Compare Your Options
Before You Decide
After a storm, every decision comes at you fast: who to hire, whether to file, what it should cost. These guides put the options side by side, with honest verdicts that include the cases where the other option wins.
Free Storm Damage Roof Inspection
We dispatch a Haag-certified inspector to your address, same day in most cases.
"Mike came out, did an inspection and handled all of the insurance and permit process. The crew was quick, efficient and professional."
Mark T."From start to finish, the process was seamless. Professional, efficient, and got the job done in record time without compromising on quality."
Kathy G."We had our roof, siding and gutters replaced and couldn't be happier! Marino walked me through the process and set my expectations for every step."
Katalina R.This Is What a Documented Roof Looks Like
Real footage from our crews, not stock. The inspection that documents every layer for your claim, the tear-off down to the deck with new wood wherever it's needed, and the roof that goes back on built for the next storm.
- Storm damage hides at the edges. That's what gets missed.
- New decking whenever it's needed, never a layover.
- Local, licensed, and permanently here to honor the warranty.
Start with the decision in front of you right now. Each guide compares both options in a table, walks through the questions that decide it, and ends with a verdict that tells you when each side wins. Before acting on any of them, get the damage verified: every one of these decisions turns on documented scope, not driveway guesses.
Choosing Who to Hire
Storm Chaser vs Local Roofing Contractor
The knock on your door doesn't tell you which one you're talking to. Five verifiable questions do.
Read the comparisonA Roofer Knocked on Your Door After the Storm
Don't sign anything today. Verifying first costs you nothing if the company is legitimate.
Read the comparisonPublic Adjuster vs Roofing Contractor
They do different jobs. The contractor documents and repairs; only a licensed PA or attorney can negotiate your settlement.
Read the comparisonAlternatives to Hiring a Public Adjuster
Four paths to try before paying 10 to 15% of your settlement, and the cases where the PA earns every point.
Read the comparisonManufacturer-Certified vs Uncertified Contractors
Certification changes the warranty ceiling and the accountability chain. For small repairs, it's a coin flip.
Read the comparisonHow Do We Get Paid If the Inspection Is Free?
The entire business model, disclosed: where the money comes from, what you never pay, and the check on our incentives.
Read the comparisonReading the Paperwork
Is Your Roofing Bill Legitimate?
Real Xactimate itemization, shown from our own submissions, vs the lump-sum number padding hides inside.
Read the comparisonHow to Read Your Adjuster's Estimate
The RC, depreciation, and ACV columns explained on a real estimate, and what the document can't tell you.
Read the comparisonBefore You File a Claim
Insurance Claim vs Paying Out of Pocket
Compare the verified repair cost against your deductible. The verified number decides, not the visible damage.
Read the comparisonRoof Inspection Without Filing a Claim
Yes, you can inspect first without telling your insurer, and it's the right order anyway.
Read the comparisonRCV vs ACV Roof Insurance Coverage
One pays replacement cost, the other subtracts depreciation. On an older roof the difference is five figures.
Read the comparisonCan a Roofer Waive Your Deductible?
No. Illinois law prohibits it, and the 'free roof' pitch is the most reliable storm-chaser tell there is.
Read the comparisonRepair Decisions
Roof Repair vs Replacement
The 30% rule, age thresholds, and how an approved insurance claim changes the whole decision.
Read the comparisonAlternatives to a Full Roof Replacement
Repair and partial replacement are real tools. The overlay saves the least where it matters most.
Read the comparisonClass 4 Impact-Resistant vs Standard Shingles
A $1,500 to $4,000 upgrade that many Illinois carriers discount 10 to 28% for, with one exclusion worth reading twice.
Read the comparisonWhat It Costs
Roof Replacement Cost in Chicagoland
Full replacements run $12,000 to $45,000 in the Chicago suburbs. Storm damage claims typically reduce that to your deductible.
Read the comparisonRoof Repair Cost in Chicagoland
Minor repairs run $400 to $1,500. Past 25 to 30% of replacement cost, patching stops making sense.
Read the comparisonRoof Inspection Cost (and When It's Free)
Paid inspections run $120 to $400. Storm damage inspections are free, and the business model behind that is worth understanding.
Read the comparisonHail Damage Roof Repair Cost
The average Illinois hail claim runs about $8,952, and hail damage is rarely as small as it looks from the ground.
Read the comparisonRoof Replacement Without Insurance
Cash pricing, financing, phasing, and the check-the-claim-path-first step most people skip.
Read the comparisonWhen the Claim Goes Wrong
Roof Claim Denied: Your Options Compared
Five remedies from free to full representation, matched to the reason your claim was denied.
Read the comparisonThe Adjuster Says No Damage. Your Roofer Disagrees.
Don't argue opinions, upgrade the evidence. And sometimes the adjuster is right, which we'll tell you.
Read the comparisonYour Roof Type
Storm Damage on an Asphalt Shingle Roof
Hail bruising, wind creasing, and the wear patterns that get mistaken for both.
Read the comparisonStorm Damage on a Cedar Shake Roof
Fresh splits show bright wood. Age splits are gray throughout. That distinction decides cedar claims.
Read the comparisonStorm Damage on a Metal Roof
Metal shows every dent. Whether dents are claimable depends on your policy's cosmetic-damage fine print.
Read the comparisonStorm Damage on a Slate Roof
Slate doesn't bruise, it breaks. A claim scoped at asphalt prices underpays by tens of thousands.
Read the comparisonStorm Damage on a Commercial Roof
Flat-roof hail damage hides in the insulation. The membrane can look fine while the roof is failing.
Read the comparisonSpecial Situations
Selling a House With Roof Hail Damage
Your claim doesn't transfer with the deed, and Illinois disclosure law applies either way. Four options, compared.
Read the comparisonStorm Damage Claims on an Older Roof
Age changes the payout math, not the coverage. It's often the roof's last shot at an insurance-funded replacement.
Read the comparisonStorm Damage on a House You Just Bought
The storm date decides whose claim it is. A dated baseline inspection keeps it from becoming an argument.
Read the comparisonEvery Decision Starts With the Same Step
A free Haag-certified inspection with full photo documentation tells you what's damaged and what it costs to fix. That one verified number settles most of the decisions on this page.
Get My Free InspectionOr call (630) 414-9160
Chicago Storm Pros is a service of C&N Construction, Inc. (cnroofs.com). Reviews, project counts, certifications, and ratings shown here reflect C&N Construction's work.
About These Guides
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Behind Every Decision
Free Haag-certified inspection. Full photo documentation. The report is yours to keep, whatever you decide.