By Acadiana Roof Restoration LLC | Scott, LA | Veteran-Owned | NRCIA Forensic Roof Inspector | IBHS FORTIFIED Certified Contractor | Louisiana's Only 5-Star Roof Maxx Dealer
Published: July 2026
Storm season is not the time to learn what your roof insurance actually covers.
Most Louisiana homeowners have a general sense that their policy covers storm damage. Fewer know whether their policy pays what it actually costs to replace a roof, or just the depreciated value of the one that got damaged. That difference is the gap between a manageable situation and a financial shock.
Here is what you need to know, and how to find out which coverage you have before you need it.
ACV vs RCV: The Core Difference
ACV stands for Actual Cash Value. RCV stands for Replacement Cost Value.
Under an ACV policy, your insurer pays what your roof is worth today, factoring in depreciation based on its age and expected lifespan. A 15-year-old roof on 25-year shingles may be depreciated by 60 percent or more. That means your ACV check is a fraction of what a contractor will actually charge to replace it. The gap is your problem.
Under an RCV policy, your insurer pays what it actually costs to replace the damaged roof with materials of like kind and quality at today's prices. The depreciation calculation still happens, but the difference (called recoverable depreciation) is held back until you complete repairs and submit documentation. Once you do, you receive the full replacement cost.
The same damaged roof, the same storm, the same claim. Different policy type, very different check.
How Depreciation Works in Practice
A simplified example: a roof adjuster estimates the replacement cost at $15,000 and calculates the roof is 50 percent depreciated based on age. The ACV payout is $7,500 minus your deductible. With an RCV policy, the initial payout is still $7,500 minus your deductible, but after you complete repairs and submit the paperwork, the carrier releases the withheld $7,500 (the recoverable depreciation). You ultimately receive the full $15,000 minus the deductible.
With ACV coverage, that second payment never comes. The $7,500 gap is yours.
Louisiana homeowners need to run this calculation for their own roof, their own policy, and their own deductible before assuming their insurance has them fully covered.
The Two-Step RCV Payment Process
One thing homeowners with RCV coverage sometimes do not expect: the insurer does not always cut the full check upfront. The typical process is two payments. The initial payment covers the ACV amount. After repairs are completed and documentation is submitted, the carrier releases the recoverable depreciation.
This means you may need to front the cost of repairs before you receive the full RCV payout. Knowing this before you start negotiating with a contractor or committing to a timeline is important.
At Acadiana Roof Restoration, we walk South Louisiana homeowners through this process as part of our post-storm assessment. Understanding the payment timeline helps you plan.
Your Policy Declarations Page
If you are not sure whether your policy is ACV or RCV, the answer is on your declarations page. Look for the loss settlement method for your dwelling or roof. The terms to look for are Actual Cash Value, Replacement Cost Value, or Extended Replacement Cost.
Some policies have different settlement methods for the dwelling structure versus the roof specifically. Ask your agent: does my roof coverage pay ACV or RCV for a covered storm loss?
Ask before storm season. Not during a claim.
Where FORTIFIED Fits
A FORTIFIED roof does not change whether your policy is ACV or RCV. It affects your premium.
Louisiana's Act 533 requires participating carriers to offer discounts for FORTIFIED certified roofs. Liberty Mutual and Safeco offer up to 40 percent, USAA up to 37 percent, State Farm up to 35 percent, and Allstate up to 30 percent with select carriers. On a large annual premium, those numbers represent real savings compounding year over year.
A roof that performs better in a storm also means fewer claims, which protects your claims history and your renewability. That is the deeper financial case for FORTIFIED: not just the discount, but the risk profile of the home.
Acadiana Roof Restoration is IBHS FORTIFIED certified. If you are replacing a roof after storm damage, building it to FORTIFIED standard is worth including in the conversation.
Getting a Professional Assessment
Whether you are filing a claim, evaluating your coverage before storm season, or trying to understand what a storm did to your roof, a professional documentation-grade assessment is the starting point.
Jason Lopez is an NRCIA Forensic Roof Inspector. ARR assessments are usable in insurance and claim contexts. If you need documentation of storm damage, pre-storm condition, or a professional opinion on repair versus replacement, that is what we provide.
Free assessment, no pressure:
Lafayette: 337-999-ROOF (337-999-7663) Baton Rouge: 225-385-ROOF (225-385-7663)
Acadiana Roof Restoration LLC | Scott, LA | aroofrestore.com NRCIA Forensic Roof Inspector | IBHS FORTIFIED Certified Contractor | Louisiana's Only 5-Star Roof Maxx Dealer | BBB A+ | Veteran-Owned