Most homeowners who land on a page like this are bracing for a five-figure bill. On storm damage work, that is usually not how it goes. Here is how these jobs are actually paid for, in the order the money moves.
If wind or hail damaged your roof and your policy covers it, your carrier pays for the repair or replacement. Your responsibility is your deductible, and nothing else on the covered scope. That is the number to plan around: not the total cost of the roof, but the deductible written on your declarations page.
Many Midwest policies now carry a separate wind and hail deductible, often expressed as a percentage of the insured value of the home rather than a flat dollar amount. A 1% wind/hail deductible on a home insured for $400,000 is $4,000, even when the all-perils deductible on the same policy is $1,000. Check your declarations page for both figures before you assume which one applies.
On a replacement cost policy the money usually arrives in two parts:
This catches people out constantly: the first cheque looks far too small, and homeowners conclude the claim was underpaid when it was not. If your policy is actual cash value only, there is no second payment — depreciation is not recoverable, and the shortfall is yours. Which one you have is stated on your policy.
Waiving, absorbing, rebating or “building in” a homeowner’s insurance deductible is insurance fraud in Illinois, and it exposes you as well as the contractor. It also tells you something about the estimate: the money has to come from somewhere, and it comes out of what goes onto your roof. Walk away from it.
Claims get denied, damage falls under the deductible, or a roof reaches the end of its life without a storm to blame. In that case you are paying directly, and the sensible order is: get the roof measured properly, get the scope in writing, and decide between a full replacement now and a targeted repair that buys a few seasons. Estimate the cost range first so the conversation starts from a real number.
We do not run an in-house lending programme — any financing you take out is with a third-party lender, not with us. If you are paying out of pocket, you can compare monthly payment options through our financing partner below. Homeowners paying out of pocket also commonly use a home equity line, a credit-union home improvement loan, or a manufacturer-affiliated financing programme arranged through the material supplier. Compare the total cost of credit, not the monthly payment. If you would like us to set out payment arrangements for a specific job, ask when you book your inspection.
If insurance is not covering the work, you can see personalised monthly payment options for the full job through our financing partner.
Financing is provided by third-party lenders through Hearth. Storm Restoration Services does not lend and is not a party to your loan.
Whether insurance pays or you do, the first step is the same: documented evidence of what is actually wrong with the roof. Book a free storm damage inspection, and read what warranty the finished roof should carry before you sign with anyone.
A documented inspection tells you whether this is an insurance claim or an out-of-pocket job — before you commit to anything.