After a major storm, NJ homeowners face two intense pressures: water actively damaging the interior, and the rush of contractors knocking on the door promising free roofs. This guide walks through what an experienced NJ roofer would tell you to do in the 72 hours after the storm, what to do over the next 30-60 days to handle the insurance claim, and how to avoid the storm-chaser scams that follow every major weather event.
We've worked NJ insurance claims since 2009 across every major carrier — State Farm, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, NJM, Travelers, Plymouth Rock, and the rest. The process below is what actually gets claims approved properly.
The first 72 hours after the storm
Stop active water intrusion first. Move furniture out of the affected room, place buckets/towels, and document everything with photos before you clean up. Photos taken in the first 24 hours are the strongest evidence for the insurance adjuster.
Call a licensed NJHIC contractor for emergency tarp — not a storm chaser who showed up at your door. A proper tarp gets screwed down through 1×3 furring strips into sound roof deck (not just nailed), perimeter sealed with roofing cement. Tarp service is typically reimbursable under your homeowners policy's emergency mitigation provisions, and a reputable contractor will document the work in adjuster-friendly format so you can submit it with the claim.
Don't sign anything in the first 72 hours except an emergency tarp work order. Especially do not sign an 'Assignment of Benefits' (AOB) with a contractor who hasn't even climbed your roof yet. AOB gives the contractor authority to handle your insurance claim directly — fine with a contractor you trust, dangerous with a stranger.
Photograph every elevation of your house from the ground if you can do so safely. Pay attention to lifted shingles, missing shingles, dented gutters, dented siding, broken windows. These ground-level photos are also evidence.
Understanding NJ homeowners policies on storm damage
What's covered. Sudden insurable events: wind damage, hail damage, fallen tree damage, fire, lightning. Most NJ homeowner policies cover these in whole or in part.
What's NOT covered. Age-related wear and tear. If your shingles are 25+ years old and starting to fail anyway, an insurance company can argue (sometimes successfully) that the storm only accelerated existing deterioration.
Wind deductibles. Many NJ policies have a separate wind/hail deductible — typically 1-2% of your dwelling coverage rather than a flat number. On a larger policy this can be a meaningful out-of-pocket amount before insurance pays anything, and on minor damage it can exceed the repair cost itself. Check your declarations page or call your agent.
Replacement cost vs. actual cash value. Replacement cost (RCV) policies pay full replacement (subject to deductible). Actual cash value (ACV) policies pay only the depreciated value of the damaged materials — which on a 15-year-old roof could be 40-50% less than the cost to replace.
Coverage limits. Most policies cap roof claims somewhere — read your policy. Some carriers (particularly with older roofs) write 'roof schedule' endorsements that limit payouts based on roof age. The endorsement may be in your policy without you knowing.
The claim process — step by step
Step 1 — Get a roofer to assess first, before you file. A reputable NJHIC contractor will climb your roof, photograph everything, and give you an honest assessment of whether the damage is claim-worthy. If we don't think you have a claim, we'll tell you so you don't waste your time filing and risk a record of denied claims.
Step 2 — File the claim with your carrier. Most have 24/7 phone or app filing. Be specific about the date of the storm event. The carrier assigns an adjuster.
Step 3 — Adjuster comes to your home. Typically within 5-14 days of filing. Your roofer should attend this meeting at no charge. Adjusters miss things — drip edge, ice & water shield, ridge vent, detached structure damage. Having a contractor on-site to walk the roof with them improves outcomes substantially.
Step 4 — Adjuster issues an initial estimate. Read it line-by-line. Compare it against your roofer's scope of work. If items are missing or pricing is below market rates, that's where a supplement gets filed.
Step 5 — Supplement filing (when needed). Your contractor documents the missing items with photos and code references and submits a written supplement to the carrier. Most NJ carriers approve well-documented supplements. This is where having an experienced NJ contractor matters — they know what code-required items adjusters routinely miss.
Step 6 — Work begins. With Assignment of Benefits or direct billing arrangement, the contractor bills the carrier directly. Homeowner pays only the deductible.
Step 7 — Final inspection and depreciation release. Once work is complete and inspected, the carrier releases the remaining 'recoverable depreciation' (the difference between ACV and RCV on RCV policies). Homeowner is paid in full minus deductible.
Storm chasers and how to spot them
Door-to-door canvassing within hours of a storm is a red flag. Legitimate NJ contractors don't knock on every door in a storm-damaged neighborhood. They get calls from existing customers, referrals, and Google searches.
Out-of-state license plates and brand magnetic signs. Storm chasers move from state to state following weather events. They show up in NJ, work for 60-90 days, then disappear. Ask for NJHIC license number AND a NJ business address with at least 2 years of operation.
Promises of 'free roof' / 'we'll pay your deductible'. This is insurance fraud. The contractor agrees to inflate the claim to cover your deductible. You sign documents misrepresenting the loss to the insurance company. If discovered, you face fraud charges and insurance cancellation.
Pressure to sign AOB before they've climbed your roof. Assignment of Benefits gives the contractor authority to negotiate directly with your insurance carrier. With a trusted contractor, AOB simplifies the process. With a stranger you just met, it's an opening to fraud or padded billing.
Refusing to provide proof of insurance. A legitimate NJ roofing contractor carries full general liability and workers' comp coverage. Ask for the COI — they should email it within an hour. No COI = walk away.
What code-required items adjusters routinely miss
Drip edge. NJ code R905.2.8.5 requires drip edge at eaves and rakes. Many older NJ roofs don't have it; adjusters often forget to add it to the scope. Should be supplemented on a typical replacement.
Ice & water shield to current code. R905.1.2 requires ice & water shield extending 24" past the inside wall plane at every eave. Older roofs often have just a thin strip at eaves or none at all. Bringing it to code on a replacement adds scope that scales with roof size.
Ridge vent. Manufacturer shingle warranties require proper ridge ventilation. If your existing roof has only a few static vents or none, the supplement should include continuous ridge vent installation.
Synthetic underlayment. Older roofs used 15 lb felt; modern best practice is synthetic underlayment (GAF Tiger Paw or similar). Adjusters sometimes price for felt; supplement to synthetic.
New flashing — step, valley, counter. Every detail flashing should be new on a replacement. Reusing old flashing voids the manufacturer warranty.