Filing a Wind Damage Claim: The 72-Hour Timeline
From windstorm to filed claim — what to document, what to say to your adjuster, and what a Master Elite® damage report adds.
A Nor'easter rips through Bergen County with 60 mph gusts. You wake up to missing shingles, lifted ridge caps, and your neighbor's tree limb on your roof. Now what?
Filing a wind-damage claim has a timeline — and every step you take in the first 72 hours affects how smoothly the claim goes and whether you get the full scope of loss your policy covers. Miss a step, and you're either out of pocket for damage that should have been covered, or you're fighting a denial months later.
This guide walks through the process from storm impact to approved claim to completed replacement — and what LGM does at each step to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
The six phases of a wind-damage claim
- 0–24 hours
Document & mitigate
Photograph the damage from the ground (missing shingles, lifted edges, debris). If water is actively intruding, call us about tarping. Do not climb on the roof yourself — that's a liability issue if you're injured during a claim.
Action step: Take wide-angle + close-up photos. Note the date and time of the storm.
- 24–48 hours
Contact your insurance company
Call your insurer's claims line. Report the loss, provide the date and time of the storm, describe the visible damage, and mention any emergency mitigation (tarp) you've had done. They'll issue a claim number and assign an adjuster.
Action step: Write down your claim number, adjuster's name, and their direct phone number.
- 24–72 hours
Get a professional roof inspection
LGM's free wind-damage documentation includes high-resolution photos of every damage point, a written report you can send to your adjuster, and a preliminary scope of loss. This happens before the adjuster comes out — it's your documentation, not theirs.
Action step: Request inspection online or call. Typical turnaround: 24–48 hours.
- 72 hours–2 weeks
Adjuster inspection (LGM on-site)
Your insurance adjuster schedules a site visit. LGM meets them on the roof — pointing out damage they might miss (flashing, underlayment tears, hail bruising, wind-lifted tabs) and advocating for the full scope of loss, not the insurer's shortcut.
Action step: Coordinate the date with LGM and your adjuster. Be present if possible.
- 2–4 weeks
Scope agreement & claim approval
The adjuster writes their estimate. LGM reviews it line by line. If the scope is short (missing items, incorrect measurements, or aged-material depreciation that shouldn't apply), we file a supplement. Once agreed, your claim is approved.
Action step: LGM handles the supplement filing. You'll receive a check or direct-deposit payout.
- 4–8 weeks
Replacement scheduled
With claim approved, LGM schedules the install around your calendar, orders materials, and bills your insurance directly. You only owe your deductible at completion. Replacement typically takes 1–3 days depending on size and pitch.
Action step: Final walk-through with the crew lead. Magnetic nail sweep of the entire property.
What to say (and not say) to your adjuster
Insurance adjusters are not the enemy, but they work for the insurance company, not you. Their job is to pay valid claims — but also to close claims quickly and keep payouts in line with policy terms. What you say in the first call and the adjuster meeting matters.
DO say these things
- ✓ "The damage occurred during the [date] storm with sustained winds of [X mph] reported by the National Weather Service."
- ✓ "We've had an emergency tarp installed to prevent further water intrusion — here's the invoice."
- ✓ "I have a professional roof inspection report from a GAF Master Elite® contractor — I'll send it to you."
- ✓ "The contractor will be on-site during your inspection to walk the roof with you."
DON'T say these things
- ✗ "I'm not sure when the damage happened — it might have been the storm last week, or maybe the one before that."
- ✗ "The roof was already old / had some existing issues."
- ✗ "I didn't take any photos — I figured you'd see it when you came out."
- ✗ "Whatever you think is fair."
Be factual, be specific, be cooperative — and have documentation ready. That's what gets claims approved.
What a GAF Master Elite® damage report adds
Any roofer can walk your roof after a storm and tell you "yeah, that's damaged." A GAF Master Elite® contractor's damage report carries evidentiary weight with insurance carriers because the certification itself is a signal of credibility.
To hold Master Elite status, LGM has to maintain proof of insurance, minimum liability coverage, a clean BBB record, and continuing education hours — all verified annually by GAF. An adjuster knows a Master Elite contractor's report isn't padded or exaggerated because the contractor is staking their certification on it.
What LGM's damage report includes
- • High-resolution photos of every damaged area, geo-tagged and time-stamped
- • Measurements (total roof area in squares, affected area, pitch)
- • Itemized damage list (missing shingles, lifted tabs, torn flashing, damaged ridge caps, etc.)
- • Statement of storm date and NWS-reported wind speeds
- • Professional opinion: repair vs. replacement, with reasoning
- • Preliminary scope of loss (materials, labor, disposal, permits)
- • LGM's Master Elite ID (#1112549) and insurance certificates
This report goes to you, not the adjuster directly. You send it to your insurance company as supporting documentation for your claim.
Five common claim pitfalls
- 1. Waiting too long to file. Most policies require "prompt" notice of loss — file within 7 days of the storm. Waiting months weakens your claim because the insurer will question whether the damage is really from that storm.
- 2. Not mitigating further damage. Your policy requires you to prevent additional loss. If you have an active leak and don't tarp it, the insurer can deny coverage for interior damage that happened after the initial loss.
- 3. Agreeing to the first scope without review. Adjusters sometimes write scopes that omit items (underlayment replacement, drip edge, valley metal upgrades) or use "repair" pricing when replacement is warranted. Have LGM review it before you sign off.
- 4. Accepting ACV payout and forgetting to request RCV. Most policies pay Actual Cash Value (depreciated) up front, then Recoverable Depreciation after work is complete. Don't leave the RCV on the table — file the final invoice and photos to get the rest.
- 5. Hiring a storm chaser who "waives your deductible." That's insurance fraud in New Jersey. Your deductible is your responsibility. A contractor who offers to waive it is either padding the claim or planning to disappear before the work is done.
Related articles
Emergency Storm Tarp
Tarp protection while you file your claim and wait for the adjuster.
How to Spot a Storm Chaser
Why storm chasers are illegal in NJ and what a legitimate contractor looks like instead.
Insurance Claim Support
LGM's full-service claim handling — free estimate, adjuster meeting, direct billing.
Wind damage after a storm? Get a free Master Elite® estimate.
We'll document the damage, provide a written report, and walk the roof with your adjuster. Call (973) 707-2154 or request online.