Most Palm Beach County homeowners file a roof insurance claim once in their lives — if they file one at all. That single experience, almost always triggered by a storm event when stress and urgency are highest, is the moment when not understanding the claims process costs the most. Adjusters who arrive quickly with low estimates, settlement offers with embedded depreciation that aren't clearly labeled as such, deadlines that pass quietly while paperwork sits unreviewed — these are the mechanisms that produce undercompensated claims in PBC's post-storm environment. This guide explains exactly how a Florida roof insurance claim works from the moment damage occurs to the moment a check clears or a dispute is resolved — in the sequence it actually happens, not the sequence insurers prefer to discuss.

Step 1 — Document the damage before touching anything

The moment a storm passes and it is safe to access your roof, the first action is documentation — not tarping, not calling a contractor, and not calling the insurance company. Photograph every area of visible damage from multiple angles: missing shingles or tiles, displaced ridge caps, damaged flashing, soffit impact damage, and any debris on the roof surface. If it is safe to access the attic, photograph any water intrusion, staining, or structural damage visible from below. Document the date and time of each photograph — your phone's EXIF data handles this automatically.

This documentation serves a specific legal function: it establishes the pre-remediation condition of the damage at a point in time the insurance company cannot challenge. An adjuster who arrives seven days after a storm and attempts to attribute damage to pre-existing wear rather than the storm event is challenging the cause of loss — and your time-stamped photographs are the evidence that establishes when that damage appeared.

Photograph the interior ceiling and walls in any room below the affected roof area. Water staining, bubbling paint, and wet insulation document that the roof damage produced interior impact — which affects the scope of the claim beyond the roof itself.

Step 2 — Apply emergency tarping or temporary protection

After documentation is complete, emergency tarping or temporary protection is appropriate and necessary to prevent additional damage. Florida law and Citizens Insurance policy both permit and expect reasonable emergency mitigation — and both require that you document the mitigation itself with photographs before and after. The cost of emergency tarping is typically reimbursable under your policy's Additional Living Expenses or Emergency Mitigation provisions, provided you retain the contractor's invoice.

Do not sign an Assignment of Benefits agreement with any emergency contractor. Florida Statute 489.147 prohibits contractors from requiring AOB as a condition of emergency services. A contractor who presents an AOB as a condition of tarping your roof is violating Florida law — report them to the DBPR at 850-487-1395 and find a different contractor.

Step 3 — File the claim promptly

File your claim with your insurance carrier as soon as practical after the storm event. Florida Statute 627.70132 gives homeowners one year from the date of a hurricane to file a claim for hurricane-related roof damage — but this is a maximum, not a target. Claims filed promptly are processed faster, adjusters arrive while evidence is fresh, and the insurer's obligation to respond within statutory timeframes begins at the filing date.

When you file, have available: your policy number and declarations page, the date of the storm event, a description of the damage, and your documentation photographs. Do not estimate the damage scope or repair cost to the insurer at this stage — describe what you observed, not what you believe the repair will cost. The adjuster determines scope; you document condition. Licensed roofers in Palm Beach Gardens and across PBC provide the independent condition assessments worth having in hand before the adjuster arrives.

Step 4 — The insurance adjuster visit

After your claim is filed, the insurer assigns an adjuster — either a staff adjuster employed by the insurance company or an independent adjuster contracted by the insurer. Both are paid by the insurer. Their assessment of scope and cost directly affects the settlement offer the insurer makes — and their initial assessment is not always complete or accurate.

Be present during the adjuster's inspection. Walk the roof with them if it is safe to do so. Point out every area of documented damage — do not assume they will find everything. Ask the adjuster directly: what is being noted in the inspection report, what damage is being attributed to the storm event versus pre-existing conditions, and what the estimated scope includes. Take your own notes during the inspection.

Request the adjuster's estimate in writing before any settlement offer is made. You have the right under your policy to this documentation. The estimate is the basis for the settlement offer — reviewing it before accepting allows you to identify scope gaps and omissions before they become a dispute. For a complete understanding of licensed storm damage roof repair in Palm Beach County including what compliant repair and replacement scope looks like for every common PBC roof type, see our storm damage services page.

Step 5 — The settlement offer — ACV vs RCV

The settlement offer your insurer makes after the adjuster's inspection is either an Actual Cash Value (ACV) payment or a Replacement Cost Value (RCV) payment, depending on your policy. Understanding the difference is the most important financial literacy item in the entire claims process. The complete payout math is in ACV vs. RCV on Florida roof claims.

An ACV payment applies depreciation to the claimed repair or replacement cost based on the roof's age. A 15-year-old shingle roof with a replacement cost of $28,000 may receive an ACV settlement of $12,000–$15,000 after the insurer applies depreciation for age and condition. The gap between ACV and full replacement cost — the "recoverable depreciation" — is typically only released after the repair or replacement is completed and documented, under RCV policy structures.

If your policy is an ACV-only policy, the depreciation amount is not recoverable — your ACV settlement is the full settlement. If your policy is RCV, the process is two-stage: the initial ACV payment, followed by a supplemental recoverable depreciation payment after you document completed work. Confirm which structure your policy uses before accepting any settlement.

Step 6 — Supplemental claims for missed scope

A supplemental claim is filed when the original adjuster's assessment missed damage items, underestimated repair scope, or failed to account for code upgrade requirements that apply to any permitted repair in PBC's HVHZ. Supplemental claims are common and legitimate — not an aggressive tactic. In PBC's market specifically, the most common supplement items are: secondary water barrier replacement (required by FBC on any roof replacement but frequently omitted from adjuster estimates); code-required decking upgrades; and code-required fastener pattern upgrades to HVHZ specifications.

Supplemental claims can be filed after the initial settlement is accepted — they address scope items not included in the original settlement, not a re-evaluation of items already paid. The supplemental claim process requires documentation: a licensed CCC contractor's estimate identifying the missed scope items, photographs documenting those items, and a written explanation of why the items were not included in the original assessment. The full filing mechanics are covered in how to supplement a roof insurance claim in Florida.

Step 7 — Appraisal clause and DFS mediation for disputes

If you and your insurer cannot agree on the scope or value of a covered claim, two dispute mechanisms are available. The appraisal clause — present in most Florida homeowners policies — allows each party to hire an independent appraiser, who together select an umpire. The umpire's determination of the loss value is binding on both parties. The appraisal process is faster than litigation and produces a binding resolution in most disputes within 60–90 days.

Florida Department of Financial Services mediation is an alternative for Citizens Insurance policyholders — a free, non-binding mediation program administered by DFS that provides a neutral third party to facilitate settlement discussions. DFS mediation is available for disputes below $500,000 and must be requested within 90 days of receiving the insurer's final position on the claim.

For a complete explanation of how Citizens Insurance evaluates roof condition, remaining life, and claim settlements in Palm Beach County — including the specific documentation requirements for each stage of a Citizens claim — see our Citizens Insurance roof requirements guide.

  • Document damage with time-stamped photographs before any mitigation or repair.** Interior and exterior. Every visible damage location. This is your pre-mitigation evidence baseline — taken before it is challenging to establish.
  • Apply emergency tarping after documentation — keep the contractor invoice.** Emergency mitigation is reimbursable. Do not sign an AOB agreement. Any contractor requiring AOB as a condition of emergency service is violating Florida Statute 489.147.
  • File the claim promptly — within weeks, not months.** Florida's one-year hurricane claim filing window is a maximum, not a target. Early filing produces faster processing and preserves evidence integrity.
  • Be present during the adjuster's inspection — walk the roof with them.** Point out every documented damage location. Ask what is being noted and what is being attributed to storm vs pre-existing conditions. Take your own notes.
  • Request the adjuster's written estimate before accepting any settlement offer.** You have the right to this document. Review it against a licensed CCC contractor's independent assessment before accepting.
  • Confirm your policy's settlement basis — ACV or RCV — before the settlement offer arrives.** ACV-only policies apply non-recoverable depreciation. RCV policies release recoverable depreciation after documented completed work. Know which you have.
  • File supplemental claims for FBC-required scope items omitted from the adjuster's estimate.** Secondary water barrier, HVHZ decking upgrades, and correct fastener patterns are frequently missed. Supplements are legitimate and common.