Tree Damage Estimates
Tree Damage Insurance Estimates That Actually Get Paid
A tree through a roof is one of the most commonly underpaid insurance claims. Carriers scope the obvious — shingles and decking — and skip the rest. We write the complete estimate that gets your contractor paid for every dollar of work.
Why Tree Damage Claims Are Chronically Underpaid
Tree falls involve multiple damage categories at once — structural, roofing, interior, debris, and emergency mitigation. Most insurance adjusters are scoping one category at a time. They write the roof. They skip the interior. They miss the debris removal. They don't write the emergency tarp correctly.
The result is a carrier estimate that covers maybe 60% of the actual scope. Your contractor does the rest of the work for free — or fights for months to get paid. We fix that before the work starts.
What Carriers Miss on Tree Damage Claims
Full structural assessment of penetration area
Interior damage (drywall, insulation, framing)
Debris removal and hauling — separate from tree removal
Emergency tarping — billed correctly to the carrier
Temporary roof repairs before permanent fix
Fascia, soffit, gutter damage at impact zone
Attic insulation compression or contamination
Water intrusion and resulting dryout
Code upgrade requirements triggered by the repair
Emergency Tarps: Getting Carriers to Pay Contractors
Tree damage almost always means an emergency tarp. Most carriers write tarp billing at a fraction of the actual cost — or structured in a way that pays the homeowner directly instead of the contractor who did the work.
We write tarp estimates that are correctly structured in Xactimate — proper line items, proper labor, proper material quantities — so carriers pay the full amount, to the right party. This alone can recover thousands of dollars on a single tree job.
See our Emergency Tarp service →Insurance vs. Retail Tree Damage Estimates
Insurance Estimate (Supplement)
Written in Xactimate. Structured to match carrier line-item format. Includes scope justification. Submitted with documentation. We follow up with the carrier 2-3x/week until approved.
Retail Estimate
For cash-pay jobs or when insurance isn't involved. Professionally written, itemized estimate your contractor can present to the homeowner. Priced at true market rates — not carrier minimums.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you write both insurance supplements and retail estimates for tree damage?
Yes. If the homeowner is filing an insurance claim, we write the Xactimate supplement. If it's a cash-pay job, we write a professional retail estimate. Both options available.
How fast can you turn around a tree damage estimate?
24 hours from receiving the job documentation. Tree damage is often an emergency — we treat it that way.
Do carriers pay contractors directly on tree damage claims?
If the supplement is written properly with the contractor named and the scope documented correctly — yes. We make sure the estimate is structured so the payment flows to the contractor, not just the homeowner.
What documentation do we need to send you?
Carrier estimate (if available), photos of the damage, any inspection report, and the basic job info. The more documentation, the stronger the supplement.
Have a Tree Damage Job Right Now?
We turn these around in 24 hours. Send us the carrier estimate and photos — we'll show you what's missing.
Email Kyle → kyle@theestimatecompany.com