What RV insurance usually covers
Comprehensive RV coverage generally pays for sudden, accidental damage: a tree or limb falling on the roof, hail, wind that peels the membrane, a collision with a low bridge or branch, and vandalism. It generally does not pay for slow leaks from worn sealant, neglected maintenance or gradual rot. Read your policy or ask your agent; the words to look for are "sudden and accidental" versus "wear and tear." For the coverage questions owners ask most (water damage, roof leaks, hail, flooding, older RVs), read Does RV insurance cover water damage?.
What to do in the first 24 hours
Photograph the damage from the ground before anything is moved. Protect the opening with a tarp only if you can do so safely. Call your insurance company and open the claim; you will get a claim number and an adjuster. Then call us. We inspect, photograph, measure and write the itemized estimate the adjuster needs, and we do it quickly because open roof damage grows every time it rains.
What the adjuster needs
Adjusters approve what is documented. A complete file has wide and close-up photos of the damage, measurements of the affected roof area, a written description of the repair operations (remove damaged decking, replace membrane, reinstall or replace vents, reseal), and line-item pricing for labor and materials. That is exactly what our inspection produces. When you authorize it, we talk to the adjuster directly and answer their questions.
How the replacement happens
Once the claim is approved, we schedule the replacement at your location. We remove the damaged membrane and decking, replace what is structurally compromised, install new membrane, reinstall or replace vents, skylights and accessories, and seal every seam and edge. Most replacements take one to three days depending on the RV. If we find additional covered damage when the roof is open, we document it and submit a supplement.
Our role, plainly stated
We are the repair contractor, and we act like one that wants your claim approved: we document, estimate, get on the phone with the adjuster when you authorize it, and repair. Coverage decisions belong to the insurer, but they are made on our evidence, and complete, professional evidence is what gets a full scope approved instead of a patch.
Related questions
Do I have to use the insurance company's preferred shop?
In Massachusetts and Rhode Island you generally have the right to choose your repair contractor. Confirm with your agent, then have us inspect.
Will my premium go up after a roof claim?
That depends on your carrier and claim history; ask your agent. A tree strike is usually treated as a not-at-fault comprehensive claim.
The adjuster's estimate is lower than yours. What now?
That is common when the adjuster has not seen the roof in person. We walk them through the repair line by line with photos and measurements. Most differences are resolved with documentation.