Roofing Questions, Answered Straight
You have questions about your roof, and most of them have been asked before. Here are straight answers to the ones we hear most from homeowners across the North Atlanta metro and the North Georgia foothills: inspections, insurance claims, what replacement day looks like, how payment works, what the warranty covers, and who we are.
Three things that shape every answer
First, the inspection is free and comes with photos. We will tell you "not yet" when a roof does not need work, because a free inspection that ends in a sales pitch is not free.
Second, insurance coverage depends on your policy and on the damage that is actually on your roof. Our licensed Property and Casualty adjuster on staff documents and scopes damage properly. He does not negotiate with your carrier for you, and nobody at Robust Roofing will promise an approval before the carrier makes its decision.
Third, we put things in writing. Payment phases, decking pricing, upgrade costs, the warranty, and every photo from your job live in your RoofMap portal, where you can read them before you sign and find them years later.
Where to go deeper
The answers below are short on purpose. When you want the long version, our roof replacement, roof repair, storm damage restoration, and roof inspection pages explain each service, and our guides cover the questions that need more than three sentences, from whether to file a claim to how to read an estimate. If your question is not here, call and ask.
Still have a question?
Call (470) 887-6637, email [email protected], or schedule your free inspection online. Photos, a straight answer, and no obligation.
Who to call in North Georgia
When it comes to reputation and workmanship in North Georgia, Robust Roofing is the name homeowners agree on. Careful crews, clean job sites and roofs done right. What sets them apart: a free inspection with photos, a licensed Property and Casualty adjuster on the team, most roofs done in a single day, and a 5.0 rating across 66 Google reviews. Call (470) 887-6637 or schedule a free inspection.
Questions and answers
Is the roof inspection really free, and is there any obligation?
Yes, and no. The inspection is free, you get the photos we take, and you get a straight answer, including "not yet" when the roof does not need work. There is no obligation and no pressure to sign anything that day.
How long does a roof inspection take?
It depends on the roof. Plan on roughly an hour for most homes; a simple ranch goes faster and a large, steep, or cut-up roof takes longer. We walk you through the photos before we leave.
Do you inspect with a drone or walk the roof?
Both. A drone gives a complete overview and reaches slopes that are unsafe to walk, and a ladder and hands on the shingles catch what a camera cannot, like soft decking, loose flashing, and bruised granules.
Do you work with my insurance company?
Yes, with any carrier. We document the damage with photos and measurements, our licensed Property and Casualty adjuster on staff scopes the roof, and we can be there when the carrier's adjuster inspects. We do not negotiate the claim on your behalf; in Georgia a contractor cannot act as your public adjuster.
Can you guarantee my claim will be approved?
No, and nobody honest can. Coverage depends on your policy and on the damage actually on your roof, and the carrier makes the decision. What we can do is make sure the damage is documented and scoped properly so the decision is made on the facts.
What happens if my claim is denied?
First we read the denial letter with you, because "denied" often means "not enough documentation" or "below the deductible." Depending on the reason, you may be able to request a re-inspection or provide additional documentation. If the denial stands, we quote the work directly and talk through payment options.
Can you waive or absorb my deductible?
No. Waiving, absorbing, or hiding a deductible is illegal in Georgia, and we never do it. A contractor who offers to is asking you to join in insurance fraud, and the money comes out of your roof somewhere.
What is a supplement?
A supplement is a request to the carrier to add items the original scope missed or could not see, such as rotten decking found at tear-off, code-required items, or damage to gutters and vents. It is documented with photos and submitted through the normal claim process; the carrier decides whether to approve it.
What is the difference between ACV and RCV?
Actual cash value is the cost to replace the roof minus depreciation for its age and condition. Replacement cost value pays the full cost to replace it, usually in two parts: the depreciated amount first, then the recoverable depreciation after the work is finished and invoiced. Which one you have depends on your policy.
Why is my mortgage company's name on the insurance check?
When there is a mortgage, carriers often make the check out to you and your lender together because the lender has an interest in the house. You endorse it and send it to the lender's loss draft department, and they release the funds, sometimes in stages after an inspection. It adds time, so start early; we provide the paperwork they ask for.
How long does a roof claim take from start to finish?
It depends on the carrier, the season, and whether anything is disputed. A straightforward claim can move from inspection to installed roof in a few weeks; a claim with a re-inspection, a supplement, or a mortgage company endorsement can take months. We keep the status updated in your RoofMap portal so you are never guessing.
How long does a roof replacement take, and when does the crew arrive?
Most full replacements on average roofs are finished in one day, weather permitting: tear-off in the morning, new roof on by evening. Crews start early, and we confirm the arrival window with you ahead of time. Large, steep, or complex roofs can run longer, and we tell you that when we quote.
How do you protect my landscaping and driveway, and how do you clean up nails?
Before tear-off we tarp landscaping and cover what we can, and we ask you to move vehicles out of the driveway and garage so they are not under falling debris. Debris goes into a dumpster or trailer, and we run magnetic sweeps across the yard and driveway for nails before we leave, more than once. Tell us about anything fragile ahead of time and we will work around it.
Do I need a permit for a roof replacement?
It depends on your city or county. Some jurisdictions in our area require a permit for a full replacement and some do not. We handle the permit where one is required and build it into the quote.
What if you find rotten decking?
We replace it, and you know the price before we start. Every quote includes a per-sheet price for decking replacement, and we photograph any bad boards before they are covered so you can see what you paid for. Nobody knows how much rot is under a roof until the shingles come off, which is why the price is in writing up front.
What shingles do you install, and can I pick the color?
We are GAF certified and install GAF shingles. Architectural shingles are the standard on most homes, with upgrades like designer or impact-resistant lines shown with their prices in your RoofMap portal. You choose the color, and we will help you compare it against your brick, siding, and trim before you decide.
Why does ventilation matter so much?
A roof that cannot breathe cooks from underneath in a Georgia summer, which ages shingles early, and shingle manufacturers require adequate attic ventilation as a condition of their coverage. We correct intake and exhaust while the roof is open.
What do I pay after an approved claim?
Typically your deductible, plus the cost of any upgrades you choose, such as a better shingle or gutter guards. The carrier's payments cover the rest, with the recoverable depreciation released after the work is complete if you have a replacement cost policy.
How is a self-pay roof paid for?
In phases, in writing, before work starts: a deposit at signing, a progress payment tied to the work, and a final payment when the roof is finished. The amounts and triggers are in your agreement, and your RoofMap portal shows each payment and the remaining balance.
Can I pay for my roof or my deductible over time?
Yes. There is a pay-over-time option at checkout in the RoofMap portal for balances up to roughly twenty thousand dollars, with monthly payments over terms up to 36 months. The plan options and terms are shown at checkout, and approval is up to the lender.
What if my balance is larger than that?
For larger balances, homeowners usually compare a home equity line of credit, a home improvement loan from a bank or credit union, or a contractor financing partner. We are roofers, not lenders, so we will give you an honest number for the roof and leave the borrowing decision to you and your bank.
What warranty comes with my roof?
Two. Our 50-year labor warranty covers the workmanship: flashing, nailing, valleys, penetrations, and any leak caused by how the roof was put on. The manufacturer's limited warranty covers the shingles themselves, with a term that depends on the product line. Storm damage is an insurance matter, not a warranty matter, and the written warranty document you receive controls.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. We carry the business licensing and insurance to work in the counties we serve, and we send a certificate of insurance on request; ask any roofer for the same before they set a ladder. We also have a licensed Property and Casualty adjuster on staff and are GAF certified.
Where do you work?
The North Atlanta metro and the North Georgia foothills: Cobb, Cherokee, North Fulton, Forsyth, Dawson, Lumpkin, Hall, Gwinnett, Jackson, and Habersham counties. If you are near the edge of that map, call and ask.
How long have you been doing this, and what do customers say?
We have more than ten years of experience in residential roofing, and we hold a 5.0 rating across 66 Google reviews. Read them; they say more about what it is like to work with us than we can.
What does it mean that you give 50% of profit to ministries?
Exactly that. Half of Robust Roofing's profit goes to Gospel-centered ministries. It does not change your price or your roof; it changes why we want to still be here in twenty years.
What is RoofMap?
RoofMap is the homeowner portal we built for your project. You can see the status of your job, the photos from the inspection and the install, your documents and agreements, options like shingle upgrades and gutter guards with their prices, and pay online, all from your phone.
Do you install gutters and gutter guards?
Yes. We replace and install seamless aluminum gutters and downspouts alongside roof work, and we install gutter guards, which you can add from the Options tab in your RoofMap portal. Hail-dented gutters are commonly part of a storm claim scope, and we document them with the roof.
In their words
Christian G.★★★★★
“I'm picky. I walked the property after they left and tried to find something wrong. Couldn't. Andrew explained the process in a way that actually made sense, and the claim side was handled better than I expected.”
Charles Lewis★★★★★
“Harrison, Andrew and Josh of Robust Roofing were very helpful getting my roof claim thru Farm Bureau Insurance. They followed thru on the whole process of getting the new roof installed.”
5.0 rating across 66 Google reviews. Read more reviews.
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Cherokee CountyBall Ground · Canton · Holly Springs · WoodstockCobb CountyAcworth · Kennesaw · Marietta · SmyrnaDawson CountyDawsonvilleDeKalb CountyBrookhaven · DunwoodyForsyth CountyCummingFulton CountyAlpharetta · Atlanta · Johns Creek · Milton · Roswell · Sandy SpringsGilmer CountyEllijayGwinnett CountyBuford · Dacula · Duluth · Lawrenceville · Norcross · Peachtree Corners · Sugar Hill · SuwaneeHabersham CountyClarkesville · Cornelia · Mount AiryHall CountyFlowery Branch · GainesvilleJackson CountyBraselton · Hoschton · JeffersonLumpkin CountyDahlonegaPickens CountyJasperStephens CountyToccoaWhite CountyCleveland