Storm Damage Roof Repair Experts
Roofing COMPANY
Serving Charleston SC, Greensboro NC & Raleigh NC
Storm Damage Inspection and Documentation
Free Roof Inspections
Your Trusted Roofing Contractor in Charleston SC, Greensboro NC & Raleigh NC
Big Bear Roofing specializes in storm damage roof repair and replacement — for Charleston and the Lowcountry, and for our North Carolina service areas. We document the damage thoroughly — photos, measurements, and a detailed written repair or replacement estimate — so you have complete, accurate information for your claim, and we are available to answer your adjuster’s technical questions about the roof. We don’t negotiate insurance claims — South Carolina law says a contractor “shall not represent or negotiate … on behalf of an owner or possessor of residential real estate on any insurance claim in connection with the repair or replacement of roof systems” (S.C. Code § 40-59-25(D)(1)) — but our inspection documents the observed storm damage, with measurements, in a written record you can share with your insurer. Hail, wind, and storm damage are considered insurance losses on your homeowner’s policy.
For the Charleston market specifically — the storm record, county wind design, permits, and South Carolina’s insurance rules — see our Charleston, SC roofing contractor page.
Depending on your policy, storm damage to your roof may be covered — coverage, your deductible, and how the payout is calculated (replacement cost vs. actual cash value) are determined by your policy terms and your insurer. How a weather claim affects your policy going forward varies by carrier and policy — your insurance agent can tell you exactly how yours handles it. Our inspection documents the observed storm damage, with measurements, in a written record you can share with your insurer when it reviews the claim.
For the full claim walkthrough, see our South Carolina and North Carolina roof insurance claim guides. If a storm just hit the Lowcountry, our Charleston storm and hail roof damage guide walks through the first 72 hours, how to tell wind damage from hail damage, and the National Weather Service’s 2026 storm count for Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties. It also covers how to choose a storm-damage roofer who helps with your claim, and whether a storm-damaged roof can come back solar-ready.
Storm Damage Inspection and Documentation
Free Roof Inspections
Your Trusted Roofing Contractor in Charleston SC, Greensboro NC & Raleigh NC
Big Bear Roofing specializes in storm damage roof repair and replacement — for Charleston and the Lowcountry, and for our North Carolina service areas. We provide the detailed damage documentation and written estimate you need for your insurance conversation, and we are available to answer your adjuster’s technical questions about the roof. Hail, wind, and storm damage are considered an insurance loss on your homeowner’s policy.
For the Charleston market specifically — the storm record, county wind design, permits, and South Carolina’s insurance rules — see our Charleston, SC roofing contractor page.
Depending on your policy, storm damage to your roof may be covered — coverage, your deductible, and how the payout is calculated (replacement cost vs. actual cash value) are determined by your policy terms and your insurer. How a weather claim affects your policy going forward varies by carrier and policy — your insurance agent can tell you exactly how yours handles it. Our inspection documents the observed storm damage, with measurements, in a written record you can share with your insurer when it reviews the claim. For the full claim walkthrough, see our South Carolina and North Carolina roof insurance claim guides. If a storm just hit the Lowcountry, our Charleston storm and hail roof damage guide walks through the first 72 hours, how to tell wind damage from hail damage, and the National Weather Service’s 2026 storm count for Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties. It also covers how to choose a storm-damage roofer who helps with your claim, and whether a storm-damaged roof can come back solar-ready.
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GIVE US A CALL OR SEND US A MESSAGE.
Call 843-544-9537 — answered 24/7.
Tips for Filing an Insurance Claim for Storm Damage
Get Your Storm Damage Documented & Your Repairs Started Quickly
Don’t wait! Call the experts at Big Bear Roofing to inspect your roof for any damage. Our experienced roofers know where to look for damage and we will thoroughly document it. Waiting too long to contact your insurer can jeopardize your claim, so report it promptly once you have the documentation. Look for reporting deadlines and what types of roof damage are covered. Keep records of any out-of-pocket expenses that may be eligible for reimbursement. Our free inspection gives you the photographed evidence to support your claim from day one.The Insurance Claims Process
for Storm Damage
Work With Big Bear To Get Your Repairs Rapidly.
INSPECT ROOF
The process starts with a roof inspection. Not all roofing contractors are qualified to make a thorough inspection of storm damage. Less experienced roofers may miss important but subtle signs the roof requires repair or replacement. At Big Bear, our roofers are trained to identify damage properly and can diagnose issues in a way that’s in line with insurance company guidelines. That means you have a clear, written record of the damage to share with your insurer.
REPORT THE CLAIM
If the inspection shows storm damage significant enough to warrant a replacement, we hand you the documentation you need — and you report the claim to your insurer. Once the claim is filed, an Insurance Adjuster is assigned and will make an appointment to inspect your roof and document the damage. A Big Bear representative can be on the roof when the adjuster visits to answer the adjuster’s technical questions and show the damage we have already documented; you stay the one dealing with the adjuster.
INITIAL PAYMENT
Once the assessment is complete, the Insurance Adjuster will prepare an estimate for you and give you the first check for your roof replacement or repair. The insurance adjuster may either do that in person or mail these items to you.
REVIEW ESTIMATE
Together, we will go over the roof work in the adjuster’s estimate; the claim itself stays between you and your insurer. At this time, you will select your roofing product. If everything is in order, we will get work to repair your roof quickly and professionally. We don’t collect your first insurance check from you until we have delivered all materials to your home which is typically one day before your project begins.
FINAL PAYMENT
Once all the work is complete, we submit the completed-work documentation your insurer needs in order to release the final payment to you. Your insurance company will never send us the check directly. Instead, we will pick it up from you. The entire process, from filing the claim to a restored roof, typically takes approximately 2 to 3 weeks depending on how quickly your insurance company acts.Storm Damage Roof Repair in Charleston: What To Do First
After a storm hits your Charleston-area roof, work this sequence: document the damage from the ground — never climb a wet, compromised roof; check the attic for leaks and daylight; get active water intrusion stopped with a professionally installed emergency tarp-over (that’s our job — safe roof access, not yours; inside, move valuables and catch what you can) and keep every receipt, since most policies require reasonable steps to prevent further damage; then report the claim to your insurer promptly and get a professional inspection on the calendar. Big Bear’s storm damage roof repair team covers the Charleston Tri-County area with free, drone-assisted storm inspections — call 843-544-9537, day or night, and we’ll have your roof documented, slope by slope, ahead of the adjuster’s inspection whenever the schedule allows.
Built for Charleston wind — not just patched
Charleston roofs live in one of the country’s toughest wind environments: design wind speeds along the coast run 130–150 mph under the standards the current code references (ASCE 7-16), and the 2021 International Residential Code has applied statewide since January 2023. So when we replace or rebuild storm-damaged roofs here, the detailing is coastal-grade — six-nail fastening patterns, high-wind-rated shingles, and sealed secondary water-barrier practices in the coastal zone, per current code and manufacturer specifications. The roof you pay for should be built for the next storm, not just the last one.
Know your hurricane deductible before the season starts
Read your declarations page before a named storm ever forms: many coastal South Carolina policies carry a separate hurricane or named-storm deductible calculated as a percentage of your dwelling coverage (Coverage A) — typically 1–5% — not a flat dollar amount. South Carolina requires insurers to disclose that separate deductible prominently on the policy face with a worked dollar example (DOI Regulation 69-56). In practice: on a $400,000 dwelling limit, a 2% named-storm deductible means $8,000 out of pocket before coverage pays — an illustration only; your policy’s trigger, percentage, and terms control. Our documentation doesn’t change your deductible — it helps make sure the full scope of the storm damage is visible, measured, and on the record.
The claim, done the compliant way
You own the claim — we document it. Big Bear inspects and photographs slope by slope, writes the detailed damage estimate and technical evaluation you hand your insurer, and is on-site at the adjuster visit to answer technical questions about the roof. We don’t negotiate claim value or policy terms — South Carolina law says a contractor “shall not represent or negotiate … on behalf of an owner or possessor of residential real estate on any insurance claim in connection with the repair or replacement of roof systems” (S.C. Code § 40-59-25(D)(1)). The same section says a contractor “shall not advertise or promise to pay or rebate all or any portion of any insurance deductible as an inducement to the sale of goods or services” (§ 40-59-25(E)(1)); walk away from any storm chaser who offers to pay or rebate your deductible. For the full walkthrough — RCV vs. ACV, timelines, and your rights — start with our Charleston storm and hail damage guide and the South Carolina roof insurance claim guide.
One storm team across the Lowcountry
From the peninsula and Mount Pleasant to Summerville, Goose Creek, and Moncks Corner, our crews handle storm damage roof repair across Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties. As a GAF Master Elite–certified Charleston roofer, we’re the same local team before the storm and long after the job is done. Ready now? Call 843-544-9537 or request your free storm inspection online.
Storm Damage Questions We Hear in Charleston
What should I do first in a roof emergency?
Get people away from sagging drywall and wet light fixtures, catch what you can inside and move belongings clear. Photograph the damage indoors, and the roof from the ground, before anything is cleaned up, and never climb a wet, compromised roof. Stopping the water at the roof with a temporary cover is work for a crew with fall protection, not for a homeowner; that emergency tarp-over is our job.
Will insurance pay for an emergency tarp?
Generally, yes. The South Carolina Department of Insurance’s homeowners FAQ says the cost of protecting the property from further damage is generally covered, and its Post-Disaster Claims Guide suggests covering roof holes with a tarp and keeping all receipts for emergency repairs. Your policy terms and your insurer still decide what your claim pays.
Should I wait for the adjuster before repairs start?
Not for the temporary cover that stops further damage. Hold off on permanent repairs until you talk with your insurer, which may not pay for repairs it didn’t authorize. Be there when the adjuster inspects, with your photos and a roofer’s written estimate. A Big Bear representative can be on the roof to answer the adjuster’s technical questions; the claim stays between you and your insurer.
Does homeowners insurance cover storm damage to my roof?
It may, depending on your policy. The South Carolina Department of Insurance says most homeowner policies cover damage to the dwelling caused by tornadoes or other wind damage, while flood damage generally needs a separate flood policy. Many coastal policies carry a separate hurricane or named-storm deductible, set as a percentage of your dwelling coverage, and your policy decides whether it pays replacement cost or actual cash value.
Can a storm-damaged roof be repaired, or does it need replacing?
Repair is the right call when the damage is isolated and the rest of the roof is sound. Replacement is the right call when storm damage runs across several slopes, leaks keep returning in new places or the decking has gone soft. South Carolina’s residential code bars new shingles over a roof that is water-soaked or too deteriorated to serve as a base. An inspection settles which one you need.