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RoofingCat.com

Connecticut Storm Damage & Insurance Claims Resource Center

After the storm, get it documented properly

Emergency tarping around the clock, a hands-on detailed roof inspection, and a photo report you can hand straight to your adjuster — not a ten-minute drone flyover.

Call (860) 333-8802

Active leak or storm damage right now? We answer 24/7.

Emergency tarping and same-day damage documentation across Connecticut.

Call (860) 333-8802

Why our documentation holds up

Three things that decide whether a storm claim is funded properly

Carriers fund what is documented in the format they estimate in, required by code, and physically witnessed on the roof. These are the three places Connecticut storm claims are usually won or lost.

Carrier-format scoping

Xactimate® line-item estimates

We scope damage in Xactimate-compatible line items — the same estimating language your carrier and its independent adjuster use.

  • Tear-off, starter course, ridge cap, step and counter flashing, drip edge, underlayment and dump fees each written as their own line item.
  • Unit costs presented in the carrier's own format, so there is no pricing argument and no back-and-forth over a lump-sum bid.
  • Supplements submitted line by line with photo evidence attached to the item it supports.
CT code compliance

Coastal code items carriers leave out

Shoreline and river valley work is written to Connecticut's adopted code and to high-wind fastening, so mandatory items cannot be quietly dropped from the scope.

  • 130 mph ASTM D7158 Class H rated shingles with the manufacturer's high-wind nailing pattern on exposed coastal slopes.
  • IRC R905.1.2 ice barrier carried from the eave edge to at least 24 inches inside the heated interior wall line.
  • Metal drip edge at eaves and rakes, plus decking deflection and fastener-hold checks that trigger sheathing replacement.
Inspection first

Hands-on inspection before you file

We never file blind. The roof is inspected on the ladder first, then we meet your carrier's field adjuster up there for a joint walkthrough.

  • Creased tabs, unsealed thermal strips, chalked hail test squares and attic moisture readings documented before a claim is opened.
  • Joint on-roof walkthrough so legitimate wind and hail damage is physically witnessed, not dismissed as wear and tear.
  • If the roof does not show storm damage, we tell you that instead of pushing a claim.

Xactimate® is a registered trademark of Verisk Analytics. RoofingCat is an independent licensed Connecticut roofing contractor and is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, Verisk or any insurance carrier. We document physical roof damage and price repair scopes — we are not a public adjuster and do not interpret policies or negotiate coverage.

Storm checker

Was your address hit?

Connecticut storm & wind checker

Check recent severe weather at your address

Connecticut policies typically give you 12 months from the date of loss to file a storm claim. Document the damage now — once a season passes, carriers routinely deny late wind and hail claims.

By submitting, you consent to receive text/call updates about your estimate from RoofingCat at the number provided. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out.

Inspection methods

Drone flyover vs. hands-on detailed inspection

The single biggest factor in how a Connecticut storm claim is written is who went on the roof and what they actually touched. Here is the difference, line by line.

Carrier drone or ladder-only inspection compared with a RoofingCat hands-on detailed inspection
ComparisonCarrier Drone / Ladder-Only InspectionRoofingCat Hands-On Roof Inspection
Inspection method & scopeA 10-minute drone flyover or a ladder set at one corner. Photos from 40 feet up, no one walks the field of the roof.Boots on every accessible slope, chalked test squares, ridge-to-eave walk, attic and interior check, drone used only to supplement.
What it actually checksObvious missing shingles, tarps, and debris visible from above. Surface-level imagery only.Seal-strip bond by hand lift, crease lines, mat integrity, granule loss per test square, flashing, valleys, penetrations, decking feel underfoot, attic moisture and staining.
Critical damage it typically missesUnsealed shingle tabs, fractured fiberglass mats under intact-looking tabs, hidden hail bruising, soft or delaminated decking, failed step and counter flashing, missing ice & water barrier at the eaves required by Connecticut code.Each of those is tested by hand, chalked, photographed with a date stamp and scale reference, and written into a slope-by-slope findings report.
Typical outcome for the homeownerA small cosmetic repair allowance — often a couple hundred dollars — that does not cover code-required underlayment, decking or a matching slope.A documented, code-referenced repair or replacement scope submitted to your carrier, so the decision is made on evidence rather than a thumbnail photo.

Swipe sideways to see both columns on a phone. Outcomes vary by policy, carrier and the date of loss — no contractor can promise a claim result.

Homeowner warning

The $200 settlement trap: why drone-only inspections cost homeowners thousands

Why the small check gets written

Carriers and the third-party ladder-assist companies they hire are paid to move through a high volume of properties. A drone flyby or a single ladder snapshot produces a handful of overhead images, an isolated count of visibly displaced tabs, and a $150–$250 cosmetic repair allowance. The file closes fast, the inspector moves to the next address, and the roof is never walked.

What a drone physically cannot see

  • Broken thermal seal strips — the tab looks flat from above but the bond line is gone, so the next 40 mph gust takes it.
  • Lifted tabs that settle back down between gusts and only reveal themselves to a hand lift.
  • Microscopic fiberglass tears in the shingle mat behind an intact-looking surface.
  • Water infiltration into attic sheathing, visible only from the underside.
  • Flashing delamination at chimneys, sidewalls and skylight curbs.

How isolated tabs get classified as a minor patch

Most carrier estimating guidelines treat a small number of visibly damaged shingles as a spot repair. That reasoning only holds if the surrounding field is still intact. On a slope that took sustained uplift, the bond lines can be broken across the whole plane while only three or four tabs actually blew off. Patching four shingles on a slope whose seal strips have failed leaves the homeowner with a roof that fails again in the next storm — after the claim has closed.

Already got a lowball check?

  1. 1. Don't treat it as a final settlement. Ask your carrier in writing whether the payment is an initial scope payment and whether supplements can be submitted.
  2. 2. Request a re-inspection, and ask specifically that it not be a drone-only review.
  3. 3. Have RoofingCat climb the roof and document physical shingle failure, decking condition and Connecticut code requirements before that re-inspection happens.
Got a Low Settlement Offer? Request a Second Look Damage Documentation Audit

Damage guide

Actual storm damage vs. wear and tear

Storm damage — sudden, directional

  • Wind uplift creasing

    A hard horizontal fold line across the tab where it was bent back and dropped. The fiberglass mat is fractured along that crease even when the shingle looks seated again.

  • Torn seal strips

    The thermal adhesive bond has separated. Lift the tab by hand and it comes up with no resistance and no stringing adhesive — that slope is no longer wind rated.

  • Hail mat bruising

    Round impact marks with granules knocked clear, a soft spot that gives under thumb pressure, and often a matching dent in soft metals such as vents, gutter aprons and flashing.

  • Displaced metal & penetrations

    Lifted drip edge, bent ridge cap, torn step flashing, cracked pipe boots and skylight curb separation.

Wear & tear — gradual, uniform

  • Even granule thinning

    Loss spread evenly across every slope, including the ones sheltered from the storm direction, with no sharp fresh edges.

  • Curling and cupping

    Tab edges turning up from age, UV and an under-ventilated attic. Usually worst on the sun-facing slope, which is the opposite pattern to wind damage.

  • Brittle, cracked tabs

    Thermal-split cracks running vertically on a roof at or past its service life — an age condition, not an impact condition.

  • Installation shortcomings

    High or overdriven nails, missing starter course, absent ice barrier. Not storm damage, but worth documenting because it changes what a proper rebuild costs.

Carriers separate these two categories for a reason: storm damage is a covered peril and wear is not. The problem is that a photograph from 40 feet up flattens the difference. A creased tab and a curled tab look nearly identical from a drone — but one is an impact failure and the other is age.

That is why our inspection is physical. We lift tabs, chalk test squares, photograph with a scale reference and a date stamp, and note the wind direction pattern across slopes. Evidence beats opinion when a file is reviewed.

Professional emergency roof tarping on a Connecticut home, with heavy-duty tarp battened down over the damaged slope for weather protection

Adjuster day

Why you want RoofingCat on the ladder when the adjuster arrives

Damage gets pointed at, not argued about

An adjuster has a limited window per property. When we're on the roof with them, every crease, broken bond line and bruised test square is shown and photographed on the spot, not disputed by email three weeks later.

Structural integrity gets checked

Soft, spongy or delaminated decking is found by walking the roof and by looking at the underside from the attic. It changes the rebuild scope, and it is almost never caught from the air.

Connecticut code gets documented

Connecticut's adopted residential code requires an ice barrier at eaves in ice-prone areas, proper step and counter flashing, and continuous drip edge. When a slope is replaced, that work is required — so it belongs in the scope, documented at the inspection.

To be explicit about our lane: RoofingCat is a licensed and insured roofing contractor, not a public adjuster. We do not interpret your policy, negotiate coverage, or represent you against your carrier. We document the physical condition of your roof and price the work correctly. Those are two different jobs, and anyone blurring them is doing you no favors.

Claim roadmap

Your step-by-step claim roadmap

  1. 1. Make it safe and stop the water

    Call (860) 333-8802 for emergency tarping. Photograph interior damage before you clean anything up, and keep every receipt for temporary work.

  2. 2. Report the loss to your carrier

    Report promptly and note the date of loss. Ask for your claim number, your adjuster's name, and the date the adjuster will be on site.

  3. 3. Book the detailed inspection

    We climb the roof, chalk test squares, lift tabs, check the attic, and build a dated photo set with slope-by-slope findings — free, and yours to keep.

  4. 4. Meet the adjuster on site, together

    Ask your carrier to schedule a physical ladder inspection and let us be there. Findings are walked, seen and photographed while everyone is on the roof.

  5. 5. Review the scope, line by line

    Compare the carrier's scope against our documented findings and code-required items. Where something is missing, we supply the documentation for a supplement request.

  6. 6. Build it right, then close the file

    Permit, tear off, inspect the decking, install code-required underlayment and flashing, and hand over photos, warranty registration and the final invoice.

One honest caveat: nobody can promise you an approved claim. Coverage depends on your policy, the date of loss and the adjuster's findings. What we control is the quality of the evidence.

Re-inspection support

Exactly what to ask your carrier for a re-inspection

Your re-inspection request checklist

  • "I'm requesting a physical ladder-climb re-inspection of my roof — not a drone-only review." Put it in writing to your claims representative and reference your claim number.
  • "I'd like my roofing contractor present, on the roof, with the adjuster." Give them RoofingCat's name and number and ask for a scheduled window.
  • "Please review the scope against Connecticut building code requirements." Name the items: the IRC R905.1.2 ice barrier at eaves, proper step and counter flashing, and continuous drip edge.
  • "Please confirm whether the payment issued is an initial scope payment and how supplements are submitted." Ask for the answer in writing.

The documentation we bring

  • Date-stamped, chalk-mapped 100 sq ft test squares on each slope, with impact counts recorded per square.
  • Macro photographs of fractured fiberglass mats and delaminated seal strips, shot with a scale reference.
  • Attic underside moisture readings and daylight penetration scans at penetrations, valleys and eaves.
  • A scope-ready itemized PDF report delivered to you and, at your request, to your adjuster.
Request Re-Inspection Support & Damage Documentation Audit

Documentation and scope pricing only. Coverage decisions rest with your carrier.

Proof

What a hands-on re-inspection actually changes

Real Connecticut case study

How a $214 repair check became a full roof approval

Initial payout · $214 Documented outcome · $18,600 scope

1. The initial claim & drone inspection

  • High wind event in Middlesex County.
  • The carrier sent a third-party ladder-assist service. They flew a drone for twelve minutes and took photos from the driveway.
  • The homeowner received a settlement check for $214 to replace "two isolated wind-torn shingle tabs." An inexperienced roofer told them that's just what insurance pays.

2. The RoofingCat hands-on verification

  • Physical roof walk: 42 shingles on the windward slope had broken thermal seal lines and creased fiberglass mats — invisible from 30 feet in the air.
  • Attic inspection: water staining around the rafters where wind-driven rain was forced under unsealed shingles.
  • Code compliance: Connecticut requirements documented, including the IRC R905.1.2 ice barrier mandate and continuous drip edge.

3. The re-inspection result

  • RoofingCat met the carrier's adjuster on the ladder with chalked test squares and moisture meter readings.
  • The carrier issued a revised supplement approving a complete roof replacement — an $18,600 scope, covering the homeowner minus their standard deductible.

One project's outcome. Every claim is decided on its own policy, date of loss and adjuster findings — no contractor can promise a result.

Sample re-inspection request letter

Fill in the bracketed details and send it to your claim desk. Plain, factual, and non-adversarial.

Subject: Request for Joint On-Site Re-Inspection – Claim #[Claim Number] – [Property Address]

Dear [Adjuster Name / Claims Department],

I am writing regarding the recent inspection and initial estimate for Claim #[Claim Number] resulting from the storm event on [Date of Loss].

Following the initial remote/ladder-line evaluation, I had a licensed Connecticut roofing contractor (RoofingCat) conduct a hands-on physical roof and attic detailed verification. During this inspection, several structural and functional damage items were physically documented that were not visible from the preliminary aerial or distance photos:

1. Widespread broken thermal seal strips and wind-uplift creasing on the [North/South/East/West] slopes.
2. Compromised fiberglass matting beneath granule surfaces.
3. Underside decking moisture and water intrusion documented in the attic space.
4. Connecticut Building Code requirements (including IRC R905.1.2 ice barrier protection and drip edge installation) necessary to restore the roof to code compliance.

I respectfully request a formal on-site joint re-inspection with a field adjuster who will physically climb the roof alongside my chosen roofing contractor to review the chalk-marked test squares and photographic evidence.

Please contact me or my contractor at [Homeowner Phone] to coordinate a date and time. I have attached the contractor's initial inspection photo report for your file.

Thank you for your prompt assistance.

Sincerely,
[Homeowner Name]
[Property Address]
[Phone Number]

Provided as a convenience. It is not legal advice, and RoofingCat does not act as a public adjuster.

Homeowner claim questions

RoofingCat provides structural damage verification and contractor estimates. We do not provide legal advice or public adjusting services.

Documentation tools

Carrier-ready professional documentation, built on your roof

Inside the carrier-ready inspection report packet

A multi-page PDF built during your inspection, formatted so an adjuster can work straight from it.

  1. Cover

    Aerial footprint, pitch, slope orientation, date of loss and certified storm radar correlation.

  2. Section 1

    Chalked 100 sq ft test-square photos with numbered damage counters.

  3. Section 2

    Macro failure shots: thermal adhesive failure, uplift creasing and fiberglass tearing.

  4. Section 3

    Attic moisture scan data, rafter staining documentation and wood moisture percentages.

  5. Section 4

    Connecticut code itemization: IRC R905.1.2 ice barrier, flashing and continuous drip edge specs.

Download Sample Inspection Report (PDF)

Objective contractor documentation of physical damage and building code requirements — not legal or public adjusting services.

Request your packet & ladder inspection

Tell us which slopes took the hit and we'll document them first.

Damaged slopes

What happens next — your claims calendar & paperwork guide

A typical Connecticut storm claim timeline, and the document you should expect to have in hand at each stage. Carriers vary, so treat these as working targets.

  1. Day 0

    Damage occurs & first notice of loss

    • Call RoofingCat for emergency tarping and temporary weatherproofing.
    • File the initial claim with your carrier and note the exact date of loss.

    Paperwork to expect

    Claim number and assignment notice.

  2. Day 2–3

    Carrier scheduling

    • The carrier assigns a third-party ladder company or a field adjuster.
    • Request a joint ladder inspection with your roofing contractor present.

    Paperwork to expect

    Adjuster contact and appointment window.

  3. Day 5–7

    The joint ladder inspection

    • RoofingCat walks the roof alongside the adjuster.
    • We chalk and photograph 100 sq ft test squares on each damaged slope.
    • Attic decking is inspected for moisture and staining.

    Paperwork to expect

    Adjuster field notes and contractor photo summary.

  4. Day 10–14

    Scope & estimate delivery

    • The carrier issues an itemized statement of loss — often missing code items or unsealed tabs.
    • RoofingCat reviews every line item and submits a code supplement with IRC R905.1.2 ice barrier and drip edge proof.

    Paperwork to expect

    Summary of loss and first check (ACV — actual cash value).

  5. Day 18–21

    Supplemental approval & build date

    • The carrier approves the supplement and the final replacement scope is settled.
    • Your build is scheduled with RoofingCat.

    Paperwork to expect

    Revised estimate and depreciation release upon completion.

Free detailed inspection

Request your hands-on storm inspection

Request a storm damage inspection

Hands-on, ladder-based, chalk-and-camera documentation of every slope — not a ten-minute drone flyover. Free, and yours to keep whether or not you hire us.

Where are you in the process?

RoofingCat is a licensed and insured roofing contractor, not a public adjuster. We document conditions and price the repair scope — your carrier decides coverage.

What happens next

We call to schedule, climb the roof with chalk and a camera, check the attic, and send you the full photo set and findings report — whether or not you hire us.

Already have an adjuster date?

Tell us the date and we'll aim to be on the roof at the same time. Call (860) 333-8802 if it's within 48 hours.

Licensed, insured, local

Connecticut residential and commercial roofing, with crews across Hartford, Middlesex, New London, Tolland and Windham counties.

FAQ

Connecticut storm claim questions, answered

How long do I have to file a storm damage roof claim in Connecticut?

Most Connecticut homeowner policies give you twelve months from the date of loss to file a wind or hail claim, and some carriers allow longer. Check your own policy language, because once a season passes carriers routinely deny late claims for lack of documentation.

Is a drone inspection good enough for an insurance claim?

A drone shows what the roof looks like from above. It cannot lift a shingle tab to test whether the thermal seal strip is still bonded, feel soft decking underfoot, or find hail bruising in the mat. Those are the findings that usually determine whether a claim is written as a small repair or a full slope.

What does storm damage look like versus normal wear and tear?

Storm damage is sudden and directional: creased or folded tabs on the windward slopes, torn seal strips, fresh granule loss with a sharp edge, bent or displaced flashing, and round hail bruises that feel soft and give slightly under a thumb. Wear and tear is gradual and uniform: even granule thinning across all slopes, curling or cupping from age and attic heat, and brittle, cracked tabs on a roof past its service life.

Should RoofingCat be on the roof when my adjuster arrives?

Yes, whenever you can arrange it. An adjuster typically has a limited window per property. Having your contractor on the ladder means physical shingle failure, flashing conditions and Connecticut code requirements such as the eave ice barrier are pointed out and photographed while the adjuster is standing there, instead of being argued about afterwards.

I got a $200 repair check from my insurer. Should I cash it?

Do not treat a first check as a final settlement until the scope has been reviewed. In most policies an initial payment is an actual cash value payment on the scope written so far, and supplements can be requested when additional damage or code-required work is documented. Ask for a re-inspection and get the roof documented by hand before you agree the file is closed.

Does Connecticut building code require an ice and water barrier?

Connecticut adopts the International Residential Code, which requires an ice barrier membrane at eaves in regions subject to ice forming along the eaves. When a roof is torn off and replaced, that code-required underlayment has to be installed. Documenting it matters because code-required work is frequently left out of a quick repair scope.

Is RoofingCat a public adjuster?

No. RoofingCat is a licensed and insured Connecticut roofing contractor. We document roof conditions, photograph findings, and price the repair or replacement scope. We do not negotiate coverage, interpret your policy, or represent you in the claim. Your carrier and its adjuster decide what is covered.

Do you tarp roofs after hours?

Yes. Emergency tarping is available around the clock at (860) 333-8802. Keep your receipts, because reasonable emergency measures to prevent further damage are normally expected by carriers.

Storm just came through?

Request a free detailed inspection and we'll document the damage properly before weather or a cleanup crew erases the evidence.

Call (860) 333-8802
(860) 333-8802
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