Is Hail Damage To Your Roof Covered By Homeowners Insurance
The most common type of home insurance for owner-occupied houses is called an HO-3. Typically, HO-3 policies cover damage caused by hail. Usually, homeowners policies pay replacement costs for dwelling losses. For example, if your roof is destroyed in a hailstorm and costs $20,000 to replace, your policy will pay up to $20,000, minus your deductible, for the repair.
Some home insurance policies may limit roof replacement claims. For instance, if your policy places limits on cosmetic damages, it may only pay to replace damaged roof shingles, which may not match the rest of the roof. In states prone to hailstorms, homeowners policies may also feature a separate deductible for hazards such as hail or wind.
For homes with older roofs, insurers sometimes limit roof coverage to actual cash value, which will apply a depreciated value paid for damages.
Carbon Monoxide Leaks And Hail Storms
In addition to all the aforementioned possibilities of functional or cosmetic damage to your property due to hail storms, a recent report out of Colorado Springs proves that there are far bigger threats from hail storms. Hail can damage your roof vents, causing dangerous and even potentially fatal carbon monoxide leaks.
Theres been a rash of carbon monoxide calls in this hail-prone part of Colorado, and the Colorado Springs fire department states that this is due to the severe hail storms the area has experienced.
These calls responding to the silent killer are some of the most dangerous for firefighters to respond to, and theyve been called to over one hundred potential carbon monoxide leaks in 2018 alone.
Not all hail damage will cause carbon monoxide leaks, but the experts say these are just examples of why youll want to take a look at your roof vents immediately after a hail storm, according the article.
The local building department inspectors now wear these personal carbon monoxide detectors on the job to help them discover major problems where lines are blocked or unknowingly disconnected allowing the toxic gas to leak into peoples homes.
You should always have carbon monoxide detectors in your home, but its especially important to check on them regularly and make sure they are working properly especially after a hailstorm or similar weather event.
Finding Evidence Of Roofing Hail Damage Inside Your Home
Not everything related to hail damage is on the outside there are a variety of things that you may notice inside your home that might not appear to be related at first.
If you notice things like new water stains on the ceiling or interior walls, discolored walls, water stains in or around light fixtures, water stains in closets, mold or mildew on the walls, water seepage in the attic, wet insulation, or similar issues, then you need to check out the roof as well.
This goes doubly important if you begin to notice these things soon after a major hailstorm or heavy storm.
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Metal Roof Hail Damage
Shingles can be tricky when it comes to spotting hail damage, but theyre not the only type of roof out there. You have others like wooden shake, clay, slate and metal roofing.
Wood shingles will split right down the middle after being struck by hail. Clay & slate roofing will have cracks and/or gouges, and metal roofing will have impact dents like we saw on the gutters at the beginning.
Metal roofing is one of the easiest to spot for hail damage.
Here are some examples of hail damage on a metal roof.
After A Storm Check For Signs Of Roof Damage
Your roofing system may not show immediate signs of damage after a storm. But there are several steps you can take to check its integrity.
First, check the metal part that connects your chimney, vents and skylights to the roof. Also, examine your porch roof, where it meets the second story of your home. If there is corrosion or cracks in this area, replace it.
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Look at the rubber gaskets around plumbing vents for deterioration and cracking. If you can’t find any damage, you may not need to replace them.
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If your shingle surfaces have cracks, abrasions or missing granules, replace them immediately.
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Your roof may need repairs when the shingle edges or tabs have cups or curls.
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Moss growth may look pretty, but it will eventually lead to roof problems, like rotted sheathing. Have a professional remove the moss and apply a treatment to kill any remaining spores.
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Some signs of damage are not visible. After a severe storm, call in a trustworthy roofer to inspect your roof.
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Get An Estimate From A Roofing Company
Ask for a written estimate based on the repair instead of relying on the insurance carrier’s estimate.
Ask a roofing company to provide you with access to a written estimate. This estimate should include the following materials in a written or digital form.
- The amount of all materials the roofing contractor will need to repair your roof.
- Labor costs
- The start and end dates for the project
- Payment options
- Any secured building permits for your roofing repair project
- Details about the roofing warranty
Make sure it’s on letterhead and has the appropriate contact information for the roofing contractor. Before you agree to the roofer or insurer’s contract terms, take note of all conditions that may void your roofing system’s warranty.
How To Prepare For Filing A Hail Damage Insurance Claim For Your Roof
If you suspect that your roof has sustained damage from a hail storm, the first thing you need to do is inspect the roof for dents, dings, split shingles, and any leaks, and cover any damaged areas with a tarp or similar waterproof material to show the insurance company that you made initial efforts to mitigate the damage.
Take pictures and videos of everything you find, and hopefully you have previous documentation of the state of your property before the hail storm.
As any public adjuster will advise, you should be regularly documenting the state of your property so you can provide evidence of the state of your property including your vehicles and any other outdoor assets prior to a disaster and compare the before and after images for your claim.
Itll make it easier for everyone involved to assess the extent of the damage and make it more difficult for your insurance company to claim that damage previously existed prior to the hail storm or other disaster.
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How Can A Hail Event Affect A Metal Roof
How hail will affect a metal roof is a frequently discussed topic throughout the industry, especially in architectural applications. The truth is that hail can affect a metal roof in more ways than one.
By nature, most of the metal material types, such as steel, aluminum, copper, etc., used in metal roofing systems are malleable and therefore can change shape under stress.
When were looking at how a metal roof can be affected when in contact with hail or other objects, there are two significant differences: Denting vs. puncturing.
- Denting If the panels of a metal roof are dented from hail, its mainly a cosmetic or aesthetic issue that will not cause the roof to fail. While it might be considered unsightly to some property or homeowners, denting does not require structural fixes and might be the best-case scenario when compared to a punctured roof system.
- Puncturing A roof that was punctured by an object is not cosmetic damage and can cause a roof to leak or even fail if severe enough. The puncturing of a metal roof due to hail is a significantly less likely occurrence than denting, as the majority of hail storms produce smaller hailstones. However, in areas that see stronger hailstorms, the possibility of hail puncturing a roof is much more of a concern.
Determining A Totaled Roof
There is no set standard on what qualifies as a totaled roof. This can make it frustrating for anyone who has sustained damage to their roofs. There are general guidelines that insurance companies use to decide whether the entire roof needs to be replaced. In general, most will want to look at test squares on each side of a roof slope. A test square may be 10 x 10 and they have a set amount of areas of damage that need to be in each square. The amount of damage varies between companies from as little as 6 to as many as 12.
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What Should You Do After Filing A Hail Damage Roof Insurance Claim
After working with your public adjuster to file a claim, youll want to contact some experience contractors to give you estimates for repairs or a possible replacement roof.
They will help you find experienced ones who can give you estimates for repairs and help to determine how much work needs to be done, or whether the roof needs to be completely replaced.
The contractors and your public adjuster will also help develop a timeline for repairs so you know how long itll be before you can fully use your property again.
Your adjuster will also work out a timeline for potential payouts so you can figure out your finances accordingly also keep in mind that you may be able to recoup some interim costs if your home or commercial property is uninhabitable for a period of time .
Repairing Hail Damage To Your Roof
Clear signs of damage should be addressed, even if there is no leak at the present time. Dents, cracks, and other problems may weaken your roofs outer layer and lead to problems down the line. This is especially true of shingles, which can turn from repellent to absorbent if the coating is destroyed.
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Final Thoughts On Metal Roofing & Hail Damage
As you can tell, hail and wind damage on a metal roof can be a complex topic. Luckily, most hail and wind events are small and dont cause cosmetic or structural damage to metal roofing. However, its best to be prepared if you are in a region susceptible to intense hail or wind storms.
Here are some suggestions when considering insurance for your metal roof:
What If There Are Discrepancies After The Inspection
Most discrepancies happen when an adjuster doesnt assess the same damage as a contractor, regardless of whether the inspection is for the siding, roof, gutters or other interior or exterior damage. If your property has interior damage or other damages that may be easily overlooked, your adjuster will likely miss it, which is another reason you may want us to represent you during a roof inspection.
Youre entitled to have your preferred contractor represent you during the adjustment process, as this can expedite your claims settlement. To spare you the headache of dealing with the process alone and needing to take time off work, we can represent you through every step of the process.
At Scros Roofing, well work with your adjuster to analyze the extent of your roofs damage, verify pricing and offer a roof repair price your insurance company can agree to. When you work with us, youll only need to pay your deductible, and well get you a fair, amicable settlement.
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How Long Do I Have After Hail Hits To File An Insurance Claim
Home » Blog » How Long Do I Have After Hail Hits To File An Insurance Claim?
Most homeowners who have recent hail damage on their roofs can file an insurance claim and receive some compensation, yet far too many people fail to do this. Some of them dont know they even have hail damage on their roofs, while others might not think its worth the time and money to have it fixed. However, the most significant reason why so many homeowners dont file an insurance claim after a storm is because they simply wait too long to act. By the time they realize how severely their roofs have been damaged, its too late to receive any compensation from their insurance companies. They have to pay for the repairs out of their own pockets, which can get very expensive very quickly.
So, how long do people have to file an insurance claim for their roof after a hail storm? That really depends on your insurance, but most companies allow you up to a year to file a claim. Of course, that doesnt mean that you should wait for several months before taking action. Your best bet is to file a claim as soon as you think your roof has sustained damage in a storm. The damage is still fresh at this time, which means its unlikely that anything else has caused any further damage. This will make it easier to prove that it was the hail that damaged your roof, and it will be much easier to repair the damage sooner rather than later.
Signs You Need To Replace Your Roofbefore Spring
Winter 2021 broughtsome of the most extreme weather the United States has seen in decades. Withplenty of snow, precipitation, and wind, the fluctuating weather most likelyaffected your home and your home maintenance routine. Its especially importantto make sure your roof is in top shape after all the ice and snow melts to makesure your house is ready for spring. Here are 4 signs you may need to replaceyour roof:
1. Your roof is old and time is winning.
Everyroof has a finite amount of time – it can only weather so many storms anddifferent roof materials have different expiration dates. Whether yourerunning on 5 to 10 years with asphalt roll rooves, or 40 to 100 years with claytiles, safety outweighs the cost. Check on your roofs lifeline proactively by scheduling an estimate and having an expert take a look.
2. Icicles and ice dams have damaged roof materials.
You might rememberWinter 2021 for the amount of snow it dumped on your neighborhood.Interestingly, when theres a buildup of snow on your roof, the excess heatfrom your home will defrost and render it into meltwater. The meltwater thenrefreezes at the eaves, causing ice dams. Ice dams are notorious for clogginggutters and creating dangerous icicles. Check on the fidelity of your roof tomake sure meltwater and ice dams haven’t done irreparable damage.
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Example Of Issues With Cosmetic Damage Waivers
In the past, weve had homeowners who have taken a cosmetic damage waiver that approach us and have experienced a hailstorm or wind impact event. Their metal roof has dimples or dents, which technically are not covered under with their waiver. However, if the dents caused the paint to crack or perforate the substrate, Sheffield Metals classifies that as a failure. If the paint is flaking off, it will eventually cause a roof system failure in the near to distant future.
As a metal roof manufacturer, that quantifies as a failure or a system failure that, to us, the insurance companies should be replacing, as its past cosmetic. That being said, some insurance companies still will not consider this circumstance a failure and will strictly enforce their policy.
So, if youre worried about the possibility of this occurrence, it might not be worth it to have the cosmetic damage exclusion for your metal roof.
Start Inspecting Your Roof For Hail Damage From The Ground Up
You can start things out on the ground, by looking for dents in the gutters, gutter screens, or downspouts.
While problems in these areas as a result of a hail storm is not always the case, chances are that if there is hail damage to the top of the roof, there will be some impact to the gutters.
Keep an eye out for even small impact areas, since that will help you predict the health of the top portion of your roof.
Next, look for hail damage to your siding and the window sills and window casings, along with any other exposed metal surfaces such as the metal fascia on the roof eaves.
Any dents, dings, or other signs of hail impact even minor ones may be a sign there is more damage up above also, remember that hail storms generally involve high winds so hail is nearly as likely to hit the side of the building as it is the top.
Then inspect other outdoor elements of your property. Items like air conditioners often experience some damage during a hail storm.
In addition, a damaged air conditioner may qualify for replacement under your insurance policy and its good to fix it early before youre looking at air conditioner failure during the hot days of summer.
You should also inspect any exposed vents, sheds, patio covers, porches, mailboxes, and decks or other painted wood surfaces, and note that insurance may cover these damages.
Chipped or scratched paint beyond the normal wear and tear may be another sign of hail damage.
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What About Hail Spatter
Hail spatter sometimes called hail splatter results when slushy type hail leaves discolored marks or stains on your roof or appliances like AC units.
Spatter is evidence of hail on the property and it can be used to determine the size and direction of the hail, but the spatter marks themselves usually do not result in claimable damage.
