If you’ve received a letter saying your home is “not insurable” unless you replace the roof, you’re not overreacting. In a recent Hire It Done episode on 101 WRIF, host Adam Helfman described exactly what homeowners are seeing: “We flew a drone over your house… we feel that your house is not insurable anymore unless you put a new roof… we’re canceling your policy right away, or we’re giving you 60 days.” 

This guide breaks down what’s driving these letters, what “roof limits” mean in plain English, and the smartest way to respond if you live in Metro Detroit or anywhere in Southeast Michigan.

Why These Roof Letters Are Showing Up More Often

The episode didn’t paint this as a one-sided problem. It’s a cycle that escalated.

Homeowners started believing insurance would pay for a roof. Some contractors pushed that belief hard with the familiar pitch: “There was hail last May and we can get you a free roof.” Insurers pushed back. Adam summed up the insurance playbook like this: “Typically insurance companies are D and D denied delay… They deny your claim, they delay your claim.”

Then the industry went into “moves and counter-moves.” Contractors got more aggressive about claim language. Insurers responded by tightening policies and using tools like drone photos to spot roofs they don’t want to insure.

What “Roof Limits” In Your Policy Actually Mean

Adam called out a major change that’s catching homeowners off guard: “The insurance company is writing into policies, a limit on the roof.”

That means you might still have homeowners insurance, but your roof coverage no longer works the way you think it does. Instead of “pay the deductible, insurance covers the rest,” you could have a cap on what they’ll pay toward roof replacement.

Adam shared a real example from his own coverage: “I have a limit of 20 grand… replacement value for my roof or a percentage of the value of my home.”

Why does that matter in 2026? Because roof pricing has moved. Adam put it in homeowner terms: “You’re paying just under a thousand dollars a square… The average house is 25 squares. That’s 25 grand for roof.”

If your policy caps roof coverage at $20,000 (or limits coverage as the roof ages), you can end up paying a big chunk out of pocket even if you “have insurance.”

The 5 Questions To Ask Your Insurance Agent (Before And After A Letter)

Adam’s advice was simple and urgent: “You must ask your insurance agent about new language.” Use these questions:

1. Do I have a roof sub-limit or roof payment cap? What is it?
2. Is my roof covered at replacement value or reduced value based on age?
3. What triggers a roof warning or cancellation? Age, appearance, drone photos, inspection?
4. If I get a roof letter, what documents will you accept to keep my policy active?
5. If I complete repairs or maintenance, what proof do you need, and how fast?

These questions turn you from “confused homeowner” into “homeowner with a plan.”

What To Do The Day You Get The Drone Letter

That letter puts you on a clock. Your job is to move fast without getting pressured into the wrong project.

1) Lock in the deadline and the stated reason

Some letters focus on shingles. Others call out fascia or soffit. Adam described versions that say, “We saw your fascia your soffit… we’re canceling your policy.”

2) Call your agent and ask for the compliance path

Ask what they will accept: photos, a written inspection report, invoices, or a combination.

3) Get a real inspection, not a sales visit

This is where many homeowners get steered wrong.

Jeff Goldman of EverNew Roofing explained what most people do: they call the company running nonstop “free inspection” ads. “So what do they send? They send a commission based salesperson to your house who has one goal. To sell your roof… They have zero interest in telling you that your roof has five or 10 years left.”

EverNew’s approach, as Jeff described, is different. They send a “Haag-certified roof inspector… to give you a full report on your roof.” Adam added that this is the kind of inspector insurance companies acknowledge and accept.

4) Use the report to choose the minimum effective fix

A solid report gives you leverage. Jeff explained the payoff: with the report in hand, “the insurance companies have a better chance of saying, okay, you’re good.”

Your goal isn’t to “win” against your insurer. Your goal is to keep coverage and protect your home with the right level of work.

Don’t Fall For The “Insurance Will Pay For Everything” Pitch

A lot of SE Michigan homeowners get boxed into a roof decision by one sentence: “Don’t worry, insurance will cover it.”

The episode tackled this head-on. Adam said some contractors mislead homeowners by promising a free roof, and he reminded listeners that just because your neighbour lost shingles doesn’t mean you automatically get a roof.

So protect yourself with a simple rule: ask for proof, not promises.

If someone says they can “get insurance to pay,” ask:

• What damage are you documenting?
• What happens if the claim is denied?
• Are you licensed and insured?

On the show, Adam asked EverNew point-blank if they’re licensed and insured. They said yes. That matters, because hiring the wrong contractor can leave you with a denied claim, a bill you didn’t expect, and an insurer that now sees you as higher risk.

Why Documentation Is Your Best Friend

If you remember one word from this episode, remember this: documentation.

Adam said it directly: “Documentation is the best.”

Insurance companies respond to evidence, not opinions. A credible paper trail can include:

• a certified inspection report
• clear roof photos
• itemised repair invoices
• proof the work is completed

Jeff explained why that inspection report hits differently. The inspector “will just tell it like it is” and won’t exaggerate remaining roof life. That honesty helps insurers back off, especially when you show you’re maintaining the roof instead of ignoring it.

Where EverNew Roofing Fits In This Conversation

This episode featured Adam LaBelle and Jeff Goldman of EverNew Roofing because they deal with these letters in the real world. They serve Metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan, and they don’t only do one thing.

EverNew Roofing is licensed and insured (and operates as a division of Bloomfield Home Improvement, MI Builders License #262400526). Their positioning is simple: Expertise You Can Count On! Let’s Get Your Roof Right!

They offer:

• Roof Rejuvenation by Fresh Roof (backed by a 6-year warranty)
• Roof replacements
• Professional roof repairs

The practical takeaway is simple: you start with facts, then choose the right solution for your roof and your insurance requirements.

Your SE Michigan Roof-Letter Checklist

If you want a clean plan you can run this week, use this:

1. Review your policy for roof limits and roof language changes.
2. If you received a letter, note the deadline and the exact issue cited.
3. Call your agent and ask what documents they will accept.
4. Schedule an inspection that produces a written report.
5. Avoid “free inspection” pressure until you have the report.
6. Complete the minimum effective fix (repair, maintenance, rejuvenation, or replacement).
7. Submit documentation fast, and keep copies.

You can’t control the insurance industry’s direction. You can control how you respond, and you can respond with evidence instead of panic.