Roofing Case Study — When a Temporary Roof Is Installed Incorrectly

This was a storm-related loss where a commercial auto facility experienced widespread roof leaks into office areas. On paper, the mitigation company responded quickly and installed a temporary roof. In reality, this is where it goes wrong—because not all roofs can be temporarily covered the same way.

The Situation

This involved:

• Hurricane-related roof damage

• Active leaking into multiple interior office spaces

• A built-up roofing system (granular surface)

The mitigation response:

• Temporary roof installed to stop water intrusion

👉 The intent was correct

What Was Written

The temporary solution included:

• Roll TPO roofing laid over the existing roof

• Perimeter edges sealed

👉 It was treated like a simple cover

What Was Missed

The existing roof was:
👉 A built-up (granular) roofing system

That means:

• The surface is not smooth

• It does not allow proper adhesion of standard roll TPO roofing

What was done:

• Sheets were laid loosely over the surface

• Only the perimeter was sealed

👉 This is not a secure installation

When wind picked up:

• The material lifted

• The perimeter seals failed

• Water continued to enter

👉 The temporary roof failed

What Most People Miss

Temporary roofing is not:
👉 just covering the hole

It must:
👉 work with the existing system

Built-up roofing systems:

• Are layered

• Are designed to move water in specific directions

• Require compatible materials and installation methods

If you put:
👉 the wrong material on top

Or:
👉 fail to secure it properly

The result:

• Continued leaking

• Additional damage

• Repeated repairs

What Changed the Outcome

The initial installation failed.

Then:

• It was redone

• And failed again

Each failure:

• Allowed more water intrusion

• Increased the scope of damage

Eventually:

• The issue escalated

There was:
👉 a question of responsibility

• Was it storm damage?

• Or was it improper mitigation?

This nearly led to:
👉 subrogation against the contractor

In the end:
👉 the insurance carrier covered the loss

But it was avoidable.

Why This Happens

This happens because:

• Mitigation companies focus on stopping damage quickly

• They are not always trained in roofing systems

• Temporary solutions are applied generically

But roofing systems:
👉 are not generic

Each one:

• Is built differently

• Requires different materials

• Requires different installation methods

What Homeowners Should Look For

If your roof is being temporarily repaired, ask:

• What type of roof system do I have?

• Is the temporary material compatible with that system?

• How is it being secured?

• Is a roofing specialist involved?

Because:

👉 Not all temporary roofs are equal

And:

👉 A bad temporary roof can make the loss worse

Takeaway

This case comes down to one concept:

👉 You have to understand what you’re attaching to

Temporary roofing is not:
👉 just laying material down

It is:
👉 creating a temporary system that must perform

If it’s done incorrectly:

• It fails

• It causes more damage

• And it creates coverage issues

The right move:

👉 Use someone who understands the specific roofing system

Because in cases like this:

👉 doing it wrong the first time creates a bigger problem than the original loss

One Last Thing (What Everything Comes Down To)

Everything comes down to the estimate.

If your claim is delayed, underpaid, or being pushed back, that’s usually the reason.

If you’re not finding a clear answer to your situation here, go through the other case studies. Most real-world claim problems — and how they were handled — are already shown there.

And if your estimate is in good shape, the other issues tend to be straightforward to push through.

To understand why this happens and how to fix it, review the following:

Why Insurance Claims Get Delayed (It Comes Down to the Estimate): The Real Reason Claims Get Delayed
The Entire Insurance Industry Runs on One Thing That’s Rarely Explained: It’s the Estimate — And This Is Why Contractors Get It Wrong: Contractors Don’t Fail at Building — They Fail at Writing
The Entire Insurance Industry Runs on One Thing That’s Rarely Explained: It’s the Estimate — And This Is Why Adjusters Rewrite Instead of Approving: Adjusters Don’t Approve What They Can’t Follow
The Entire Insurance Industry Runs on One Thing That’s Rarely Explained: It’s the Estimate — And This Is What It Should Look Like: A Proper Estimate Is Not Just a Number

How to Read an Insurance Estimate (Room by Room): Why Most Homeowners Feel Confused by Estimates

How to Vet a Contractor, Public Adjuster, and Mitigation Company: Why This Matters More Than Anything Else

If you still have questions about your claim, visit our Homeowners Insurance Claim FAQs page for quick answers and links to detailed guides.

Learn More At ClaimHelpMe.com

This page explains the basics of how this part of the insurance claim process works.

However, inside ClaimHelpMe.com, homeowners can access real repair estimates, detailed examples, and step-by-step explanations showing how claims are documented, evaluated, and presented to insurance carriers.

The free content explains the fundamentals.
The ClaimHelpMe platform shows how the process actually works.

Explore more homeowner insurance claim guides in our Claim Guides section.

About The Author

Mark Grossman is a Licensed Public Adjuster and NASCLA Certified Contractor with 28 years in the restoration insurance industry and 35 years in construction.

Learn more → Mark Grossman