Yes. In Colorado you are responsible for paying your insurance deductible on a roof replacement, and it’s illegal for a roofing contractor to pay, waive, or rebate it for you. When your insurer approves a claim, they pay the cost of the work minus your deductible — and that deductible is your out-of-pocket share. A contractor who promises to “cover” it isn’t doing you a favor; they’re asking you to participate in insurance fraud.
How the money actually works
Say your approved roof replacement costs $18,000 and your deductible is $3,000. Your insurer pays $15,000 (often in stages), and you pay the $3,000 deductible. The total the contractor receives is the full $18,000 — that’s what the job costs. If a contractor “eats” your $3,000, they’re either inflating the invoice to the insurer to hide it (fraud) or cutting corners on your roof to eat the loss. Neither is good for you.
What Colorado law says
Colorado’s residential roofing law (Senate Bill 38) requires roofing contractors to give you a written contract and to disclose that you are responsible for paying your deductible. It specifically prohibits contractors from advertising or promising to pay all or part of that deductible as an inducement to sign. This law exists precisely because deductible-waiver scams are common after big hail storms.
Understanding your deductible amount
Many Colorado policies use a percentage-based wind/hail deductible — commonly 1% to 5% of your home’s insured value — rather than a flat dollar figure. That can be a larger number than homeowners expect, so it’s worth confirming yours before you file. If your roof qualifies for Replacement Cost Value coverage, the deductible is usually your only significant out-of-pocket cost.
Common questions
Can a contractor legally waive my deductible in Colorado?
No. It’s prohibited under Colorado law, and it typically involves insurance fraud. A legitimate contractor will tell you plainly that the deductible is yours to pay.
What if I truly can’t afford the deductible?
Ask about legitimate options — payment plans or financing on your share, phasing the work, or timing around the claim. Those are legal; having the contractor secretly absorb it is not.
Do I pay the deductible to the contractor or the insurer?
To the contractor, as part of paying for the completed work. Your insurer already subtracted it from what they paid out.
Straight answers, no games. Josh Brooks Construction and Renovation Inc. (License CON-24-0152, in business since 2014, 30 years in construction) documents your claim honestly and follows Colorado law to the letter. Serving Boulder, Weld, Larimer, Jefferson, and Douglas Counties — call 720-828-7997 or text 720-453-5095.
General information, not legal advice.
