A New Roof in Emporia — and What We Found Under the Old One
Meet a home in Emporia, KS — its new roof went on October 5. From the street, the story is simple: a full tear-off and replacement in IKO Dynasty architectural shingles, Cornerstone color. Crisp lines, a clean valley, decades of protection ahead.
But the most important part of this job happened in the few hours when there was no roof at all.
What tear-off revealed
An insurance scope is written from what an adjuster can see — and an adjuster can't see under your shingles. Our crew can, for exactly one morning.
On this roof, tear-off turned up synthetic underlayment where the insurance scope had paid for plain 15# felt. That's not a rounding error — it's a different material with a different price, and it's the kind of line item that quietly shortchanges a settlement. We also photographed a hail-punched basement window well cover and documented the gutter covers we detached and protected so the tear-off wouldn't damage them.
Every one of those finds got photographed and put in the claim file. That's the whole game: on an insurance roof, documentation at tear-off is the difference between a settlement that covers the real roof and one that covers the guessed-at roof.
Why this is Matt's home turf
Matt is HAAG-certified and a former licensed insurance adjuster. He has sat on both sides of the scope sheet — which is why our crews are trained to shoot photos at tear-off like the claim depends on it. Because it does.
The hidden layers — underlayment, decking, flashing, drip edge — are only visible between the last old shingle coming off and the first new one going on. Miss that window and the evidence is sealed under a brand-new roof.
The lesson for KC-area homeowners
If you file a storm claim, get YOUR contractor on site twice: once when the adjuster visits, and again at tear-off. Ask three questions:
Does what's under the shingles match what the scope paid for?
Is every damaged item — including the small stuff like window well covers — photographed?
Is someone filing those photos where the claim can actually use them?
If the answer to any of those is no, call us before the adjuster — and definitely before the tear-off.
Thinking about your own home?
We do roofing, siding, windows, and gutters — the whole exterior, one contractor, one call.
Know someone who needs roofing, siding, windows, or gutters? $500 cash when they sign.
Free 8-point inspection — call or text 816-337-7037 or visit Roof4kc.com. RT Construction.
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