After the wind, hail and ice
Your storm damage specialist
Connecticut weather is hard on a roof. High wind lifts shingles, hail bruises them, a big limb can punch right through, and ice dams push meltwater back under the edges. When a storm hits a home or business in the Windham County area, Fullerton Roofing comes out, looks the roof over, and tells you plainly what we see.
- Inspection. We check the roof, flashing and gutters for storm damage and look for leaks inside.
- Photo documentation. We photograph what we find so you have a clear record to share with your insurance company.
- Temporary protection. When the roof is open to the weather, we can tarp it or make temporary repairs to keep more water out.
- Working alongside your claim. We give you a written scope of work and price, and with your OK we share our photos and findings with your insurance adjuster. Your insurance company decides what is covered.
Fullerton Roofing is a roofing contractor. We are not an insurance adjuster and we do not negotiate claims. Residential and commercial roofs.
Want to see what weather has hit your area? Browse the damaging weather archive of NOAA reports.
First things first
What to do after a storm
- Safety first. Stay clear of downed wires and anything touching them, and keep people out of rooms where the ceiling is sagging or wet.
- Stay off the roof. Wet or damaged shingles are slippery and a weakened deck can give way. Leave the climbing to a roofer.
- Take photos from the ground. Photograph the roof, any fallen limbs, debris in the yard, and water stains or drips inside. Note the date and time.
- Prevent more damage where it is safe. Put buckets under drips and move belongings away from leaks. A roofer can tarp an open roof. Hold off on permanent repairs until your insurer has had a chance to inspect.
- Keep every receipt. Save receipts for tarps, emergency repairs and, if you have to stay somewhere else, lodging and meals.
- Read your policy. Look at your coverage, your deductible, and the section on what to do after a loss.
- Report it promptly. Call your insurance company or agent as soon as you can, and keep a simple log of who you talked to and when.
Based on storm claim tips from the Connecticut Insurance Department.
Know where you stand
Your rights as a Connecticut homeowner
Plain answers to the questions we hear most after a storm, with a link to the state law or state agency page each answer comes from.
What is a public adjuster?
A public adjuster is someone you hire, for pay, to prepare and submit your property claim or to negotiate and settle it with your insurance company on your behalf. Connecticut requires public adjusters to be licensed by the Connecticut Insurance Department, and acting as one without a license is a crime. Your insurance company's own adjuster looks at the damage at no cost to you; a public adjuster works for you and you pay the fee. Lawyers settling claims for their clients are not considered public adjusters.
Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 38a-723 and 38a-725 and the CT Insurance Department storm claim tips
If I hire a public adjuster, can I change my mind?
Yes, for a short window. Connecticut requires a written contract, and the first page must say in bold type that you can cancel. You have until midnight of the fourth calendar day after you sign; if you sign on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, you have until midnight the following Thursday. The notice goes to the adjuster's office by certified mail, return receipt requested, or electronically with proof of delivery if you both agreed to that. A contract without that notice is void, and so is one that came from a public adjuster soliciting you between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-724
How are public adjuster fees limited?
A public adjuster's fee can only be based on the settlement money your insurance company actually pays on the loss, and it can only be collected after the insurer pays. A public adjuster cannot charge any fee at all if, within 30 days of a loss to a building covered by a fire insurance policy, the insurer offers in writing to pay the full policy limits. Read the fee terms in the contract before you sign.
How do I check that a public adjuster is licensed?
The Connecticut Insurance Department keeps its insurance licenses in the NAIC State Based Systems lookup, which is linked from the Department's licensing page. You can also call the Department at 800-203-3447 to confirm that an adjuster, agent or company is licensed before you sign anything.
Can a roofing contractor negotiate my claim for me?
Not unless they are also a licensed public adjuster. Under Connecticut law, anyone who, for pay, negotiates, adjusts or settles a property claim on your behalf, or holds themselves out as doing that, is acting as a public adjuster and needs a license. A roofer can inspect, document the damage, and give you a written scope and price for the repair. The claim itself stays between you and your insurance company, or you and a licensed public adjuster or attorney you choose.
What should a storm repair contract include when insurance is involved?
Before starting repairs on a loss covered by a homeowners or commercial policy, the contractor has to give you a written notice of the scope of work and the estimated total price. If a document lets your insurer pay the contractor directly, it must tell you, right above the signature line, that you have the right to be named as a joint payee on the check. These contracts cannot give the contractor a power of attorney or waive your legal rights against them. A contract that breaks these rules is void.
Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-313a
What if I disagree with the insurance company about the amount of the loss?
Start by talking it through with your insurer, and do not feel rushed into a settlement. Connecticut's standard fire policy includes an appraisal clause: if you and the insurer cannot agree on the value or the amount of the loss, either side can demand appraisal in writing. Each side picks its own independent appraiser, the two appraisers pick an umpire, and a written award signed by any two of the three sets the amount of the loss. You pay your own appraiser and split the umpire's cost. Your policy may word this differently, and the Insurance Department can help you sort out whether appraisal, arbitration or mediation fits.
Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-307 (standard fire policy, "Appraisal") and the CT Insurance Department storm claim tips
Are there deadlines I need to know about?
Yes, and they can be short. Connecticut's standard fire policy asks you to give the insurer immediate written notice of a loss and to protect the property from further damage. It also calls for a signed, sworn proof of loss within 60 days after the loss unless the insurer extends that in writing, and it says a lawsuit on the policy must be started within 24 months after the loss. Your own policy may set different terms, so check it and report damage as soon as you can.
Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-307 (standard fire policy, "Requirements in case loss occurs" and "Suit")
What counts as an unfair claim practice by an insurer?
Connecticut's Unfair Insurance Practices Act lists claim practices that are prohibited when an insurer does them often enough to be a general business practice. Examples include misrepresenting policy terms, not responding promptly to claim communications, refusing to pay without a reasonable investigation, not confirming or denying coverage within a reasonable time after proof of loss, and not trying in good faith to settle promptly and fairly once liability is reasonably clear. If something feels wrong with your claim, you can bring it to the Insurance Department.
Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-816(6)
How do I file a complaint or get help from the state?
The Connecticut Insurance Department's Consumer Affairs unit reviews complaints and questions about insurance companies, agents and adjusters. Complaints should be in writing: you can use the online form, a mail or fax form, or email insurance@ct.gov, and include your policy number and a summary of the problem. The Department sends the complaint to the insurer for a response and then sends you a written report of what it found. For questions you can call 860-297-3900.
Source: CT Insurance Department, The Complaint Process and File a Complaint or Ask a Question
Does my roofer have to be registered with the state?
Yes. In Connecticut, home improvement contractors, roofers included, must be registered with the Department of Consumer Protection. You can look up a contractor's registration by name on the state's eLicense site. The state's Home Improvement Guaranty Fund can help homeowners who hired a registered contractor, which is one more reason to check before you hire.
Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-420, CT Department of Consumer Protection and eLicense lookup
What has to be in a home improvement contract, and can I cancel it?
A home improvement contract in Connecticut must be in writing and signed by you and the contractor. It must contain the whole agreement, the date, the contractor's name, address and registration number, a start date and completion date, and a notice of your cancellation rights, and you get a copy when you sign. Every home improvement contract is treated as a home solicitation sale, so you can cancel until midnight of the third business day after the transaction. In a true emergency that you called the contractor about, you can waive that waiting period with a handwritten, signed and dated statement.
Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-429 and §§ 42-134a and 42-135a (2026 Supplement)
How do I spot a storm chaser?
Scammers tend to follow big storms. The Department of Consumer Protection warns against hiring someone who knocks on your door uninvited, will not show credentials or references, offers a very low price only if you commit on the spot, will not put the deal in writing, or wants cash, a wire transfer or another untraceable payment. The Insurance Department adds: get more than one estimate, do not pay the full amount up front, and do not sign over your insurance payment.
Source: CT Department of Consumer Protection storm chaser alert and the CT Insurance Department storm claim tips