You’ve just found a door hanger on your handle, or a roofer has knocked with an offer that sounds hard to pass up: a new roof, and they’ll take care of your deductible. Some call it a “free roof.” Others promise a rebate after the job, or a discount that happens to match what you’d owe on your claim.
In Colorado, a roofer can’t make that offer. This post explains what the law says, why the offer is a red flag even when it sounds generous, and what an honest claim looks like instead.
What Colorado Law Says About Deductibles
Colorado’s rules for residential roofing work are in Title 6, Article 22 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. The section on deductibles, C.R.S. 6-22-105, says a roofing contractor doing work paid from homeowner’s insurance “shall not advertise or promise to pay, waive, or rebate all or part of any insurance deductible applicable to the claim.”
Three parts of that sentence are worth reading slowly:
- “All or part.” Paying half of your deductible breaks the same rule as paying all of it.
- “Pay, waive, or rebate.” A roofer can’t pay the deductible for you, skip collecting it, or hand it back to you after the job.
- “Advertise or promise.” The offer itself is the problem. The statute is written against advertising or promising, so a flyer, a yard sign, or a pitch at your door that promises to cover your deductible is the kind of offer it names.
The same law puts it in your paperwork. Under C.R.S. 6-22-103, when you plan to pay for a roof with insurance money, your written roofing contract has to include a statement that the roofer cannot pay, waive, or rebate any part of your deductible. If a roofer’s contract leaves that statement out, or a salesperson tells you to ignore it, take that seriously.
These rules cover roofing work on homes, such as a one- or two-family house. The written-contract rules apply however the job is paid for; the deductible rule applies when the work is paid from a property and casualty insurance policy. The law doesn’t cover new construction or small jobs of $1,000 or less per contract (C.R.S. 6-22-102).
What Happens If a Roofer Breaks the Rule
The statute spells out two consequences when a roofer advertises or promises to cover a deductible:
- Your insurance company doesn’t have to consider that roofer’s estimate for the work.
- You, or your insurance company, can take the roofer to court to recover damages caused by the violation.
The first one lands on you as much as on the roofer. The estimate is often the document a roofing claim is built around. If the insurer is free to set it aside, the deal that was supposed to save you money can leave you sorting out your claim again, with the storm damage still on your roof.
Why a “Free Roof” Offer Is a Red Flag
Your deductible is your share of the claim. The Colorado Division of Insurance says it plainly: you are responsible for paying the deductible amount. It also notes that many homeowner policies carry a separate wind and hail deductible set as a percentage of your coverage, such as 1%, 2%, or 5%. On a hail claim, that can be a bigger number than you expect, which is exactly why the offer is tempting.
The money doesn’t disappear, though. If a roofer is going to absorb your deductible, it has to come from somewhere: a cheaper job than the one your insurer is paying for, or a bill to your insurer that’s higher than the work. Either way, you’re the one who lives under that roof, and your name is on the claim.
An offer like this also tells you how a company plans to do business. If the first thing a roofer says to you bends Colorado law, ask yourself what else will bend once they have your signature and your deposit.
Other Offers That Should Give You Pause
The deductible offer rarely shows up alone. Watch for these, too:
- “You won’t pay a thing.” Unless your policy has no deductible, someone is covering that amount, and Colorado law says it can’t be the roofer.
- Cash back after the job. A rebate, refund, or “bonus” that comes out to about your deductible is worth questioning, whatever it’s called.
- A roofer who offers to act as your adjuster. Colorado law bars roofers who solicit work from posing as, or working as, public insurance adjusters. Once you’ve signed a contract with a roofer, they may talk with your insurer about the scope of repairs for you. That’s where the line sits.
For a full list of questions to ask before you sign anything, see our guide: Storm Chaser or Local Roofer? Questions to Ask Before You Sign.
What an Honest Claim Looks Like Instead
You pay your deductible. That part doesn’t change, whoever you hire. What should change is the work you get for it: damage that’s documented with photos, a claim built on what the storm actually did, and a roof installed the right way.
Here’s how that works with us. It starts with a free inspection: photos of your roof and exterior and a detailed damage assessment, with no cost and no pressure. If the storm did damage, we walk you through filing your claim and can be there when your adjuster inspects. Once you’ve hired us under a signed contract, we can discuss the scope of repairs with your insurer on your behalf. Our crew installs to manufacturer spec and cleans up completely.
Not sure what your deductible is? It’s listed on your policy’s declarations page. If you can’t find your policy, Colorado law requires your homeowner’s insurance company to give you a copy, including the declarations page and any endorsements, within three business days of your request (C.R.S. 10-4-110.8, subsection 10).
Note: Ingenubuild documents damage and helps coordinate your claim. We do not waive, rebate, or absorb insurance deductibles, which is prohibited under Colorado law. Your insurer determines coverage.
If the first thing a roofer says to you bends Colorado law, ask yourself what else will bend once they have your signature and your deposit.
Already Signed With Someone Who Made the Offer?
Read your contract. Colorado roofing contracts must include a cancellation policy that lets you cancel within 72 hours after signing and get a full refund of any deposit. They also have to tell you about a second right: if your insurer denies the claim in whole or in part, you can cancel within 72 hours after you get the written denial. Both rights are in C.R.S. 6-22-103 and C.R.S. 6-22-104, and the deadlines are short, so act quickly if either one applies to you.
If you have questions about your coverage or your claim, call your insurance company. The Colorado Division of Insurance also answers consumer questions about insurance and the claims process, and you can file a complaint with the Division if you need to.
This post is general information about Colorado law, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk with a Colorado attorney.
Start With a Free Inspection
We never waive deductibles. What we do is come out, inspect your roof for free, photograph what we find, and help you decide whether filing a claim makes sense. If it does, we walk you through it and meet your adjuster on site.
We’re based in Grand Junction and serve homeowners across the Western Slope and Colorado mountain communities. Call (970) 649-6469 or request your free inspection online. We respond within 24 hours.
