How to File a Roof Insurance Claim in Georgia

There are 7 steps: 1) Document all damage with photos/video before touching anything. 2) File your claim within 72 hours — most Georgia policies enforce this strictly. 3) Schedule a free professional roof inspection from a licensed Georgia contractor. 4) Have your contractor present at the adjuster meeting to catch missed damage. 5) Review the adjuster's written estimate against your contractor's report. 6) File supplements for any damage found once work begins. 7) Submit your final invoice to release the RCV depreciation holdback. Each step protects your payout.

A named-storm deductible is triggered when the National Hurricane Center assigns a name to a storm. In Chatham County, this replaces your standard flat-dollar deductible with a percentage of your home's insured value — typically 2–5%. On a $400,000 insured home, a 3% named-storm deductible is $12,000 out of pocket before insurance pays anything. Most coastal Georgia policies issued since 2018 include this provision. Verify your policy's language and deductible trigger before storm season.

Yes — this is one of the most impactful things you can do. Without a contractor present, adjusters routinely miss bruised shingles from hail, lifted tab bonds that re-sealed in Georgia's heat, code-required upgrades like drip edge and ice-and-water shield, and damaged pipe boots. Talya Roofing attends adjuster meetings at no cost across Savannah, Pooler, Richmond Hill, and Hinesville.

RCV (Replacement Cost Value) pays the full cost to replace your roof in two rounds — an initial payment minus depreciation, then the depreciation holdback after work is complete. ACV (Actual Cash Value) pays only the depreciated value, with no second payment. On a 10-year-old roof, ACV might pay 50% of replacement cost, leaving the homeowner responsible for the other half. ACV policies are increasingly common in coastal Georgia. Check your declarations page for the specific language.

Filing to first payment typically takes 2–4 weeks for straightforward claims: 1–3 days to file, 5–14 days for adjuster visit, 10–30 days for the first payment. Supplement filings add 2–3 weeks. The final depreciation holdback releases 15–30 days after submitting the completed work invoice. Total from storm to final payment: 6–10 weeks on standard claims. Georgia law requires insurers to acknowledge claims within 10 business days and pay or deny within 60 days of receiving proof of loss.