Actual Cash Value Coverage
The actual cash value coverage pays for the replacement cost minus depreciation. Consequently, under this policy, your out-of-pocket cost can be significantly higher when compared to replacement cost coveragedepending on your roofs age and the amount of wear and tear over the years.
Once you understand the type of coverage you hold, have your insurance number handy and contact your insurance company to initiate the process.
Note: Contact and report your claims with theTexas Windstorm Insurance Association if you have a hail and wind policy separately with them.
Roof Damage Caused By High Winds
Although it may sound surprising, wind can be considered one of the most destructive forces on earth with recorded speeds of up to 115 km/h in Ontario.
In addition to blowing off loose shingles, gutters and roofing components, high winds also present the risk of knocking over trees and/or power lines causing a great deal of damage to any surrounding properties.
The Type Of Roof Replacement Coverage In Your Policy
In some cases, your roof will qualify for actual cash value coverage . This is because the age or condition of your roof is such that its too compromised or the roofing material rules out other coverages.
If your roof is eligible based on its age and type , you may qualify for roof replacement cost coverage . Its optional coverage that can be added to your policy.
With RCV coverage, well reimburse you for the full amount that it would cost to repair or replace your roof in the event of a covered loss. Depending on the damage, you may choose not to repair or replace your roof, and in that case, well only pay you the actual cash value of the damage.
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Filing A Homeowners Insurance Claim For Home Damage
Storm damage to your home will fall under your dwelling insurance. Damage may impact your roof, walls, windows, floors, foundation, or built-in appliances like your air conditioning unit. Once you have documented the damage, and taken action to prevent further damage, you can begin the claims process. It is important to file a claim as soon as possible after an event.
Most companies make it easy for homeowners to navigate this process on their website or mobile app, but you can also call the number listed on your policy. To submit a claim, you will need your policy number and an explanation/summary of damages. Your insurance agent will discuss your current policy, whats covered and your next steps.
Protect Your Home And Make Only Necessary Repairs
The roof insurance claim process is not something that can be completed in a day or two, so you will have to conduct a few necessary repairs to protect your family and belongings and to minimize further damage to your home. If possible, avoid making any permanent repairs unless approved by the insurance company. For example, if there is substantial damage to your roof that results in leaks and can likely damage the interior. Be sure to save all your repair receipts in case you need to show them as evidence/proof during your claim process.
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S To Filing A Roof Insurance Claim:
The steps to filing a roof insurance claim arent all that difficult, but it is important that you file the claim as quickly as possible. The last thing youll want to do is wait too long and find that your insurance company isnt going to honor the claim. This will only hurt you in the long run and cause both your roof and bank account to suffer.
We recommend that you start pursuing the steps to filing your insurance claim within the same week that the damage happened.
The Insurance Process Can Be Muddy
Both the roofing industry and the insurance industry dont have the best reputation. The unfortunate truth is that there are a lot of roofing and insurance companies who don’t necessarily have your best interest in mind.
Thats why we like to say the insurance process can be muddy and confusing. Some companies use this to their advantage and scam homeowners who are desperate to get their roof problem taken care of.
Thats not to say that all roofing or insurance companies are out to take advantage of you. There are great companies, and there are not so great companies.
All were trying to do is let you know that there are people on both sides who unfortunately try to take advantage of people in a stressful situation. Understanding this from the beginning helps you be aware to ensure something like this doesnt happen to you.
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Get Your Roof Repaired Or Replaced
The last step to this process is everyones favorite because it means that you get to be done and finished with the roofing process. Having your roof replaced or repaired is not always cheap, but hopefully, because of the damage from the storm, your insurance provider is going to cover a large portion of the cost.
How much you end up paying for the roof to be repaired will depend primarily on whether or not youre required to pay a deductible and the type of coverage you have on your roof.
You can ask your insurance company about the costs of roof replacement due to storage damage. Theyll help you work through all the details even before theres a storm.
How To File An Insurance Claim When Your Roof Is Damage
A properly installed and maintained roof will serve you well for many years and give you optimum value.Your home is your most expensive investment, and your roof is part of your homes foundation. What happens when your roof is hit by severe storms, high winds, heavy rain, and natural disasters, your roof may show signs of damage. Inspect your roofs exterior for water marks or possible leaks. If necessary, go to the attic and look around the interior walls for discolored wallpapers, peeling paint, flaking plaster, or stained wood. Any of these signs are true indicators of a damaged roof. Dont take your roof for granted.
The problem, however, arises when it suffers a severe damage, and you want to avail the benefits of your damaged roof repair cover from the insurance company. Dealing with insurance claims, speaking to adjusters, and ensuring you get full reimbursement for all covered damage can be a cumbersome process. In fact, many homeowners are unsure about how to file a claim, the problem areas, the documentation they need, and what to expect. In this post, we look at the five steps you need to follow, when it comes to filing a roof insurance claim. Lets take a look.
Follow this simple steps:
Roofs provide shelter from the heat, the rain, and the cold. Just as your roof protects you, your job is to protect your roof.
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Always Keep A Copy Of Your Roof Insurance Policy On Hand
It should practically go without saying that you should always have a current copy of all your insurance policies on hand, as well as contact information for your public adjuster and an experienced contractor .
This will help you determine not only what is covered, but the statute of limitations in place as far as the timeline for reporting damage and what types of leaks or damage are or are not covered.
Most insurance policies will lay out exactly what is covered and what is not, but of course you can ask your public adjuster if you have any questions about what exactly is included in your roofing insurance policy.
For instance, if you have an older roof , your insurance company may only pay out a percentage or portion of your roof repair or replacement cost, since the overall value of your roof would have depreciated over the years.
Note that when you submit your roof insurance claim, the insurance company will send out their own adjuster to inspect the damage to your roof and decide the amount that the insurance company will provide for your roof repairs.
This is another reason why its essential to talk to your public adjuster before the insurance company, so you can be prepared from their inspection and the eventual results.
Tips For Filing A Roof Replacement Insurance Claim
Finding out that your roof needs to be replaced or repaired can be troubling for many homeowners. Dealing with insurance claims, talking to adjusters and making sure you get reimbursed for all covered damages is a daunting process. Many homeowners are simply unsure about how to file a claim, where the process can be problematic, what types of documentation they need, or what to expect.
To a home insurance company, the roof is the most important part of your house. Its the gateway to far greater damage claims once its damaged. In more than 90 percent of hail or high-wind claims, there is a payout relative to the roof cover, according to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. Insurance companies review roofing claims very carefully and they expect you to provide proper documentation and other information in order to process your claim.
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Will Filing A Homeowners Insurance Claim For Roof Damage Raise My Premium
Several different factors go into deciding on an increase in insurance premiums for a roof damage insurance claim. One factor is the number of insurance claims you have had in the last 10 years. If you have several claims in one to three years, then your insurance premiums are more likely to increase than if its the only claim youve made in the last 10 years. Other factors are the cause of the claim, the total cost of claim, and the state you live in.
How Start Your Claim Look For Damage Right Away
Immediately after a natural disaster, major storm or hail damage, you should be assessing the condition of your roof right away .
If you notice visible damage, leaks, or other problems, be sure to call your contractor to inspect your roof or ask around for a reputable contractor if you dont already have one on speed dial.
Even if your roof looks perfectly fine from the outside and there are seemingly no leaks, its important to get it inspected if youve experienced a major weather event or similar occurrence that could cause damage to your roof there are issues only an experienced roofing specialist could uncover.
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Get A Detailed Report From An Independent Roofing Contractor
Ask for a written evaluation from the roofing contractor that addresses the issues listed above The extent and cause of the damage and the condition of the rest of the roof.
The inspection and report will cost up to $500, but it is money well spent if it is instrumental in getting your homeowners insurance claim paid.
If it comes to arbitration or court, it will be the word of an inspector against a roofer. If your roofing contractors report is credible, you will be in good shape.
Dont Settle for an Inferior Roof
This takes a little explaining, but it should be clear in the end.
When an insurer accepts a claim, it offers the homeowner a chunk of money.
It should be enough to replace your roof with materials of the same quality as the original roof including professional installation.
Heres the warning: It is the common practice of some insurance adjusters to offer a settlement that will only pay for inferior replacement materials.
Lets say your home has dimensional shingles, which is the most common type of asphalt shingles. Well, dimensional shingles come in basic, better and best quality.
Take CertainTeed or GAF shingles, for example. Both brands are the largest manufacturers of dimensional asphalt roofing shingles.
Here are three lines of shingles from CertainTeed that serve as an example:
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Preparing for Future Claims
Find Out What Your Policy Covers
The easiest way to know whats covered or whats not, is to contact your insurance provider.
Some policies take the age of your roof into account at the time it is damaged. For example, if your roof is less than 10 years old, you may be covered for the full cost of repairing or replacing the damaged section of your roof at the time of the claim. If your roof is more than 10 years old, you may only be reimbursed for the depreciated value of the damaged roof. The depreciated value takes the aging and wearing of your roof into account, meaning its value has decreased prior to any damage occurring.
Some policies will only offer roof damage coverage up to the depreciated value, regardless of the age of your roof. Other policies will cover the full cost of repairing or replacing the damaged section of your roof at the time of the claim, regardless of the age of your roof. In most cases, your insurance company will send an inspector to your home to investigate and verify your claim. If the damage is determined to be from aging, wear and tear, or poor condition of your roof, it will typically be considered normal maintenance, and will not be covered under your policy.
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How To File A Roof Damage Insurance Claim
If your roof is damaged, there are a few things you need to know. First, dont wait for repairs call a contractor right away. In some cases, they may even be able to provide some tarps or temporary coverage if the damage is causing immediate leaks. Second, you will want to file a claim with your homeowner insurance to get the ball rolling on repair coverage.
During this stressful time, you may be a little flustered and not certain of what to do. But one thing is for sure you want your damage repaired fast. Plus, the details of your insurance policy can be muddy and hard to understand, so were going to walk you through what to look for and how to file a roof damage insurance claim the right way.
File A Claim With Your Homeowners Insurance Within 30 Days
Most states require a homeowner to make a claim within 30-60 days. Failure to make a timely claim is reason for claim denial.
When there is a high volume of claims, the earlier you file the paperwork, the sooner you will get your claim processed.
Step 3. Have the Roof Independently Inspected & Document the Damage
Were going to sound a little cynical, but we prefer to think of it as being a wise homeowner.
According to one experienced roofing contractor, Insurance companies heavily scrutinize claims for roof repair and replacement. They will want absolute proof that storm damage is the cause of the roof leak.
To determine this, insurance company will send out its own adjuster someone that works for the insurance company. If the storm damage is widespread, independent inspectors are brought in to handle the load of claims.
However, theyre hired and paid by the insurance company, too. Thats a strong motivation to find results favorable to the insurance company reasons why your claim isnt legitimate and shouldnt be paid.
What reasons might they find? Common reasons for denying a roofing insurance claim are:
In all of these scenarios, the result is the same: Claim denied!
This is where an inspection from a roofing contractor that you are paying is essential.
What a roofer should document for you:
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Preparing To File A Claim
1. The first thing you need to do is write down the date of the storm. If possible, take as many pictures of the roof damages as you can. This will serve as an important piece of evidence for your insurance company, and will help them in making a decision whether or not to approve your claim.
Please be aware that there has been a spike in fraudulent hail damage roof insurance claims in the last couple of years and insurance companies are being extra vigilant throughout the process.
2. Contact a local roofing contractor in your area to inspect the roof. Do your research to find an experienced, highly-trained roofer. Many companies offer initial damage inspections at no extra charge.
Typically, the inspection takes 20 minutes, unless the roof damage is so severe that it needs to be inspected at great length. It is also a good idea to ask for an itemized list of damages to your property, and have it as another piece of evidence for the insurance company.
3. Ask the roofer whether he recommends filing an insurance claim based on the inspection. If he tells you to go ahead, ask if he is willing to be there when the insurance adjuster comes in for the inspection.
Document Everything And Do It All The Time
Document early and document often. When you acquire a new property or make significant renovations , take detailed photos and videos of its condition and store them in multiple safe places .
This will make any insurance claims process go faster and your public adjuster will thank you and just in case youre required to attend an examination under oath, your public adjuster and you will be well prepared.
Its a great practice to regularly take pictures of your roof and the rest of your property. This is particularly important after any type of maintenance is completed of course, this in addition to when you first bought it and after any major disaster like a hurricane or a wind damage, especially one that involves heavy winds, which can cause significant long-term weaknesses that may not be immediately obvious.
Be sure that your images and videos are clearly stamped with the date and time there are apps for that of course on iPhone, Android, and Windows phones and take multiple pictures from as many angles make sense for your home or building.
Video walkthroughs can help you capture everything as well. The more details you have, the more valid your arguments will be when its time to make a roof-related damage claim with your insurance company.
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