Insurance Claim Siding Replacement

Documentation is what moves a claim, so we build it deliberately. We photograph the damage in context and in detail — wide elevation shots that show the extent, then close-ups of impact points, cracked or punctured boards, displaced flashing, and any water intrusion behind the cladding. We measure and record the affected elevations so square footage is defensible rather than estimated. Then we write the scope as line items — tear-off, disposal, weather-resistive barrier, flashing, cladding, trim, paint, and the labor for each — in the same structure adjusters estimate from, so our number and the carrier's can be compared line by line instead of as two lump sums. Where our scope and theirs diverge, the line-item format shows exactly which item is missing or under-counted, which is what a clean supplement is built on.

First estimates are written from what is visible, and siding hides its worst damage until tear-off. When we open the wall and find rotted sheathing, failed flashing, or damage that extends past the original scope, that is a supplement — additional documented scope submitted to the carrier for the work the loss actually requires, not an attempt to inflate the claim. We photograph the newly exposed condition before we cover anything, tie it to the covered peril, and submit it with the same line-item discipline as the original. Supplements are a normal, expected part of insurance restoration; the difference is whether they are documented well enough to be approved. We don't proceed on out-of-scope work without your sign-off, and we don't bury surprises in the final invoice.

Sudden, accidental damage from a covered peril (wind, hail, impact, certain fire scenarios) is typically covered. Long-term wear, deferred maintenance, and pre-existing dry rot are typically not. Most policies pay actual cash value upfront and recoverable depreciation after work is completed and documented — your policy controls the specifics, and we make sure our paperwork supports your release of holdback.

California building code may require upgrades during a repair (WUI requirements in fire zones, current flashing and WRB standards) that exceed the pre-loss condition. Many policies include 'ordinance or law' coverage that pays for these. Color-matching across damaged and undamaged elevations is another common dispute we know how to document and present.

Most replacement-cost policies don't pay the full amount in one check. The carrier typically issues actual cash value (ACV) first — the replacement cost minus depreciation for the age and wear of the old siding — and withholds the depreciated portion as recoverable depreciation, also called the holdback. That withheld amount becomes payable once the work is actually completed and documented to the carrier's satisfaction. This is exactly why thorough close-out paperwork matters: we provide the completion documentation, photos, and final invoice the carrier needs to release the recoverable depreciation to you. Your policy controls the specifics, and the depreciation is only recoverable if you complete the work — we make sure our records support that release rather than leaving money stranded in the holdback. We can't promise a particular payout, but we can make sure the documentation isn't the reason a release stalls.

We will not waive, rebate, or absorb your deductible — that's illegal in California and a red flag for any contractor. We will not sign over a claim or work as 'the homeowner's representative' on policy negotiations; that's a public adjuster's role. We will do the work correctly, document it thoroughly, and stand behind what we install.