WHY ROOFERS LOSE A YEAR IN 72 HOURS
A storm hits at 8pm. By Saturday you’ve had 60 calls and answered 20.
The other 40 hired whoever picked up. That’s not an exaggeration: a storm concentrates a season of calls into 48 to 72 hours. 78% of storm calls land in the first 72 hours, then volume drops 90% after a week. You don’t get a second chance at a storm. The leads arrive in a tight window, go to whoever answers fastest, and then they’re gone for the year. And 72% of roofing contractors have no dedicated dispatcher, just the owner’s cell or one landline. That holds during a normal week. It collapses during a storm.
in lost jobs per 10 storm calls you miss
State Farm hail claims, 2024
See what missed calls cost your business
Sources: State Farm hail-claims data (2024). Storm-surge and lead-window figures are industry estimates.
HOW IT WORKS
Call comes in. Job comes out.
The call forwards. Nothing changes for the caller.
Your business line forwards to SubCall. No app, no hardware, no new number. Callers dial what they always have.
It answers every one, however many come at once.
A human takes one call at a time. SubCall handles simultaneous calls. When your phone rings every 30 seconds in a storm, no caller gets a busy signal and no one waits on hold.
It asks roofing-specific questions.
Active leak, or storm and age damage? Raining now? Roof type: shingle, tile, metal, flat? Filing a claim? Need emergency tarping? The answers sort each lead into leak, inspection, claim, or replacement.
The job lands. The crew gets a text.
Within seconds: name, address, damage, urgency, and category go to your dashboard and crew by SMS. A 60-call weekend arrives as a sorted, prioritized list.
EMERGENCY TRIAGE
It knows a drip from a hole in your roof.
Generic services ask “is this an emergency?” and take a message. SubCall triages like someone who’s worked the trade.
WHY ROOFING CONTRACTORS PICK SUBCALL
Over an answering service, or hiring.
| SubCall | Answering service | Hiring | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handles storm surges | Simultaneous calls | Queues or drops | One at a time |
| Answers 24/7 | Included | Upcharge | Requires overtime |
| Knows roofing terminology | Built-in | Generic script | Months of training |
| Gives leak-containment steps | Trained protocol | Takes a message | Inconsistent |
| Coordinates insurance claims | Captures claim detail | Generic intake | Inconsistent |
| Creates the job automatically | Structured data | Manual email | Manual entry |
| Dispatches crew via SMS | Instant | No | Manual |
| Emergency triage | Roofing-specific | Generic prompt | Inconsistent |
| Monthly cost | From $349/mo (500 min) | Per minute, plus upcharges | $3,500+ /mo |
| Set-up time | Under 5 minutes | Contract, then onboarding | Weeks |
ROOFING FAQ
A few questions, answered.
How does it handle storm-surge call volume?
It handles simultaneous calls. During a major storm, every caller still gets answered. No busy signals, no hold times, no missed leads. A human takes one call at a time. SubCall does not.
Can it coordinate insurance-claim leads?
Yes. It captures the carrier, claim status, adjuster timing, and damage description during intake, then routes the lead as an insurance-claim consultation. Adjuster-tomorrow calls get booked within 24 hours. Claim-not-yet-filed calls get the inspection booked first, so the homeowner has documentation before they file.
How much does it cost for a roofing business?
From $349/month, including 500 minutes and 24/7/365 coverage, with simultaneous calls during storm surges. No after-hours upcharge. One captured insurance-claim replacement more than covers a year.
What roofing-specific questions does it ask?
Whether there’s an active leak, whether it’s raining, the roof type, whether they’re filing a claim, when the damage occurred, what’s visible from the ground, occupant safety, and whether emergency tarping is needed. The answers decide emergency dispatch, inspection booking, or replacement quote.
Can it tell a leak emergency from a replacement quote?
Yes. It flags emergencies on conditions like active water entry during rain, structural damage, or a tree on the roof. Not the caller’s tone. A calm caller with water through the ceiling gets same-day dispatch. An urgent caller wanting an old roof quoted gets a scheduled estimate.
Does it give callers leak-containment instructions?
Yes. For active leaks, it walks the caller through buckets, moving valuables, and placing a tarp in the attic if it’s accessible and safe. For a tree on the roof, it has them evacuate and check for gas and electrical hazards first. These steps can prevent thousands in interior damage before your crew arrives.
How long does setup take?
Under 5 minutes. A few questions about your trade, forward your number, and every service is running.
Does it replace my phone number?
No. Your existing business number stays the same. Calls forward to SubCall, and callers dial what they always have.