All of the following information provided by Kent Johnson at Red Tail Roofing: Should I File an Insurance Claim for My Roof? – Red Tail Roofing
An Oklahoma Roofer’s Honest Advice Before You Pick Up the Phone
If you live in northeastern Oklahoma, chances are you’ve stood in your driveway after a storm asking yourself the same question everyone else asks.
“Is my roof damaged?”
Maybe you noticed a few shingles in the yard.
Maybe your neighbors are already getting new roofs.
Maybe there are roofing companies knocking on your door before the hail has even melted.
Or maybe your roof looks perfectly fine.
So…what do you do?
As someone who has lived in Oklahoma my entire life and spends most of my days inspecting roofs throughout Skiatook, Collinsville, Owasso, Bartlesville, and Osage County, I can tell you that this is one of the most common questions I hear.
After the devastating May 8th hailstorm that struck our area, many homeowners were overwhelmed. Hail up to 1.75 inches fell for roughly fifteen minutes. Some neighborhoods saw nearly three inches of hail accumulate on the ground, looking more like a January snowstorm than a spring evening. Before the ice had even melted, out-of-town storm chasers were already knocking on doors.
I understand the urgency.
But I also believe homeowners deserve good information before making a decision that could affect one of their biggest investments.
Here’s the same advice I give my own customers.
First Things First…
Don’t start by calling your insurance company.
Start by determining whether your roof actually has storm damage.
Not every roof needs an insurance claim.
In fact, one of the hardest conversations I have is telling someone not to file a claim.
That may sound strange coming from a roofing contractor, but my job isn’t simply to replace roofs. My job is to help homeowners make smart decisions.
Over the years, I’ve developed four questions that help me determine how confident I am that filing a claim makes sense.
When all four boxes are checked, my success rate with approved claims is approximately 85%.
Let’s go through them.
Checkbox #1: Was There a Recent Storm?
Oklahoma law gives homeowners up to 24 months after many qualifying storm events to file a property damage claim.
That doesn’t mean you should wait two years.
Quite the opposite.
The closer your inspection is to the storm date, the easier it usually is to connect the damage to that event.
So why was the law extended?
Because hail damage doesn’t always show itself immediately.
Think about an apple that has been bruised.
At first it looks normal.
A few days later the bruise becomes obvious.
Roof shingles behave in a surprisingly similar way.
The impact from hail damages the asphalt beneath the surface first. Over time, the granules begin to loosen, the asphalt starts breaking down, and the damage becomes easier to recognize.
That’s one reason I often inspect roofs several weeks after a storm instead of encouraging homeowners to make a rushed decision the next morning.
Takeaway: Confirming a recent storm helps establish a clear connection between damage and a valid insurance claim.
Checkbox #2: Can We Actually See Storm Damage?
This is probably the biggest misconception homeowners have.
“I looked from the driveway and my roof looks fine.”
Honestly…
I’ve said the exact same thing.
I’ve walked up to houses convinced the roof looked great from the street.
Then I climbed onto the roof and found enough hail damage to justify replacing an entire slope.
I’ve also climbed onto roofs where the front looked perfect, but the back side was severely damaged.
You simply can’t judge a roof from ground level.
When I inspect a roof, I’m looking for much more than missing shingles.
I’m looking for:
- Circular hail impacts
- Granule loss
- Bruising in the asphalt
- Wind damage
- Damaged ridge cap
- Lifted shingles
- Damage on multiple roof slopes
Many insurance companies also look for a consistent pattern of hail impacts within test squares placed on different sections of the roof. Every carrier has its own guidelines, so experience matters when documenting what you’re seeing.
Takeaway: A proper roof inspection is essential because real storm damage often isn’t visible from the ground.
Checkbox #3: How Old Is the Roof?
Age matters.
A lot.
An older roof is naturally more brittle than a newer one.
That’s why the same hailstorm may leave one roof untouched while another nearby roof needs replacement.
Even relatively small hail can damage an older asphalt shingle because the protective oils have diminished over time.
People often ask me about “30-year shingles.”
The truth is that Oklahoma is one of the harshest environments in America for asphalt roofs.
Between hail…
High winds…
Large temperature swings…
Humidity…
Intense summer heat…
Winter freezes…
And constant UV exposure…
A roof in Oklahoma usually ages much faster than the number printed on the wrapper.
Takeaway: Older roofs are more vulnerable to storm damage, making age a critical factor in claim decisions.
Checkbox #4: How Long Have You Been With Your Insurance Company?
This is the question that surprises homeowners the most.
One of the first things Red Tail asks is:
“How long have you been with your current insurance company?”
The reason isn’t because there’s a magic number.
It’s because filing an insurance claim should never be taken lightly.
Insurance companies evaluate claims using many different factors, and every company has its own underwriting practices.
If someone has only recently switched insurance companies, Red Tail is generally more conservative before recommending they file unless the damage is obvious.
Kent would much rather tell someone to wait than encourage them to submit a weak claim that isn’t well supported.
Takeaway: Your insurance history can influence claim outcomes, so timing and policy tenure matter.
Sometimes the Best Advice Is…
Wait.
That may sound strange coming from someone who replaces roofs for a living.
But it’s true.
They’ve had homeowners call after a storm where they simply weren’t confident enough in the damage to recommend filing a claim.
Sometimes another storm six months later provides much clearer evidence.
Sometimes the roof only needs a repair.
And sometimes it’s simply better not to file.
Red Tail would rather lose a roofing job than give someone advice that isn’t in their best interest.
The Bottom Line
Every roof is different.
Every storm is different.
Every insurance policy is different.
That’s why Kent doesn’t believe in blanket advice.
Kent believes in inspecting the roof, understanding the facts, and helping homeowners make an informed decision without pressure.
If you live in Skiatook, Collinsville, Owasso, Bartlesville, or anywhere in Osage County, Kent would be happy to inspect your roof and tell you exactly what he sees.
If your roof needs replacing, Kent will explain why.
If it only needs a repair, he will tell you that too.
And if he thinks filing an insurance claim isn’t the right move, you’ll hear that from him as well.
Because earning your trust is more important than earning your business.