ROOFING. SIDING. EXCELLENCE.

GAF MASTER ELITE CONTRACTOR • INC. 5000 COMPANY • ROCKFORD’S BEST ROOFER 6 YEARS RUNNING

Roof Insurance Supplements, Explained: What Homeowners Should Know

If you’ve been through a roof claim, you may have heard the word “supplement” and wondered whether it’s normal or something to worry about. It’s a fair question, since it’s your house and your claim. Here’s how supplements work, why they happen, and how we handle them at Martin Exteriors.

This guide is written for homeowners in Rockford, Roscoe, Loves Park and nearby towns who are partway through a roof claim, or who just want to know what to expect before they start one. If you haven’t filed yet, our guide on deciding whether to file a roof claim walks through that first.

What a supplement is

A supplement is a documented request to your insurance company to add items the adjuster’s first estimate (the “scope”) left out. It isn’t a new claim. It’s a correction to the existing one, and it comes with proof.

Items that commonly get added:

Code-required items, like drip edge or ice and water shield at the eaves
Extra squares when the real roof measures bigger than the first estimate
Starter strip, ridge cap, and flashing that weren’t itemized
Damaged decking that only shows up once the old shingles come off
Vents and pipe boots that have to be replaced to do the job right

Every item comes with backup: photos, measurements, code references, or manufacturer instructions. The insurance company reviews it and decides whether to approve it. Nobody can promise a supplement will be approved.

What a supplement is not

Not a way to pay for upgrades. A supplement is about damage and the items needed to repair it. If you choose a different shingle or add a feature you didn’t have before, ask your insurer how your policy treats that difference.
Not a way around your deductible. Your deductible stays the same, and you pay it.
Not something you have to find out about later. You can ask your insurance company for a copy of any revised estimate on your claim at any time.

Why first scopes miss things

Adjusters handle a lot of claims, especially after a big hailstorm moves through Rockford, Loves Park, and Roscoe. They work fast, often from the ground or with a short time on the roof. Misses are normal:

Hidden damage. Rotten or soft decking can’t be seen until tear-off.
Code requirements. Local building code may call for items the estimating software didn’t include.
Measurement differences. Steep pitches, multiple layers, and complicated rooflines are easy to underestimate.
Manufacturer specs. Shingle makers require certain components for the roof to be installed correctly.

None of this means anyone did something wrong. Supplements exist because a first look isn’t always the full picture.

Got a scope that doesn’t look right? Get a free inspection and a straight answer or call (815) 624-6278.

How Martin Exteriors handles supplements: step by step

Inspection and documentation. We inspect the roof and photograph the damage before anything gets filed.
Review the adjuster’s scope with you. We go through the insurance estimate together and point out anything that looks missing.
Send the documentation. With your OK, we send the insurance company our photos, measurements, and code or manufacturer references for the items that were missed. We don’t negotiate your claim; your insurer reviews the proof and decides.
Keep you posted. We let you know how the claim is moving, including when the insurance company approves, denies, or adjusts something.
Final invoice. When the job is done, you get the final invoice for the work.

QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR CLAIM?

We’ll inspect the roof, photograph what we find and walk you through the adjuster’s estimate. No pressure, no charge. Call (815) 624-6278.

Book a Free Inspection

Staying in the loop on your claim

Your claim stays between you and your insurance company. We’re a roofing contractor, not a public adjuster, so we don’t negotiate your claim or represent you with your insurer. We document the damage and the work the job requires. Your insurance company typically sends its estimate and any updates to you, and you can ask your adjuster about anything on them at any time. If you have a question about anything on your claim, including a supplement, call us and we’ll walk you through it.

What to keep for your own records

Whoever does your roof, it helps to keep your own file. Here are the basics for a supplement; the full storm checklist is on our insurance claims page.

The insurance company’s first estimate and every revised estimate
Your own photos of the roof and any damage inside, with the day you took them
Letters and emails from your insurer
A short log of calls: who you talked to, when, and what was said
Receipts for tarps or temporary repairs
The final invoice

Laying the first estimate next to a revised one and reading them line by line is the easiest way to see what was added and why. If a line doesn’t make sense, ask your insurer or your contractor to explain it.

Your deductible

You pay your deductible. A contractor can’t waive, rebate, or cover it, and we don’t. If a contractor offers to “take care of” your deductible, treat that as a red flag.

If budget is tight, financing as low as $149/month for qualified buyers can help. See financing options.

ACV, RCV, and recoverable depreciation in plain terms

Most roof policies pay in one of two ways:

Actual cash value (ACV) pays what your old roof was worth after age and wear were taken off.
Replacement cost value (RCV) pays what it costs to replace the roof with new materials.

With an RCV policy, the insurance company often pays in two checks. The first check is the ACV amount. The difference, called recoverable depreciation, is held back until the work is done and proven. Then the second check is released. Amica has a good explainer if you want more detail. Your policy is what actually sets the terms, so check with your agent.

Questions to ask any contractor about supplements

Whoever you hire, ask:

How do you decide when a supplement is needed?
How will you keep me updated while the claim is open?
How do you handle my deductible? (The right answer is that you pay it.)
Are you licensed and insured, and can I see proof?
Who do I call with questions?
Will you show me photos of the damage and of anything you think was missed?
What manufacturer warranty comes with the new roof?

Any contractor worth hiring will answer these without hesitating. You can also read what neighbors say on our testimonials page and learn more about our insurance claim help and storm damage repair.

Why homeowners choose Martin Exteriors

Family-owned and roofing homes in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin since 2006
GAF Master Elite contractor, a status held by fewer than 2% of roofing contractors. A qualifying GAF roof can carry a 50-year GAF warranty with up to 30 years on workmanship (GAF eligibility rules apply). It covers manufacturing defects and installation, not storm damage, which goes through your insurance.
GAF shingles as our lead brand, with ice and water shield on every eave
Most roofs are done in a day
Open 24/7, with tarping within 24 hours when a roof is open
Certified James Hardie Installer
Inc. 5000 company four times (2021 to 2024)
What Rocks Rockford Best Roofer, 6 years running (2020 to 2025)

FAQs

What is a roof insurance supplement?

It’s a documented request to your insurance company to add work or materials the first estimate missed. It’s part of your existing claim, and the insurer reviews the proof and decides.

Is a supplement legal and normal?

Yes. Supplements are a standard part of the insurance claim process, as long as they’re accurate and backed by documentation. Insurance companies expect them when hidden damage or code items turn up.

Who decides whether a supplement is approved?

Your insurance company does. A contractor can document what was missed, but the insurer reviews the proof and decides what to approve, so nobody can promise the result.

Does a supplement raise my premium or deductible?

A supplement doesn’t change your deductible, which is set by your policy. Whether a claim affects your premium is up to your insurance company, so ask your agent.

Can a contractor pay or waive my deductible?

No. A contractor can’t waive, rebate, or pay your deductible. You’re responsible for it under your policy.

What is recoverable depreciation?

It’s the money held back on a replacement-cost policy until the work is finished. Once the job is done and documented, the insurance company usually releases it.

Is Martin Exteriors licensed and insured?

Yes. We’re licensed in Illinois (Lic. 104.017824), we’re a licensed Wisconsin dwelling contractor, and we’re bonded and insured. Ask us for proof of insurance anytime. We’re also a GAF Master Elite contractor, family-owned since 2006.

We help homeowners with roof claims across Rockford, Roscoe, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Rockton, South Beloit, Belvidere, Cherry Valley and nearby communities in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.

Open in Google Maps

Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding: Roscoe Office
11704 Main St, Roscoe, IL 61073
(815) 624-6278
Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding: Rockford Office
6019 Fincham Dr, Suite #4, Rockford, IL 61108
(815) 209-9054