Roof & ACV
Roof claim payout examples — what your policy actually pays.
Four real-dollar scenarios showing exactly how RCV vs ACV, deductibles, and exclusions combine to determine the check that lands in your hand.
TL;DR
On the same $20,000 hail-damaged roof, one homeowner gets back $19,000 and another gets back $0 — purely based on three lines on the declarations page: roof endorsement type, deductible structure, and exclusions. Below are four scenarios with the math.
Best case — RCV roof, flat deductible
10-year-old asphalt shingle roof, $20,000 replacement cost, $1,000 flat all-perils deductible, RCV endorsement.
| Replacement cost | $20,000 |
| Deductible | −$1,000 |
| First check (RCV depreciation held back) | $11,000 |
| Recoverable depreciation after repair | +$8,000 |
| Your total payout | $19,000 |
Takeaway: RCV gets you back to whole. Out of pocket: just the $1,000 deductible.
Common case — ACV roof, 2% wind/hail deductible
15-year-old asphalt roof, $20,000 replacement cost, $400,000 dwelling limit, 2% wind/hail deductible, ACV endorsement.
| Replacement cost | $20,000 |
| Depreciation (~60%) | −$12,000 |
| Wind/hail deductible (2% × $400k) | −$8,000 |
| Your check | $0 |
Takeaway: Insurance technically 'paid'. You self-funded the full $20,000 roof. This is by far the most common scenario in hail states.
Worst case — ACV + cosmetic exclusion + matching gap
20-year-old roof, $25,000 replacement cost, ACV endorsement with cosmetic-damage exclusion and no matching coverage. Only one slope hit by hail.
| Adjuster scope (one slope only) | $8,000 |
| Cosmetic damage excluded | −$2,500 |
| Depreciation (~70%) | −$3,850 |
| Wind/hail deductible | −$5,000 |
| Your check | $0 |
| Replace whole roof to match | $25,000 out of pocket |
Takeaway: Three small policy choices stacked. Each looked harmless at signup; together they wiped out the entire claim.
Newer roof, RCV, no surprises
5-year-old roof, $22,000 replacement cost, $2,500 flat deductible, RCV endorsement.
| Replacement cost | $22,000 |
| Deductible | −$2,500 |
| First check (RCV) | $15,000 |
| Recoverable depreciation after repair | +$4,500 |
| Your total payout | $19,500 |
Takeaway: The cheapest policy version on a new roof. Out of pocket: $2,500. This is what most homeowners assume their policy looks like.
Want to see what your policy would actually pay?
Upload your declarations page — we'll model the exact payout scenario for your endorsement, deductible, and roof age.
Frequently asked
Why is my roof claim payout so low?
Usually a combination of three things: an ACV endorsement (depreciation), a percentage wind/hail deductible (often 1–5% of the dwelling limit), and/or a cosmetic-damage or matching exclusion. Any one cuts the check; all three together can zero it out.
What does 'recoverable depreciation' mean?
On an RCV policy, the carrier holds back the depreciation portion until you actually complete repairs. Submit the repair invoices and they release the remaining check. ACV policies don't have this — the depreciation is gone for good.
Are these examples realistic?
Yes — they're representative of what we see on real declarations pages every week. Specific numbers depend on roof material, state, carrier depreciation schedule, deductible structure, and adjuster scope. Upload your dec page and we'll model your specific scenario.
Keep reading
State Farm ACV Roof Coverage
How State Farm settles ACV roof claims and what it means in dollars.
Read moreRoof & ACVAllstate ACV Roof Coverage
Allstate's ACV roof endorsements and what they pay after a hail claim.
Read moreRoof & ACVRecoverable Depreciation on a Roof Claim
Why the first check is small — and how to get the rest back.
Read more CalculatorACV vs RCV Roof Calculator
See exactly how much your roof payout shrinks under ACV.
Try the calculatorGeneral information, not legal or financial advice. Scenarios are representative; actual settlements depend on policy language, state regulations, and adjuster scope.