A Note About Warranties
Warranties differ from insurance. A warranty normally comes with the products or service you buy. Its often built into the cost, while an extended warranty might be sold separately. Warranties usually cover defects and abnormal wear, so they typically do not cover the cost of repair or replacement if your roof issues were caused by high winds, hail, fire, lightning, earthquakes, negligent acts or structural faults. Whether you bought a full-system warranty, a labor-only warranty or you have a materials-only warranty from a previous roof replacement job, none of these will do you much good and thats why homeowners insurance is necessary.
When damage occurs and you need to file a claim with your insurer, do it as soon as possible, especially if the damage was caused by a catastrophic storm, in which case potentially thousands of other people will be filing claims, so youll want to get yours in ahead of others.
When To Call A Roofing Contractor
If you notice any of the above signs on your property – and before filing a claim – you should call a roofing contractor…
…with restoration experience dealing with storm-related roof insurance claims.
A qualified contractor knows how to document damage in a format that insurance companies prefer.
And a professional assessment will give you peace of mind that you’re covering all your bases after you’ve filed a claim.
At RestoreMasters – having completed thousands of storm restoration projects – we know exactly what insurance companies look for.
We provide documentation they want.
We write Xactimate estimates in the format they prefer.
Our public adjuster partners negotiate on your behalf.
And we’ll help you through the entire process.
If you have property damage caused by wind from a tornado or hurricane, hail, water, fallen trees, fire, or other disaster…
You will want to have a team like RestoreMasters on your side to help you get the best results during your restoration project.
Check out the stories below to learn more about how we help residential and commercial property owners
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As one of the nation’s top restoration contractors, RestoreMasters can restore your property to pre-damaged condition, installing like or better materials…
How To Avoid Committing Insurance Fraud When It Comes To Recoverable Depreciation
Your roof must be replaced in accordance with your claim paperwork to get recoverable depreciation. Thats why the insurance company requires proof that the work was done correctly and in line with the estimate.
But failing to do so and then requesting the check for depreciation can lead to insurance fraud. Some homeowners do this inadvertently because the roofing contractor didnt follow the scope of work correctly.
But if you leave stuff off on purpose and try to keep extra money, youre committing insurance fraud. This is why a reputable roofing contractor asks to see your insurance paperwork.
They do this to ensure theyre following the claim correctly, so your roof gets everything it requires. An experienced roofer will even supplement anything the insurance leaves off.
I wont work with a homeowner if they dont show me their insurance paperwork. Most of the time, this is because they dont know how the process works or they dont know who to trust.
But if theyre actively trying to hide it, theyre usually up to something I dont want to be a part of. Just know that your insurance company will not make your life easy if you try to do any of this.
But as long as you hire a reputable roofer with experience working with insurance claims, you shouldnt run into this issue.
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Coverage For Roof Replacement
Another important issue is whether your insurance company would cover the costs of a new roof or a full roof replacement. This will depend on the damage that has been done to your roof. If it can be proven that a new roof is actually needed and that the damage cannot be fixed by repairs alone, then the insurance company may cover the full costs of a replacement. It also helps if the cost of a new roof would be less than repairing every damaged area.
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It Depends On What Caused Your Roof Problems
A typical all-perils homeowners insurance policy does cover your roof and the cost of replacing it if it gets damaged. That’s the good news. But usually, you’re covered only if the damage or destruction results from a sudden accident or act of nature. Problems that ensue from general wear and tear or from a roof that has exceeded its intended life span are not eligible for reimbursement because they fall under the general maintenance responsibility of the homeowner.
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Dont Sign Any Paperwork Until Your Roof Damage Claim Is Approved
Like I said earlier, the roofing industry doesnt have the best reputation. One of the reasons it gained this reputation is because some roofing companies try to strong-arm homeowners into signing something before theyll inspect the roof.
When a roofing company does this, they’re trying to lock you into a contract that gives them the right to your roof before your claim has even been approved. This is a clear and obvious sign that they dont have your best interest in mind.
A roofing contractor that has your best interest in mind will walk you through the insurance process and give you an honest assessment of if your roof has storm damage or not. Then if your insurance claim is approved, theyll ask for your business.
Even if you’re panicking when you have storm damage, dont sign any paperwork from a roofing company before your insurance claim is actually approved.
Should I Have My Insurance Company Inspect First Or A Roofing Contractor
- The answer to this can depend on several factors. However, in most cases we suggest having an honest, qualified roofer inspect your roof first. Good roofing contractors are the experts in the technical quality of the roof and are trained to identify any weaknesses in your roof structure . Many insurance adjusters are also well qualified, but we have found in some cases they are focused on following their inspection booklet and overlook significant damage.
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Insurance Claims For Leaks
As mentioned, the general result of shingle damage on your roof is a leak. Unless your insurance has specific exclusions, roof leaks resulting from shingles damaged by wind or hail are covered. Being experts in roof leak repair, JPAUL ROOFING AND CONSTRUCTION looks for any evidence for what could be or cause a leak.
Our roofers often look for the smallest indications of damage such as an irregular amount of granules in your drainage, chipped or cracked shingles, loose flashing around your chimney, and any impacted areas from hail or debris. With insurance companies viewing your roof as the access point to greater damages inside your home and business, we take every possibility of a leak seriously. Here are some indications to look for if you suspect a leak:
- Reflective wet surface on the interior of your roof during storms
- Bulges in the walls or ceiling
- Discoloration in the ceiling
When left to build up, leaks can result in extensive damages to your home, being a headache for you and your family. Trust an expert roofing company to help when you suspect or see leaks in your home or business and call for JPAUL ROOFING AND CONSTRUCTION to help you today. See why customers in Plano, TX and the surrounding areas benefit from our roofing services.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover A New Roof If Its Just A Maintenance Issue
A lot of the time, the answer is no.
Not all roof insurance covers all roofing needs. There are many other factors at play.
For example, if you have an older roof, say more than 20 years old, insurance companies generally consider those roofs to be past their life expectancy and could choose to reimburse only a portion of any repairs or replacement or nothing at all.
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Expert Roofing Services When You Need Them Most
Do you need help filing a homeowners insurance claim after storm damage causes issues with your roof? At Johnson Restoration, were here to help walk you through everything from how to file a roof claim to actually getting your roof replaced. You can rely on our dedicated team to ensure youre informed about and prepared for every aspect of a roof insurance claim.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you file a roof claim and get your home back to perfect working condition quickly.
Does Insurance Cover Roof Leaks
In most cases, homeowners insurance will cover roof leaks if the leak was caused by a circumstance thats covered in your policy and the damage caused was sudden. Damage that has accumulated over time is often denied coverage when a claim is filed.
Its important to understand that proving the cause of the leak can be a difficult and contentious process what the homeowner considers a sudden event may be perceived as a result of neglect by the claims inspector.
For example, a homeowner files a claim for a roof caving during a large snowstorm. They can technically be denied coverage if the inspector concludes that years of accumulation of snow on the roof led to a gradual weakening which ultimately caused the roof to collapse.
Double checking your policy to remind yourself what is and isnt covered at least once a year is always a good practice to help prevent unpleasant surprises that can make a bad situation even worse.
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Make Sure You Understand What Losses Are Covered
The most common unexpected losses for a home are fire, water, or storm damage.
Fire and water damage are sometimes avoidable. Like when your toilet backs up and floods your home, or a candle is left unattended. As you might guess, insurance companies try to minimize avoidable risk.
Thats why, if a homeowners behavior creates added risk, they may not want to cover that home.
Or if you live in an area that is prone to certain perils, they might raise the rates to offset the risk or exclude certain coverages.
Roof damage from a storm is NOT avoidable, so its not measured in the same way.
Thats key!
If you file too many water claims, your insurance company will drop you or raise your rate. Why? Because that can be avoided with good maintenance.
But filing a claim for unavoidable, sudden damage like hail or wind damage to a roof doesnt count against you in the same way.
Everything You Need To Know About Using Insurance To Replace A Storm
Going through a rough storm is stressful enough, but its even worse when you walk outside the next day and find its damaged your roof. If you have homeowners insurance, you can file a claim with your insurance company to cover any necessary repairs.
The insurance claim process can be confusing and overwhelming. Even if youve been through the process before, you probably still have a ton of questions.
Since 1991, the team at On Tops Roofing has helped homeowners in Raleigh and surrounding areas walk through the insurance claim process. One of the first questions we hear from homeowners regarding their insurance claims is, Where do we start?
We want you to be as informed about the insurance process as possible. So, by the end of this article, youll learn everything you need to know about using insurance to replace a storm-damaged roof. Lets get started.
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To Claim Or Not To Claim
Homeowners must now factor in the deductible theyll be required to pay if their claim is approved. As a result, they need to determine if the total cost of the repair will be more than that amount before going through the whole process.
Our premiums wont be affected if we file only a certain number of insurance claims. An insurance company may be suspicious if we file too many claims. It might not be necessary to file a claim if the roof only needs minor repairs. However, the only logical next step is to remove the debris if the damage is severe.
Seven: Meet With An Insurance Adjuster
We know it can be annoying, but now youll need to invite an insurance adjuster over to your property. The adjuster inspects your roof to assess the roof damage and verify it for your insurance company. Dont be afraid to ask your roofer to come by for the inspection too, so they can use their professional opinion to advocate for you during the adjusters inspection.
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Call A Roofing Contractor
The very first thing you need to do after a significant weather event, or anytime you think your roof sustained damage, is to call us. We offer Colorado homeowners and business owners free roof inspections and give you an estimate of what will need to get done. If you decide to work with another roofing company, make sure whoever you call is licensed, insured, and experienced! Otherwise, you potentially run the risk of additional and costly damage later on from the neglected repair or replacement.
A quality roofing contractor should be a reliable source of assistance and advice for you to lean on during this process. They should be able to advocate for the best solution for your situation. At Axe Roofing, we give you a complete and accurate estimate of any damages, if the roof will need to be replaced, and other costs and amount of time it will take to complete the job.
Can I Claim A New Roof On My Insurance
Once you have an estimate, you can file a claim with your insurance company. The insurance company will weigh various factors when determining exactly what they will pay out on the claim. In many instances, your roofs age will play a big role in whats paid out. Any roof thats over 10 years old might get less coverage than a new roof, if your roof has not been well maintained. Will insurance cover a 12-year-old roof? Keeping your roof maintained can be a key to good coverage if the time ever comes when you need to file an insurance claim.
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Document The Damage To Your Roof
Whether it be wind or hail, in the general aftermath of a major storm, your roof may experience significant and unexpected damages. In the event of severe weather, a subsequent roof inspection should be performed. If inspecting the roof yourself, look out for missing, displaced, and cracked shingles. Around the premises of your property, you will also want to check for water spots that may be present on the both the inside and outside of your home.
The first step to filing a roof insurance claim is to document the damages. Using detailed pictures, try to capture the condition of your roof. Video walkthroughs are also an effective tool for documenting obvious damage as well as weak spots. To ensure the validity of your claim with your insurance company, you will also want to make sure that your photos and videos are clearly stamped with the date and time.
After acquiring the necessary documentation, its time to research your insurance policy. Check to see what your insurance policy covers and research your deductible and coverage limits. Some insurance policies have limitations on how long you can wait after a storm to have roof repairs covered under the policy, so you may want to check these as soon as possible.
Do You Want To Exclude Wind And Hail
Usually homeowners want good and broad coverage for their homes. But wind and hail is a different ballgame in many states. Insurers pass along the costs of past wind and hail claims to current homeowners. You may be able to choose to exclude wind and hail from coverage from your policy in the interest of saving money.
For example, State Farm offers these choices:
- Exclude windstorm or hail damage that may occur during a hurricane.
- Amend a policy with an endorsement that changes whats covered during a hurricane.
- Add a separate deductible for damage caused by a windstorm or hail.
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Estimated Costs Of Repairs
Finally, among the information you may want to collect for your insurance claim is the estimated costs of your roof repairs. When you file your claim with your insurance company, you may also want to provide the estimates of your roof repairs, along with the bills and invoices you receive.
This information can help your home insurance company determine what the payout should be for your claim. The more information you can provide, the more likely you may be to receive the amount of compensation necessary to cover your roof repairs or roof replacement.
Roofing Insurance Claims For Storm Damage
So what kind of roof damage will insurance cover? When youve had a storm damage your roof and need help with your roof insurance claim in Atlanta, GA youll want to get that help from a roofing company with insurance experience. Colony Roofers has years of experience helping homeowners get the full benefit of their claims. To find out how we can help you with your insurance claim, give us a call at 365-3138.
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