By John-Hayden Allen · Pro4mance Roofing · London, KY · Updated June 2026
I have been doing this since 2014 in Laurel County — London, Corbin, and every hollow in between. In twelve years I have been on more roofs the morning after a hailstorm than I can count, and I have walked more homeowners through the insurance claim process than I ever expected when I got my license. What follows is exactly what I tell every customer sitting at their kitchen table: the straight facts on what is claimable, what is not, what Kentucky law says about what I can and cannot do for you, and how to get a fair settlement without getting taken advantage of — by a storm chaser or your own carrier.
Standard Kentucky homeowner's policies cover sudden and accidental physical loss. In practice, that means three things for roofs: hail impact, wind damage, and storm-related falling objects (tree limbs, branches). If a hailstorm on a Tuesday night bruises your shingles, cracks your ridge cap, or dents every piece of step flashing — that is a covered loss. If straight-line winds peel back a field of shingles or blow your ridge vent off — also covered.
What is not covered: normal wear and tear, aging, granule loss from age, pre-existing cracks, improper installation, or maintenance neglect. Adjusters are trained to look for these exclusions. I have watched carriers attempt to attribute clear hail strikes to "blistering" or "mechanical damage" to avoid paying out. That is why documentation matters so much — and why getting a professional inspection before you file is not optional, it is essential.
Not sure if what you saw on your roof is hail damage or just age? Read our post on how to spot the signs of hail damage before you call your carrier.
Your carrier is going to ask for the date of loss. Do not guess. The National Weather Service keeps historical storm records going back decades — go to weather.gov, pull up the archived data for your county, and get the exact date of the hailstorm or wind event. NOAA's storm events database also shows hail size by county. Screenshot both. A specific date backed by NWS data shuts down the "we can't confirm a storm event" denial reason before it starts.
This is the step most homeowners skip, and it costs them. Call a licensed Kentucky roofing contractor — not a storm chaser from out of state who showed up the day after the hail — and get a written inspection report. At Pro4mance, our inspection includes photos, a written scope, satellite measurements, and notes on every damaged component: shingles, ridge cap, pipe boots, gutters, vents. That report becomes your evidence package when you file, and it gives you a baseline if the adjuster tries to minimize the scope.
We offer free inspections for storm damage across London, Corbin, and Laurel County. Request yours here and we will typically be on your roof within 24 hours.
This is important — and it is Kentucky law. Under KRS § 367.628, a roofing contractor cannot file, negotiate, or settle an insurance claim on your behalf. A contractor also cannot waive, absorb, or rebate your deductible — that is illegal in Kentucky and any contractor who offers to "cover your deductible" is committing insurance fraud. If they get caught, you can be implicated too.
You, the homeowner, file the claim. Call your carrier's claims line or go through their online portal. Have your policy number, the storm date, and your inspection report ready. State clearly: "I am reporting storm damage to my roof from [date]. I have a written inspection report from a licensed contractor." Most major carriers in Kentucky — State Farm, Allstate, Nationwide, Farmers, USAA — will assign a claim number and schedule an adjuster visit within a week or two.
Our role at Pro4mance is to provide you the inspection, prepare the documentation, and be present with you during the adjuster meeting. That is the legal line — and it is the right way to do it. Learn more about our insurance claim support service and what that process looks like.
When the adjuster comes out, have your contractor there. I cannot stress this enough. An adjuster works for the insurance company — not you. They are not trying to cheat you, but their job is to scope damage conservatively. Having a licensed roofer who knows every component, every line item in Xactimate (the software most carriers use to estimate), and every common carrier short-cut on-site changes the dynamic completely.
At Pro4mance, when I am on a roof with an adjuster, I point out damage to every component they walk past: pipe boot collars, ridge ventilation, step and counter flashing, valley metal, drip edge. Those details add up. The difference between a thorough adjuster scope and a rushed one can be thousands of dollars in your settlement.
Most Kentucky homeowner policies carry a wind/hail deductible of $1,000 to $2,500, though percentage-based deductibles (1–2% of dwelling value) are becoming more common. You will pay that out of pocket — period. Any contractor who says otherwise is breaking the law.
Check whether your policy pays Actual Cash Value (ACV) or Replacement Cost Value (RCV). ACV policies deduct for depreciation — meaning on a 15-year-old roof, you might only get 40–50% of the replacement cost up front. RCV policies pay the full cost of replacement; the carrier issues an initial ACV check and then releases a "recoverable depreciation" payment after the work is completed. Make sure you understand which policy you have before you sign a contract with anyone.
When you receive the carrier's estimate (called a "scope of loss"), compare it against the contractor's inspection report line by line. Missing items are common — carriers frequently omit drip edge replacement, code-required ice and water shield, or full gutter replacement when gutters are dented. If items are missing, your contractor can submit a supplement — a written request backed by photos and code references asking the carrier to add the overlooked items to the approved scope.
We handle supplements routinely. It is not "fighting" your insurance company — it is correcting their math with documentation.
Once the scope is agreed and you have a signed contract with a licensed Kentucky roofing contractor, the work can begin. Your carrier releases the ACV payment up front; recoverable depreciation is released after the work is complete and you submit a final invoice. Keep copies of everything.
The most common denial reasons I see in Laurel County and across southeastern Kentucky:
If you receive a denial, you have options: request a re-inspection, hire a licensed public adjuster (a different professional from a contractor — they legally can negotiate on your behalf), or consult an attorney. What I can do for you is provide a thorough second inspection with full documentation to support your case. See our storm damage repair page for detail on what our documentation package includes.
Kentucky does not set a universal statutory deadline for homeowner insurance claims — your specific policy controls. Most policies in Kentucky require you to report a loss "promptly" or within one year of the date of loss. Some Nationwide, USAA, and State Farm policies have extended this to two years for property damage. Read your declarations page and the loss notification section of your policy, or call your agent.
The major carriers we work with regularly in London and Laurel County: State Farm, Allstate, Nationwide, Farmers, and USAA. Each has its own adjuster workflow and Xactimate pricing. State Farm, for example, uses company-employed adjusters and tends to scope conservatively on gutters. USAA is generally strong on initial scopes but can be slow to release recoverable depreciation. Allstate varies significantly by local adjuster. None of this is insider knowledge — it is twelve years of being on roofs with their teams.
No. Under KRS § 367.628, a roofing contractor is prohibited from filing, negotiating, or settling an insurance claim on a homeowner's behalf. Your contractor can inspect, document, prepare reports, and be present at the adjuster meeting — but the homeowner files and the homeowner signs. If a contractor offers to handle your claim for you, that is a red flag.
No. It is illegal under Kentucky law for a contractor to waive, absorb, rebate, or pay a homeowner's insurance deductible in exchange for work. Your deductible is your out-of-pocket responsibility under your policy. Any contractor advertising "we'll cover your deductible" is exposing both themselves and you to insurance fraud liability.
From filing to first payment: typically 2–6 weeks, depending on your carrier and local adjuster availability. After major storms that hit multiple counties at once — like we saw after the 2023 Laurel County hail event — adjuster schedules back up and timelines stretch to 6–8 weeks. Once the scope is approved and work is complete, recoverable depreciation is usually released within 2–3 weeks of submitting the final invoice.
You are not required to have one, but I strongly recommend it. A contractor who knows roofing components, material costs, and Kentucky code requirements can catch missed items in real time — items that are much harder to recover after the adjuster has closed their scope. At Pro4mance, attending adjuster meetings is a standard part of what we do. It has never cost one of our customers extra. It has caught missing line items in every single claim where the scope came in low.
If a storm has hit your London, Corbin, or Laurel County home — or if you suspect damage from a storm that passed through months ago — the first move is a free professional inspection. We will give you a written report with photos, a scope of damage, and an honest assessment of whether your damage is claimable. No pressure, no obligation, and we will be straight with you if we think it is not worth filing.
Pro4mance Roofing & Home Improvements. Licensed in Kentucky (#RC-2841). Serving London, Corbin, and Laurel County since 2014. Call (606) 401-9922 or request an inspection online.
