What You Need to Know
New Orleans sits in one of the most hurricane-active corridors in the United States. Hurricane Ida struck Louisiana on August 29, 2021, with 150 mph winds, causing more than $55 billion in total damage and leaving over 12 private property insurers insolvent statewide. Big Easy Roofing has guided homeowners across Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Tammany parishes through post-storm roof repair and insurance claims after every major storm since Katrina, including Hurricane Zeta, which passed directly over New Orleans on October 28, 2020 at 115 mph.
This guide covers every step from the first 48 hours through final claim settlement, with Louisiana statute timelines, permit requirements, and upgrade options.
Big Easy Roofing provides emergency tarping, storm damage inspections, insurance claim documentation support, and full roof repair and replacement for residential and commercial properties across the Greater New Orleans metro. Every project includes licensed contractor permits through the New Orleans Department of Safety and Permits.
Emergency Roof Tarping. Big Easy Roofing dispatches
tarping crews across Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Tammany parishes within hours of a named storm. Emergency tarping
costs $300 to $2,000 and is reimbursable under most RCV homeowners policies. Save every receipt and submit as a
separate line item on your proof of loss.
Insurance Claim Assistance. Under Louisiana RS 22:1892,
your insurer has 14 days to initiate loss adjustment and 30 days to pay or deny after written notice. We help you
document damage before the adjuster arrives, identify recoverable depreciation, and file supplemental claims when
hidden damage surfaces during tear-off.
Storm Roof Repair and Replacement. From partial shingle
replacement ($2,000 to $6,000) to full architectural shingle replacement ($8,000 to $16,000) and standing seam metal
roofing ($18,000 to $35,000), Big Easy Roofing handles every scope of storm damage repair. We pull all required
permits before work begins.
Report damage to your insurer in writing as soon as possible. Under Louisiana RS 22:1892, your insurer has 14 days to initiate loss adjustment and 30 days to pay or formally deny. An insurer that misses this deadline without a valid dispute faces a bad faith penalty of 50 percent of the claim amount plus attorney fees under RS 22:1973.
After Hurricane Ida, more than 12 private property insurers went insolvent. Policyholders were transferred to Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (LCPIC), the state insurer of last resort, often mid-claim. Three factors slow claims most: confusing the hurricane deductible with the standard deductible, missing the recoverable depreciation window, and failing to file a supplemental claim when hidden damage surfaces during tear-off.
Wind damage lifts, creases, or removes shingles along the roof perimeter and ridge. Hail leaves circular impact marks, bruising under the granule layer, and accelerated granule loss on shingle surfaces and metal components. Most Louisiana storm events involve both simultaneously.
Zeta’s direct eye passage over New Orleans at 94 mph created significant wind-driven rain intrusion without widespread shingle removal, because at those speeds rain penetrates under unsealed shingle tabs and around compromised step flashing. Scheduling a contractor inspection before the adjuster arrives gives you documentation before the initial estimate is locked.
Storm roof repair in New Orleans ranges from $500 for minor patch work to $25,000 or more for a full replacement. After Ida, material costs rose 20 to 30 percent across the Gulf Coast and contractor availability was constrained for 12 to 18 months. Emergency tarping: $300 to $2,000. Partial shingle replacement: $2,000 to $6,000. Full architectural shingle replacement: $8,000 to $16,000. Standing seam metal roof: $18,000 to $35,000.
New Orleans requires a re-roofing permit from the Department of Safety and Permits, located at 1340 Poydras Street, Suite 800. Applications are filed through the One Stop App at nola.gov. Unpermitted work can void your insurance coverage and create disclosure problems at resale. Big Easy Roofing pulls all required permits before beginning any insured repair.
A storm damage replacement is the lowest-cost time to upgrade because a portion of the replacement is already covered by your insurance settlement. Class 4 shingles (UL 2218 rated) offer the highest impact-resistance classification for asphalt products, with some Louisiana carriers offering premium discounts. Standing seam metal roofing is rated to 140 mph or higher when properly installed and typically lasts 40 to 70 years. IBHS FORTIFIED Home certification requires sealed roof decks and enhanced attachment methods that reduce damage in Category 3 and below events, with premium reductions available from some Louisiana insurers that make certification cost-recoverable over 3 to 5 years.
Homeowners across New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, and the surrounding parishes trust Big Easy Roofing for residential roof repair. Our residential team handles everything from single-shingle replacements to full-section storm damage restoration, backed by our 24-hour guarantee.
Commercial properties face unique challenges: flat roof systems, large surface areas, and the need to minimize business disruption. Big Easy Roofing’s commercial roof repair team works with warehouses, retail buildings, schools, and office complexes throughout the New Orleans metro.
