Should I Share My Insurance Estimate With My Contractor?

Should You Share Your Insurance Claim Estimate With a Roofing Contractor?

Short answer: yes, and it transfers nothing. Handing a contractor a copy of your insurance estimate is a routine part of storm repair work. It is not an Assignment of Benefits, it does not give anyone authority over your claim, and it does not change what your policy covers. What it does is let the contractor compare the insurer’s written scope against what they actually find on your roof.

The longer answer is about what the document is, what a contractor is legally allowed to do with it, and which Florida deadlines and contract rules apply while you decide. The claim deadlines changed in 2022, and the roofing-contract rules were amended in 2022, 2024 and again in 2025 — so a lot of what you’ll find online is out of date.

What Is a Roof Insurance Estimate?

After you report storm damage, your insurer sends an adjuster to inspect the property. Based on that inspection, the company prepares a document — the insurance claim estimate, sometimes called a home insurance repair estimate — that typically sets out:

• the damage the adjuster observed

• the repairs the insurer identified

• estimated labor and material costs

• depreciation, where it applies

• your deductible

• the total amount initially approved for payment

It’s easy to read that as the final scope of work. Often it isn’t. Insurance estimates are built in pricing software such as Xactimate, but the output depends entirely on what the adjuster documented during a relatively short inspection. The Insurance Information Institute notes that insurers rely on adjusters’ inspections to prepare estimates and that additional documentation may be needed when new damage surfaces during repairs.

What a Contractor Actually Does With It

A contractor uses the estimate as one input, not as instructions. Reading it alongside their own inspection lets them line up two things that are easy to confuse:

Neither document controls the other. The amount on an insurance estimate is not automatically the price of the roofing work, and the amount on a contractor’s estimate does not establish what a policy covers. Comparing them simply shows where the two scopes differ, which is the starting point for any additional documentation.

And to be explicit about the question in the title: giving a contractor a copy of a document is not the same as giving them rights. Sharing an estimate does not, by itself, transfer any post-loss insurance benefit. The agreement that does that is an Assignment of Benefits, it has to be signed, and in Florida it is now largely prohibited — more on that below.

Why the Two Estimates Often Differ

An adjuster evaluates a claim. A contractor rebuilds the roof and warranties the result. Those are different jobs, and they produce different documents.

An adjuster may spend thirty minutes on a roof. A contractor may spend several hours walking every slope, checking attic ventilation, documenting flashing, measuring moisture intrusion, photographing what isn’t visible from the ground, and reviewing what the local code requires. Things that commonly turn up in the second pass:

• lifted shingles not visible from the ground

• damaged flashing around chimneys or skylights

• compromised decking beneath torn shingles

• hail damage on vents, drip edge and other accessories

• code-required components missing from the original scope

Some of the gap is required by statute rather than discretionary. Under Fla. Stat. § 553.844(3), a roof replacement on a site-built single-family home must incorporate a secondary water barrier and must strengthen or correct the roof-decking attachments and fasteners during reroofing. In the wind-borne debris region, a building with an insured value of $300,000 or more must also address roof-to-wall connections on a roof replacement. Those are code obligations attached to the work, not optional upgrades — and they are exactly the line items most often missing from an initial estimate.

None of that means the insurer made a mistake. Roof inspections simply get more detailed as work progresses — the National Roofing Contractors Association makes the point that hidden roof damage often cannot be fully evaluated until roofing materials are removed. That is also why Florida law provides a separate deadline for supplemental claims, covered further down.

What a Florida Roofing Contractor May and May Not Do

This is the part most roofing pages leave out, and it explains why any honest Florida contractor sounds careful when insurance comes up.

Under Fla. Stat. § 489.147, a contractor may not interpret policy provisions, advise an insured about coverages or duties under their property insurance policy, or adjust a property insurance claim on the insured’s behalf — unless that contractor also holds a public adjuster license under part VI of chapter 626. Most don’t, and we don’t.

So the line runs like this:

Read that as a practical test rather than fine print. A contractor who offers to "handle your claim," "deal with the adjuster for you," or "make sure the claim gets approved" is describing work that Florida law reserves for a licensed public adjuster. That is a reason to walk away, not a selling point.

What we do instead is straightforward: a free inspection, drone photos plus an on-roof walk, and thorough written documentation of what we find, which you take to your own carrier. That process is laid out on our storm and insurance page.

Assignment of Benefits (AOB) in Florida

An Assignment of Benefits is an agreement that transfers post-loss insurance benefits to another person or company. Depending on the agreement, an assignee can end up holding rights to insurance payments or to the handling of the claim itself.

The rules changed on January 1, 2023. Under Fla. Stat. § 627.7152, a policyholder generally may not assign any post-loss insurance benefit, in whole or in part, under a residential or commercial property insurance policy issued on or after that date. An attempted assignment under such a policy is void, invalid and unenforceable, subject to the statutory exception in subsection (11).

Two practical consequences:

• A lot of AOB material online is obsolete. Guides written before 2023 describe a process that no longer applies to newer policies. Your policy’s issue or renewal date matters.

• Sharing a document is not an assignment. An AOB is a signed agreement transferring rights. Emailing a PDF of your estimate is not. If anyone tells you otherwise, that itself is a warning sign.

Whether a particular agreement has the legal effect of an assignment is a question for your insurer or a qualified Florida attorney, not for a roofer.

Florida Claim Deadlines: 1 Year, 18 Months, and the Date of Loss

These are the numbers most often reported wrong. Under Fla. Stat. § 627.70132:

The statute defines the terms it uses. A reopened claim is one the insurer previously closed and reopened at your request for additional costs already disclosed. A supplemental claim is a claim for additional loss or damage from the same peril that the insurer already adjusted, or for costs incurred while completing repairs under an open claim for which notice was timely given.

The date of loss is not the day you noticed the damage. For hurricanes, tornadoes, windstorms, severe rain and other weather events covered by the statute, the date of loss is the date the hurricane made landfall, or the date the other event is verified by NOAA. Hidden damage found eight months later is already eight months into a twelve-month clock.

Two things worth knowing about the edges of this rule. The time limits are tolled during a servicemember’s deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting where it materially affects their ability to file. And a separate three-year deadline still applies to notice of a claim for loss assessment coverage under § 627.714 — relevant to condominium owners, and a reason the blanket statement "the old three-year deadline is gone" is too broad.

If you see an article citing two-year and three-year general deadlines, it predates the 2022 changes. Confirm anything claim-specific with your insurer.

Florida’s 25 Percent Roof Rule

Almost every explanation of this rule online gives you half of it. Here is both halves.

The general rule

The Florida Building Code, Existing Building, section 706.1.1 provides that not more than 25 percent of the total roof area or roof section of an existing building may be repaired, replaced or recovered in any 12-month period, unless the entire roofing system or roof section is brought into conformance with the current code. That 12-month window is part of the rule and is routinely left out.

The exception that changed things

Fla. Stat. § 553.844(5), added by Senate Bill 4-D in 2022, provides that notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Florida Building Code, if an existing roofing system or roof section was built, repaired or replaced in compliance with the 2007 Florida Building Code or any later edition, and 25 percent or more of that system or section is being repaired, replaced or recovered, only the repaired, replaced or recovered portion must be constructed to the code currently in effect.

The practical dividing line is March 1, 2009 — the date the 2007 Florida Building Code took effect. A roof properly permitted on or after that date may qualify for the exception; an older one may not, and crossing 25 percent could still pull the whole section up to current code.

Two details that matter when the numbers are close. Per Florida Building Commission Declaratory Statement DS 2021-007, related work involving removal and installation of components to connect repaired areas to unrepaired areas — the tie-off — is not counted toward the 25 percent threshold. And under § 553.844(5), a local government may not adopt an ordinance that administratively or technically amends this exception — useful to know if a local interpretation seems stricter than the statute.

The 25 percent rule is a building-code question. It does not determine insurance coverage, what an insurer will pay, or whether a roof should be replaced in full. Those are separate questions involving the physical condition of the roof, the applicable code, and your policy. If a roof replacement is where this ends up, warranty coverage is a third separate issue — our guide to roofing warranties covers how manufacturer and workmanship coverage differ.

Required Notices in a Florida Roofing Contract

Fla. Stat. § 489.147 requires specific language in residential roof repair and replacement contracts. If a contract you’re handed is missing these, that tells you something about the company. Three separate requirements apply:

1. Notice of prohibited practices. A contractor may not execute a residential roof repair or replacement contract without including a notice that the contractor may not engage in the practices set out in paragraph (2)(b) — the deductible-and-inducement prohibitions. If that notice is missing, the property owner may void the contract within 10 days after signing.

2. Insurance notice — § 489.147(7). Every residential roof repair or replacement contract must carry statutory language, in bold type of not less than 14 points on the page reserved for the property owner’s signature, advising that if the work relates to an insurance claim the owner should contact their insurer to verify coverage — including claims, deductibles and policy terms — before signing, and acknowledging that they were so advised.

3. State-of-emergency cancellation notice — § 489.147(6)(b). A contractor executing a roofing contract during a declared state of emergency must include, in bold type of not less than 14 points immediately before the signature space, the statutory language explaining the owner’s 10-day cancellation right.

Both notices are 14-point bold, but they are separate requirements with separate triggers: the insurance notice belongs in every residential roofing contract, while the cancellation notice applies only to contracts executed during a declared state of emergency. A contractor who violates § 489.147 faces disciplinary proceedings and a fine of up to $10,000 per violation.

The 10-day cancellation right has conditions

Under § 489.147(6)(a), a residential property owner may cancel a roof repair or replacement contract without penalty or obligation within 10 days after execution, or by the official start date, whichever comes first — but only if both of the following are true:

• the contract was entered into within 180 days of the events that are the subject of the Governor’s declaration of a state of emergency, and

• the property is located within the geographic area to which that declaration applies.

The official start date is the date work including installation of materials that will be part of the final roof begins, a permit has been issued, or a temporary repair has been made in compliance with the Florida Building Code. Cancellation must be sent in writing, by certified mail or another method that provides proof of delivery, to the address in the contract.

Because those conditions have to be met, the existence of a storm or roof damage alone does not automatically create a 10-day cancellation period. Check the declaration and the dates.

Red Flags Worth Taking Seriously

Some of these are simply bad practice. Others are prohibited by statute — worth knowing which is which.

• A deductible “waived,” rebated or covered in exchange for letting them inspect your roof or for filing a claim. Section 489.147(2)(b) prohibits offering a deductible waiver, rebate, gift card, cash, coupon or anything else of value in exchange for a roof inspection or for making a claim. Separately, the statute notes that knowingly or willfully paying, waiving or rebating a deductible with intent to injure, defraud or deceive is insurance fraud — a third-degree felony. You are responsible for your deductible.

• An agreement authorizing repairs handed to you without a good-faith itemized estimate. Section 489.147(2)(e) prohibits this. If the actual cost later differs because of how the insurer adjusts the claim, that is not a violation — but the estimate has to exist up front.

• A storm-chaser flyer, door hanger, magnet or email urging you to file a roof claim. Under § 489.147, such a communication is a prohibited advertisement unless it states — in at least 12-point type, and at least half the size of the largest type used — that you are responsible for your deductible, that waiving a deductible is a third-degree felony, and that filing a claim with false or misleading information is a third-degree felony. Check the fine print on whatever was left on your door.

• An offer to handle, negotiate or interpret your claim. Reserved by law for licensed public adjusters.

• Any payment or reward offered for referring services for which insurance proceeds are payable — also prohibited under § 489.147(2)(c). Paying a contractor for roofing work actually performed is not a referral fee.

• A request to sign an Assignment of Benefits without a clear explanation of what rights transfer — and on a policy issued on or after January 1, 2023, an assignment is generally unenforceable anyway.

• Pressure to sign immediately, or a contract presented without the required statutory notices.

• Unusually large upfront payments.

• Large unexplained differences between a contractor’s estimate and the insurance estimate, with no documentation behind them.

What a Roof Inspection Should Document

An adjuster’s inspection documents the insurer’s assessment of the reported loss. A roofing inspection documents the physical condition of the roof and what repairing it requires. A thorough one records:

• each roof slope and the overall surface condition

• flashing, penetrations, vents and accessories

• visible signs of water intrusion

• photographic documentation of everything observed

• measurements and material quantities

• conditions likely to become visible once materials are removed

• permitting and building-code considerations

That documentation is what makes a comparison with the insurance estimate meaningful. It doesn’t determine whether an item is covered — it just shows, in photographs and measurements, what is actually on the roof. If a storm has just come through, emergency roof repair comes first: tarped within 24 hours, documented as we go.

Storm Damage in Flagler, Volusia and St. Johns Counties?

We’re a family-owned roofing contractor based in Bunnell, licensed in Florida under CCC1325974, serving Flagler, Volusia and St. Johns counties. We inspect for free, document what we find in writing and photographs, and give you a straight answer on repair versus replacement — then you take that documentation to your own carrier.

Book a free inspection or call (386) 263-7906 for a same-day callback.

FAQ

Should I share my insurance estimate with my roofing contractor?

Yes. It’s normal, and it transfers nothing. The contractor can compare the insurer’s written scope against what they find during their own inspection, which is how gaps get identified and documented. Sharing a document does not assign your benefits, does not give anyone authority over your claim, and does not change what your policy covers.

Can a contractor raise the price after seeing my insurance estimate?

A reputable contractor prices the work required, not the payout available. Ask for a detailed, itemized proposal built from their own measurements and inspection, and compare it line by line with the insurance estimate. If line items appear that the contractor can’t point to in their own documentation, ask why.

What if the insurance estimate is lower than the contractor’s repair scope?

That difference can come from different measurements, inspection findings, material quantities, pricing assumptions, code requirements or damage that wasn’t visible during the adjuster’s visit. The contractor’s job is to document the physical condition thoroughly — photos, measurements, a detailed scope. Whether any specific item is covered is a question for your insurer or a licensed public adjuster.

Is the adjuster’s estimate final?

It describes the insurer’s assessment at one stage of the claim. Florida law separately recognizes reopened claims and supplemental claims, each with its own notice deadline — 1 year and 18 months after the date of loss respectively, under § 627.70132.

What are the Florida deadlines for property insurance claims?

A claim or reopened claim is generally barred unless notice is given within 1 year after the date of loss; a supplemental claim within 18 months. For a hurricane, the date of loss is the date of landfall, not the date you discovered the damage. A separate three-year deadline applies to loss assessment coverage under § 627.714. Confirm anything claim-specific with your insurer.

What is an Assignment of Benefits, and is it the same as sharing my estimate?

No. An AOB is a signed agreement transferring post-loss insurance benefits to another party. Handing over a copy of a document is not that. And under § 627.7152, a policyholder generally cannot assign post-loss benefits under a residential or commercial property policy issued on or after January 1, 2023 — an attempted assignment is void, invalid and unenforceable, subject to a statutory exception.

Can a roofing contractor talk to my insurance company for me?

A contractor can provide factual information about the property: photographs, measurements, the repair scope, the condition of the roof. What they cannot do, unless they hold a public adjuster license, is interpret your policy, advise you on coverage or duties, or adjust the claim on your behalf. That restriction comes from § 489.147.

Should I get more than one roofing estimate?

If you’re unsure about pricing or the recommended repairs, comparing written estimates from two or three licensed Florida roofing contractors is a reasonable step. Verify each license number with DBPR before you take the estimate seriously.

Does using a local contractor matter for a Flagler, Volusia or St. Johns County claim?

It helps. A contractor who regularly works these counties knows the local permitting process, the applicable wind zone, the code history that determines how the 25 percent rule applies, and the damage patterns that follow storms on this stretch of coast — all of which affect the repair scope.