Roofing Companies Savannah GA: Contracts & Claims
When comparing roofing companies in Savannah, GA, the contract, warranty terms, and insurance-claim process matter as much as the price, since a bad contract can leave a homeowner exposed after a hurricane claim. Full reroofs in this metro run roughly $9,500 to $17,000 for asphalt shingle homes, and a written contract should spell out permit responsibility, payment schedule, and both warranty types before any deposit changes hands. This guide focuses on the paperwork: what a fair contract contains, how insurance claims work locally, and what bond and insurance minimums to expect.
By Jason Green · Roofing & Gutters · Published September 4, 2026 · 8 min read
What belongs in a Savannah roofing contract
A complete contract names the company's Georgia contractor license number and local business license, states who is responsible for pulling the City of Savannah or Chatham County permit, and lists the exact materials by brand and product line, not just 'architectural shingles.' It should include a payment schedule (commonly a modest deposit, a progress payment at material delivery or tear-off, and a final payment at completion and inspection), plus a start and estimated completion date.
It should also separate the workmanship warranty, which the company itself stands behind (often 2-10 years against installation defects), from the manufacturer's material warranty (often 25-50 years, frequently prorated after an initial full-coverage period). Ask the company to show you the manufacturer certification that lets them offer an enhanced or non-prorated warranty, since not every installer qualifies for the top-tier version even on the same shingle brand.
The contract should also spell out what happens with change orders, particularly for hidden decking damage discovered during tear-off, so there's a pre-agreed per-sheet cost rather than an open-ended number added on later. A vague contract with a single lump-sum price and no scope detail is one of the most common sources of dispute after the job is done.
Insurance claims and storm damage work
After hail or hurricane-related wind damage, Chatham County homeowners typically get an insurance adjuster's inspection first; a reputable roofing company will do its own inspection, document damage with photos, and provide a scope of work that can be compared line by line against the adjuster's estimate rather than simply adopting whatever the insurer initially offers. Be cautious of any company that asks you to sign an assignment of benefits (AOB) that hands over control of your claim before you've read exactly what it authorizes.
Confirm the company carries general liability insurance and, if it employs crews directly, workers' compensation coverage; ask to see the certificate rather than taking their word for it, since an injury on your property from an uninsured crew can become the homeowner's liability. Georgia does not set a statewide roofing bond requirement, so any bonding is typically a company's own choice or a manufacturer certification requirement, which is worth asking about directly.
If a claim gets denied or underpaid, a company experienced with Chatham County storm claims should be able to walk through what supplemental documentation, like additional photos or an independent engineer's letter, might support a reconsideration, rather than simply telling the homeowner to accept the insurer's first number.
Comparing bids and closing the deal
Line up quotes from at least three roofing companies with the same scope: same tear-off depth, same underlayment (synthetic vs felt), same drip edge and flashing metal, and the same fastening schedule appropriate for Chatham County's coastal wind exposure. A noticeably cheap bid usually means a shortcut somewhere in decking replacement, underlayment quality, or fastener spec, all of which matter more here than in low-wind inland counties.
For Historic District or Victorian District properties, confirm the company has actually pulled Certificates of Appropriateness before and understands the Historic District Board of Review process, since a company unfamiliar with that step can delay the job by weeks. Ask for references from at least one recent Historic District project if that's where your home is located.
Read the fine print on cancellation terms too; Georgia consumer protection rules generally allow a right to cancel certain contracts within a short window after signing, and a fair contractor will not pressure a same-day signature on a large reroof contract.
It's also worth asking a company how they document the pre-existing condition of a roof before storm work begins, since photos taken before tear-off can matter later if a dispute arises over what damage was already present versus what happened during the storm itself.
Some companies in the Savannah market specialize heavily in insurance restoration work rather than standard retail reroofing; both are legitimate business models, but a homeowner should understand which one they're hiring, since an insurance-focused company's pricing and process may differ from a company that primarily does cash retail jobs.
Finally, ask how the company handles warranty claims after the job is done, including who to call and how long a typical response takes, since a warranty is only as good as the company's willingness to honor it years down the road.
Homeowner Henry's free matching tool can connect you with roofing companies serving Savannah and Chatham County, and the Savannah roofing hub has more detail on permitting and licensing specifics if you want to double check anything before signing a contract.
Wind and hail deductibles on Chatham County claims
Most Georgia homeowners policies, including the large majority written in coastal Chatham County, carry a separate wind and hail deductible expressed as a percentage of the dwelling coverage limit rather than the flat dollar deductible used for other claim types; a common range is 1 to 5 percent, meaning a $350,000 dwelling could carry a $3,500-$17,500 deductible specifically for hurricane or hail-related roof damage. A reputable roofing company doing insurance work should ask to see the declarations page early and help the homeowner understand what they'll actually owe out of pocket before assuming the insurer covers the full replacement cost.
Because that deductible can be substantial, some companies in the region offer to help document additional storm-related damage beyond the roof, such as siding, gutters, or fencing, so the full loss is captured in a single claim rather than the homeowner absorbing the wind/hail deductible multiple times across separate small claims. Be cautious of any company that offers to simply waive or absorb your deductible for you, since that practice is illegal in Georgia and a red flag for a company willing to cut other corners too.
If a claim comes back underpaid relative to a company's own inspection findings, ask whether they'll provide a detailed line-item rebuttal with photos for the homeowner to submit to the adjuster, since insurers in the Savannah market do sometimes revise initial estimates once supplemental documentation, especially photos of decking condition once tear-off has started, is provided.
Final inspection and project closeout
Before releasing final payment, confirm the roof has passed whatever inspection the permit requires; for a City of Savannah permit, that typically means the assigned building inspector signs off on the completed work through the eTRAC system, and for unincorporated Chatham County addresses, the county's own building safety inspector does the same. A company should give the homeowner the closed permit record or inspection result, not just a verbal assurance that everything is fine.
Closeout should also include the manufacturer warranty registration paperwork, since many enhanced or non-prorated shingle and metal warranties require the certified installer to register the job with the manufacturer within a set window, often 30 to 90 days of completion, and a homeowner who never receives that registration confirmation may find the upgraded warranty was never actually activated. Ask the company directly for a copy of the warranty registration confirmation, not just the sales brochure describing what the warranty could cover.
A thorough final walkthrough should include a check of gutters and downspouts for shingle grit and nail debris, a magnetic sweep of the yard and driveway for stray fasteners, and photos of the completed roof for the homeowner's own records, all before the final invoice is paid in full.
Typical cost ranges
| Asphalt shingle reroof (contract total) | $9,500 - $17,000 |
| Standard deposit at signing | 10% - 25% of total |
| Progress payment (material delivery/tear-off) | 25% - 40% of total |
| Final payment (on completion/inspection) | Remaining balance |
| Enhanced non-prorated manufacturer warranty upgrade | $300 - $900 add-on |
Ranges are general estimates gathered from homeowner-reported quotes, not an offer or a quote for your project.
Common questions
What should be in a roofing contract in Savannah?
License and business registration numbers, exact materials, payment schedule, permit responsibility, start/completion dates, and both workmanship and manufacturer warranty terms.
Should I sign an assignment of benefits for an insurance roof claim?
Read it carefully first; an AOB hands claim control to the company, and homeowners should understand exactly what it authorizes before signing.
Is a bond required for roofing companies in Georgia?
Georgia does not mandate a statewide roofing bond; verify general liability insurance and any manufacturer certifications instead.
How is a workmanship warranty different from a manufacturer warranty?
The workmanship warranty covers installation mistakes and comes from the company, typically 2-10 years; the manufacturer warranty covers material defects, often 25-50 years and sometimes prorated.
Do roofing companies need Historic District approval in Savannah?
Yes, for contributing structures in the Historic or Victorian District, a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic District Board of Review is typically required before visible roofing material changes.
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