Public adjuster or roofing contractor?
After a storm, you'll hear both terms, and they do very different jobs. One negotiates your claim for a fee. The other documents the damage and does the work. Here's the honest difference, so you know who you actually need.
Start with a free roof inspection.
Before you decide who you need, get the damage documented. We inspect free, photograph everything, and give you an honest read on whether you have a claim worth filing. No obligation.
Got it. We'll be in touch.
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Two different jobs, often confused.
A public adjuster works on the insurance side of things. A roofing contractor works on the roof. Knowing which is which saves you time and money.
Public Adjuster
- Licensed to represent the policyholder in a claim.
- Negotiates the settlement with your insurer on your behalf.
- Typically charges a fee or a percentage of the claim.
- Does not perform the repair work.
Roofing Contractor
- Inspects and documents the storm damage in detail.
- Provides a repair scope and estimate for your insurer.
- Can meet your adjuster on site and do the approved work.
- Not a public adjuster, and never takes a cut of your claim.
Documenting the damageWe document and repair. We don't adjust your claim.
This is where a lot of homeowners get steered wrong. A good contractor is hugely valuable on a storm claim, up to a point. We want to be clear about where that line is, so you always know who's doing what.
- We can: inspect and photograph all the damage
- We can: write a clear repair scope and estimate
- We can: meet your adjuster on site and do the work
- We can't: negotiate or settle the claim for you
- We can't: act as a public adjuster, that takes a license
Our own crewsThe contractor side, done thoroughly.
Most storm claims go smoothly when the damage is documented well and the contractor and adjuster are on the same page. That's exactly what we do, and one of our customers put it simply: they paid their deductible and we worked with the insurance.
- Free, thorough roof and exterior inspection
- Full photo documentation of the damage
- A repair scope matched to your insurer's process
- We meet your adjuster and complete approved repairs
When a public adjuster may be worth it.
We're a contractor, not an adjuster, and we won't pretend a public adjuster never has a place. For some situations, it's a reasonable call.
A denied claim
Your claim was denied and you believe the damage is clearly covered.
A large or complex loss
A major loss with many trades involved and a complicated scope.
A big gap in the offer
The insurer's number is far below the real cost to repair.
You're overwhelmed
You simply want a licensed pro handling the back-and-forth for you.
If a storm just hit your roof.
Most people land here right after a hailstorm, unsure of the first step. Wherever you are, the first move is the same: get it inspected.
Just had storm damage
Not sure yet whether it's worth a claim at all.
First-time claimant
Never filed before and want to do it right.
Denied or underpaid
Got a number that doesn't add up and need options.
Commercial or large loss
A bigger building with a more complex claim.
The contractor that tells you the truth about your claim.
We've handled storm claims as a roofing contractor since 1979. We document thoroughly, work alongside your insurer, and do quality repairs with our own crews, and we tell you plainly what we can and can't do, so you can decide if you also need a public adjuster.
Important: Buckshot General Contracting is a licensed roofing contractor. We are not Iowa public adjusters, nor do we offer public adjusting services (Iowa Code §522C). We do not negotiate or settle insurance claims on your behalf or charge a percentage of your settlement.
Rated 4.9 stars across 80 reviews.
A few words from Buckshot storm and insurance customers.
"I paid my deductible and Buckshot worked with the insurance."
"All I had to do was pick out my colors and they handled the rest."
"Roof done less than a day, great work."
Q.01What's the difference between a public adjuster and a contractor?+
Q.02Is Buckshot a public adjuster?+
Q.03Do I need a public adjuster for a normal storm claim?+
Q.04Can a contractor talk to my insurance company?+
Q.05Does the inspection cost anything?+
Q.06What if my claim was denied or underpaid?+
Storm & claims help.
Not sure who you need? Start here.
Get a free, documented roof inspection and an honest read on your claim. We'll tell you exactly what we can do, and when a public adjuster might be worth a call.
Buckshot General Contracting, family-owned since 1979. Headquartered at 621 N Sherman Ave, Suite B5, Madison, WI 53704, with a field office in Centerville, IA. WI Lic. DC-080900045 · IL Lic. 104017198. GAF Master Elite, FORTIFIED Provider, and BBB A+ accredited. This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Buckshot General Contracting is a licensed roofing contractor; we are not Iowa public adjusters, nor do we offer public adjusting services (Iowa Code §522C). We do not negotiate or settle insurance claims on your behalf or charge a percentage of any settlement. Insurance coverage depends on your individual policy. Credentials current as of publication.