Why You’re Required to Use the Full Insurance Proceeds for Your Roof Restoration
- pledgeroofingpros
- May 22
- 3 min read
Can I “Pocket” Money From a Roof Claim?
At Pledge Roofing and Construction, we handle roofing insurance claims daily. One of the most common misconceptions we hear from homeowners is:
“Can I get the work done for less and keep the rest of the insurance money?”
Short answer: No.
Long answer: Trying to do so can backfire badly—causing you to lose part of your claim, get a lesser roof, or even face serious legal consequences.
Let’s break this down in clear, honest terms.
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Roof Insurance Works Like Health Insurance
Imagine you’re having surgery that costs $40,000. Your health insurance pays the bill (minus your deductible). You can’t call the surgeon and say, “Do it for $25,000 and bill insurance the full amount so I can keep the rest.”
That’s insurance fraud.
Roof claims work the same way.
The money your insurance company pays isn’t a personal payout—it’s specifically meant to restore your home. Your only responsibility is to pay your deductible. Everything else must be spent to complete the work.
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The Final Invoice Comes From the Roofer—And It Must Match the Final Claim
At the end of the job, your insurance company will ask for a final invoice. This invoice must:
Be provided by the roofing contractor
Reflect the full cost of the job after all approved supplements
Include proof that the entire claim scope was completed
If the invoice shows a lower total—or if some of the work wasn’t done—the insurance company will pay you less. This could cost you thousands in recoverable depreciation (the final portion of your claim), and leave your home only partially restored.
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Trying to “Pocket the Difference” Is Insurance Fraud
If a homeowner convinces a contractor to do the work for less and still bills the insurance company for the full amount so they can keep the difference—that is felony insurance fraud.
Both the homeowner and the contractor can face:
Criminal charges
Large fines
Loss of insurance coverage
Even prison time
At Pledge Roofing, we follow the law, protect our clients, and keep your insurance claim 100% above board.
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Why You Shouldn’t Get Three Bids on an Insurance Claim
Some people think they need to get three estimates like it’s a retail purchase. But when you’re going through insurance, that approach can actually hurt you.
Here’s why:
Insurance companies use the lowest bid to determine what they’ll pay
That can undercut your claim, resulting in a lower payout
And lower payouts mean lower-quality work or materials
Your claim should be based on what it actually takes to restore your home—not on who bids the cheapest. This isn’t about negotiating a deal—it’s about getting the work done correctly and fully covered. Cost doesn’t matter in an insurance claim—your only cost is your deductible and the insurance pays the rest for material, labor, tax, and code upgrades.
We don’t play the lowball game—we work directly with your insurance to ensure your claim is accurate, fair, and pays out what it should.
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The Only Legal Way to Retain Some of the Claim
There is one way you can keep a small portion of the insurance money—but it only applies to non-roof items.
If your claim includes other trades, such as:
✅ Gutters
✅ Garage doors
✅ Fencing
✅ Window screens
✅ Painting or siding
You’re legally allowed to elect not to complete those items.
But here’s what you need to know:
You’ll only receive the actual cash value (ACV) for skipped items (not the full replacement amount)
You can only claim those items once—if you skip them now, you can’t get paid for them later
Everything must be documented correctly, and we help you handle that process legally and cleanly
Or you can do those items yourself and receive a recoverable depreciation fully
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Let Pledge Roofing Handle the Entire Claim—Seamlessly and Legally
The best way to navigate your insurance claim?
Let Pledge Roofing and Construction handle every item on the claim from start to finish.
We:
Review your entire scope of loss
Supplement for legitimate upgrades and code requirements
Ensure all trades are properly invoiced
Submit everything the insurance company needs to release full payment
Work with you to optimize your claim legally and ethically
You get peace of mind knowing your roof is restored right, your insurance payout is fully released, and your claim is compliant with state and insurance laws.
📞 Got Questions About Your Roof Insurance Claim?
Let’s walk through your claim together and build a plan that protects your home—and your wallet—the right way.
📞 405-353-2762
🏠 Pledge Roofing & Construction
Licensed & Insured | License #80005691
Jake T. Jensen, President
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