Hire a general contractor that self-performs its own roofing, not a stand-alone roofer, for most insurance restoration jobs in Georgia. A roofer can replace shingles. A general contractor with roofing crews in-house can inspect the whole loss, write the claim scope in Xactimate, a widely used property-loss estimating platform, and manage every trade the repair touches under one license.
Should You Hire a General Contractor or a Roofer for an Insurance Restoration Job in Georgia?
Choose the contracting model after defining the repair. A roof-only project may fit a roofing contractor, while a multi-trade reconstruction may require a GC that coordinates non-roof trades. Integrity CRR self-performs roofing and GC-manages non-roof scopes through vetted subcontractors; the proposed project team and subcontractor history should be stated in writing.
What a Roofer Handles vs What a General Contractor Handles
| Roofer | General Contractor | |
|---|---|---|
| License scope | Roofing trade only | Licensed to manage all trades on a project |
| Typical role in a claim | Repairs or replaces the roof system | Inspects, documents, scopes, and manages every trade the loss touches |
| Interior or structural damage | Usually referred out | Scoped and managed directly, in-house or through vetted subs |
| Claim documentation | Varies by company | In-house Xactimate scope written in Xactimate |
A roofer is the right call when the loss is roof-only and simple: a handful of missing shingles, one damaged slope. Georgia insurance restoration claims are often not that simple. Hail that cracks shingles can also dent gutters, damage a detached garage roof, and soak an attic, and each of those needs to show up in the same claim scope or the owner absorbs the cost. A general contractor licensed to manage all of it can keep the whole loss in one scope instead of three separate bids.
Why the Estimating Software Matters as Much as the License
Xactimate is widely used for property-loss claim estimates, an estimating platform that breaks a repair into line items: material, labor, disposal, and code items, each priced to a regional cost database. A contractor who submits a bid in a different format is arguing in general terms against a document written in specific ones. Integrity CRR uses in-house Xactimate estimating, so its estimators write the repair scope in the same software and the same line-item format the adjuster used. That makes it possible to lay the two estimates side by side and point to the exact line items that are missing or underpriced, instead of disputing a total dollar figure with no way to show where it came from.
The Claims Process, Step by Step
- Condition documentation. The proposal names the person who documents accessible observed conditions with photographs and measurements, along with that person’s relevant credentials.
- Documentation. The inspection findings get written into a claim file: damage type, extent, and cause, tied to the storm date.
- Adjuster meeting. Integrity CRR meets the carrier’s adjuster on site so both estimates are based on the same physical damage, not two separate site visits.
- Scope of repair. The findings get converted into a Xactimate estimate, Xactimate’s line-item format, so the two can be compared line by line.
- Supplementing. Where the approved estimate omits code-required work, hidden damage, or a detached structure, Integrity CRR documents it and submits a supplement to the carrier.
What Happens If the Insurance Estimate Is Short
Once your claim is approved, Integrity CRR documents the repair scope and any supported differences between that scope and the carrier estimate. Its in-house Xactimate staff records items such as code-required upgrades, detached structures, and labor or materials discovered after the roof is opened. If appropriate, Integrity CRR may submit a contractor supplement request for carrier review. The carrier decides coverage, the approved repair scope, and payment.
What Integrity CRR does not do is negotiate your claim. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 10-1-393.12(e)) reserves that role for a licensed public adjuster, and Integrity CRR is a contractor, not a public adjuster. Whether the carrier approves a given claim, and how much it pays, is a decision between you and your insurance company. Integrity CRR documents the scope it writes and supported omissions; the carrier makes the coverage decision.
What a Roof Restoration or Repair Typically Costs
A roof estimate should identify measured quantities, the repair or replacement scope, existing-condition assumptions, the proposed assembly, access, allowances, unit prices, and exclusions. For commercial low-slope work, use the Atlanta commercial roof budget guide to compare those inputs rather than relying on an unsourced market range. Insurance coverage and carrier pricing remain separate from the contractor’s construction scope and proposal.
Credentials to Check Before You Hire
Ask any contractor bidding an insurance restoration job in Georgia these questions directly:
- Can the roof inspector explain their methods and provide photos, measurements, and written observations?
- If the carrier’s estimate uses Xactimate, can the contractor provide a scope in the same platform for line-item comparison?
- Does the company hold an active Georgia GC license, and is it in good standing?
- Does the company self-perform the roofing work, or is it subcontracted out?
Integrity CRR is service-disabled veteran-owned and based in Atlanta. It self-performs roofing with its own crews and writes roofing estimates in house using Xactimate. Integrity CRR, LLC currently holds Georgia company license GCCO009212, with Zachary Chastain Whyte as qualifying agent under GCQA009212. Georgia board minutes document both May 21, 2025 issuances; verify the current records in the live state lookup. Integrity’s GAF and Mule-Hide certifications are current, but verify the exact program, system, tier, and warranty path claimed in a proposal.
Notify the Carrier and Arrange an Inspection
Document the roof and any related interior conditions without delaying required notice to the carrier. Call Integrity CRR at (833) 423-6255, or contact us online, to request current availability for a storm restoration inspection in Georgia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a roofer file an insurance claim for me?
A roofer can document roof damage and give you a repair estimate, but Georgia law bars a residential roofing contractor from offering to negotiate or represent your claim with the insurance company (O.C.G.A. 10-1-393.12(e)). A general contractor faces the same restriction. Either way, negotiating coverage is public adjuster work, not contractor work.
What’s the difference between a roofer and a general contractor for storm damage?
A roofer’s license covers roofing work only. A general contractor is licensed to manage every trade a storm loss can touch, roof, gutters, siding, interior water damage, and detached structures, under one contract and one scope.
Does Integrity CRR handle both the roof and the insurance paperwork?
Integrity CRR inspects the damage, documents it, meets the adjuster on site, and writes the repair scope in Xactimate, a widely used property-loss estimating platform. When the carrier uses the same platform, corresponding line items can be compared directly. Integrity does not negotiate the claim or represent the owner with the carrier; that is public-adjuster work.
What if my insurance estimate doesn’t cover the full repair?
Integrity CRR’s in-house Xactimate staff documents any gap between the approved estimate and what the scope actually supports, including code-required upgrades and damage found once the roof is open, and submits a supplement to the carrier. Whether the carrier approves the supplement is between the owner and the carrier.