The two-check system and recoverable depreciation
Why the insurer holds part of your money until the roof is actually replaced, and how to collect it.
Why insurers hold back money
The holdback exists so homeowners don't pocket a full replacement payment and skip the repair. The insurer pays actual cash value up front, then releases the depreciation after you prove the work was completed.
How to collect the second check
Keep the final invoice from your contractor showing the work is complete and the total cost. Send it to your adjuster with a short note requesting release of recoverable depreciation on your claim number.
If the final cost came in higher than the estimate, submit that too — you may be entitled to a supplement, subject to your policy limits.
Track the deadline. If your policy requires completion within, say, one year of the ACV payment and your contractor is delayed, request an extension in writing before the deadline passes.
Common problems
A contractor who quotes you exactly the ACV check amount is quoting a price that leaves your depreciation on the table — and may be planning to cut corners to hit it.
If the insurer's estimate is far below every real bid you collect, you can dispute the scope or pricing, invoke the appraisal clause, or get help. Don't just accept that the first estimate is the ceiling.