card or in your policy declarations page — not your local agent's cell. Give them the storm date, tell them you have visible roof damage, and request an adjuster inspection. Ask for the claim number and the adjuster's contact info before you hang up.
Step 4: The adjuster meeting (this is where claims are won or lost)
Adjusters in Memphis often cover several counties and may be looking at a dozen roofs in a day. Damage gets missed — especially hail bruising on cool days, when the bruises haven't fully telegraphed. We meet your adjuster on the roof, walk every slope with them, and point out soft metals, vent damage, and creased shingles that support the claim. Homeowners who have a roofer at that meeting get approved far more often than those who don't.
Step 5: Read the scope, then supplement
Approval isn't the finish line. The carrier sends a scope sheet listing line items — tear-off, underlayment, drip edge, ridge vent, disposal, code upgrades. Missing line items are common. Tennessee code requires certain upgrades on a full replacement, and those are billable to the carrier. We review the scope line-by-line and file supplements for whatever was left out, at no cost to you.
Step 6: Replacement and payment
Most Memphis roofs are torn off and reinstalled in a single day. Insurance typically pays in two checks: an ACV (actual cash value) check upfront and the recoverable depreciation once the work is complete and invoiced. You pay your deductible — usually $1,000 to $2,500 — and nothing else.
How long does a Memphis roof claim take?
From inspection to approval is usually two to three weeks. Add another one to three weeks for scheduling the install, depending on how many storms hit that season. After a major hail event the whole timeline stretches, which is one more reason not to wait.
Will filing raise my rates?
Storm and hail damage is treated as an act of God, not an at-fault claim. Carriers may raise rates region-wide after a big event, but that happens whether or not you personally file.
The 12-month deadline
Most Tennessee policies give you 12 months from the date of loss to file. After that, even obvious damage gets auto-denied. If a storm hit last spring and you haven't looked at your roof, look now.
Get a free claim check
Our inspection, adjuster representation, and supplement work are all free — we're paid out of the approved claim, and you only owe your deductible. Call (901) 493-1219 or book online, and see our insurance claims page for the full breakdown.
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