How to Get a Free Roof After a Storm (Spoiler: You Don’t!)

This is a trick question, you don’t! The idea of getting a “free roof” through your homeowner’s insurance after storm damage is a persistent myth in Metro Detroit—one that can lead homeowners down a dangerous path. No matter what you’ve heard from “that neighbor” or “Uncle Fred,” a truly free roof replacement without paying your deductible simply doesn’t exist without potentially breaking the law.

The reality is this: you absolutely could be entitled to your insurance company paying for the full cost of a roof replacement once you pay your deductible. This happens all the time when your roofing system has suffered irreparable or significant damage from a covered event.So, How Does the Insurance Claim Process Work Legitimately in Southeast Michigan?

The key to having your roof legitimately replaced through your insurance company is proving actual damage from a qualifying event. This event is typically a severe storm, hail damage in Metro Detroit, or an internal home event like a fire.

Step 1: Emergency Temporary Repairs

If you experience water entering your home, your immediate first step is to stop the water with emergency temporary repairs. Many experienced roofing companies in Metro Detroit, including Kanga Roof, offer emergency repairs with same-day dispatch. It is important to be aware that these emergency repairs are usually billed at an hourly emergency rate or with set pricing. We are happy to offer these emergency services at Kanga Roof should this happen to you.

Step 2: Get a Professional, Insurance-Experienced Inspection

Once you get the water intrusion stopped, your next critical step is to call a qualified roofing expert out to inspect the damage. You must look for a roofing inspector who has significant experience with insurance restoration claims in Michigan. Why? Because not all damage qualifies for a full replacement. Working with a qualified expert from a reputable company like Kanga Roof will save you time and headaches on a claim that may never be approved.

If the inspector believes the damage is only repairable and provides a rough cost, this will inform your decision on whether making a claim with your insurance company is even worth it.

Step 3: Review Your Insurance Policy (The Deductible Trap)

We would strongly recommend reviewing your Michigan homeowner’s insurance policy before ever making a claim so you know exactly what your deductible is. Pay special attention to any clauses about storm damage. It is increasingly common for policies to carry two different deductible rates: one for standard claims and a separate, higher deductible for exterior weather-related damages. Some of these new deductibles can be anywhere from 1% to 5% of your home’s value.

Carrying a large deductible and only qualifying for a small repair can be a double whammy: you have a claim on file (which can sometimes impact future premiums) and you still end up paying for the work out of pocket.

Step 4: Make the Claim and Select Your Contractor

If you follow the first three steps, and the inspector believes you have legitimate storm damage that should qualify for a full replacement, then yes, you absolutely should make a claim with your insurance company. They will pay for the replacement of your roof, siding, and/or gutters, less your deductible.

It is important at this point to pick the right contractor to do the work. You are not required to use the contractor your insurance may recommend or the door-knocker who was going through the neighborhood after a storm. Your strong recommendation, echoed by industry experts like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), is to pick an established roofing contractor who has been around for 10 years or more and can demonstrate experience navigating homeowners through roofing claims and replacements. Always ask for long-term guarantees from the contractor to protect yourself in the event there is an issue with the installation.

A Kanga Roof Customer Success Story:

“I called Four Seasons Kango Roof due to an issue that my homeowners insurance was covering. Mason, my sales rep, came out immediately the next day and put all of our fears at ease! His friendliness, combined with his knowledge of the process was a God send! He helped us speak with insurance and got it all handled! Deanna, our Customer Care Coordinator, was amazing as well! Not only did she get to work right away making sure our needs were met, but she also had us scheduled in no time and made sure our materials were exactly what we wanted and needed! She also sent us the best crew in the company, at least in my opinion! Johnny, our Crew Foreman, was on site from start to finish and made sure the guys were always on point! They made quick work of our large roof and made clean up look like the industry standard! The whole crew was amazing! They went the exra mile to ensure we were always happy at peace! Everyone was very respectful and didn’t seem to care at all when I stepped out a few times to catch a peak of the progress, unlike a lot of companies these days! They made sure to cover everything to keep it free of debris and took extra special care with my garden! Dylan, our Production Manager, made sure to keep in constant contact with me throughout the day! He asked questions and made sure that I was happy with the entire job before everyone left! Overall, I’d give Kango Roof a 10 star if I could! By far the best company to work with and I could not recommend them more! Thanks guys for all your hard work!” – Andrea Jacques, Chesterfield, MI (Source: Kanga Roof Google Review)

Why Do People Claim They Got a “Free Roof” (The Truth About Insurance Fraud)

There are two different reasons this happens:

1. The Mistake: The friend or neighbor is simply mistaken. They did pay their deductible but rationalized it as the insurance company paying 90% of the project, so “the insurance company paid for my new roof!” There is no harm in this; it often makes people feel like they got a great deal.
2. The Fraud: The other situation is more serious: either the homeowner, the contractor, or both were committing insurance fraud. In the state of Michigan, it is illegal for a homeowner to profit from an insurance claim (Source: Michigan Penal Code). It is especially illegal for a contractor to fraudulently claim they received a deductible from a homeowner when they never did (Source: Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs). For the contractor, this puts their building and business license in jeopardy; for the homeowner, it can cause major legal issues.

In our experience at Kanga Roof, if your contractor is willing to lie to the insurance company, what are they willing to lie to you about? Your homeowner’s insurance is there to protect you in the event something unforeseen happens, not to be profited off of by you or your contractor. The risk is simply not worth it.

We really hope this helps clear up some of the mystery surrounding the wives’ tales we all hear about insurance companies and “free roofing or siding replacements” in Metro Detroit.

If you believe you have experienced damages like the ones we described, our team of Metro Detroit roofing experts would love to help. Whether it’s with the initial repairs to stop the water, the evaluation to determine if it makes sense to make a claim, or with the replacement project, we want to help. Plus, it will all be backed by our industry-leading guarantees and award-winning team.

To schedule your repairs or inspection, give our team a call at 586-566-0308 or schedule it yourself online at https://kanga-roof.com/schedule-inspection-now/.

I hope you gained some value from this article, and as always, I hope you have a Kanga-Rific day!

Sincerely,

Bill Burkhardt, Jr.