Why claims get denied
Almost every denial we see falls into one of four categories.
- Insufficient damage — the adjuster found hits but not enough per square to call it a replacement.
- Wrong date of loss — the damage is real but attributed to a storm outside the policy period.
- Wear and tear / age — damage attributed to granule loss and UV rather than impact.
- Cosmetic damage exclusion — the endorsement excludes dents that don't affect function.
Step one: get the file
Request the full claim file in writing: the denial letter, the adjuster's report, the photo set, and the estimate (usually an Xactimate document). Read the test-square notes. Often the adjuster inspected two slopes on a six-slope roof, or measured a square on the least-damaged elevation.
Step two: re-inspection with your contractor on the roof
You can request a re-inspection and have your roofing contractor present. This is the single highest-yield step. We bring our own date-stamped photo documentation of every slope, chalk the hits, and walk the adjuster through what they missed. Soft metals — gutters, vents, flashing, downspouts — are the tiebreaker, because dented soft metal proves hail of a size that also damages shingles.
Step three: supplement, appraisal, or escalation
If the carrier agrees damage exists but underpays scope, we file a supplement with line-item documentation and code requirements. If they still disagree on the amount of loss, most Colorado policies contain an appraisal clause: each side names an appraiser, the two select an umpire, and a binding decision follows. It's much faster and cheaper than a lawsuit.
If the dispute is about coverage rather than amount, appraisal doesn't apply. That's when a public adjuster or an attorney who handles first-party property claims becomes the right call, and we'll say so rather than string you along.
What we do differently
We photograph every roof, every slope, before a claim is ever filed, and we attend adjuster meetings as a standard part of the job. A denial argued from a complete photo record is a very different conversation than one argued from memory.