Make An Appointment With An Insurance Adjuster
Your insurance company will schedule an appointment for an adjuster to come out to your home and assess the roof damage. The adjuster will go on the roof, assess the damage, determine what is and is not covered for your roof claim and give you an estimate to provide to the roofing contractor. Ask the adjuster to share any documentation with you.
What Damage Is Not Covered
When it comes to damages to your roof, the homeowners insurance agency is all too happy to help you pay, unless you are the one to blame for the damage.
Homeowners insurance generally does not cover any damage caused by the lack of upkeep, or general wear and tear of the roof. Roof coverage is only for sudden, accidental damage.
This means that if your roof damage is caused by age or an unresolved maintenance issue, you are to blame for the damage, and your policies will not help you pay for the repairs.
This is just one reason you may want to conduct regular roof inspections. And if you are planning on purchasing a new property, this is also a reason you will want o to learn about the general information of that buildings roof.
Items like what its age is, has it been repaired, what is it made of, and when was its last inspection, are all key pieces of information you should know.
Here is a guide to help understand roof claims:
To File Or Not To File
Some roofers will encourage you to file a claim every time theres damage because its in their best interest to do so.
Even if theres only a 10 percent chance that the insurance company will cover a new roof, thats a 10 percent chance the roofer has of landing another roofing job.
You need to be the decision maker. But that means having enough information to make the right decision. Here are some of the questions you should ask yourself and your roofer before deciding to file a claim:
- How old is my roof?
- Whats my insurance deductible?
- What does my insurance cover?
- Are these shingles discontinued?
- Do I have roof vents that segment the slopes of my roof, or is my roof one continuous roof?
- How much damage is there?
- Is the damage limited to one area?
- What type of damage do I have?
- Can the damage be repaired?
- What is the cost of repairing vs. replacing?
Choosing a roofer you can trust is essential. But thats not enough. You need to know what your policy covers, how old your roof is and what questions to ask your roofer so you can make an informed decision.
Roofsimple offers ideas, not advice. Any insurance or financial decisions should be discussed with a trusted financial adviser or licensed insurance agent.
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Find A Roofing Contractor Who Has Experience Working With Roof Damage Insurance Claims
Once your claim is approved, it’s up to you to choose any local roofing contractor you want. When looking for one local to your area, its important to hire one that has experience working with insurance claims.
Hiring a roofing contractor who regularly handles insurance work knows the insurance claim process, how to read your claim, supplement anything missing, and how to do the work in compliance with your insurance company. They can also save you from inadvertently committing insurance fraud.
Unlike retail replacements, theres no reason to get multiple quotes to find the lowest price when you start looking for a roofing company for an insurance claim. So, find one you trust that has experience handling claims and go from there.
Roofing Insurance Claims For Storm Damage
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 .
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Too Many Insurance Claims
Before you file an insurance claim, consider how many claims youve filed on your homeowners insurance in the past three to seven years.
Insurance companies have a record of how many claims youve made. If youve filed more than two claims on your homeowners in the last five years it could drive up the cost of your premiums.
However, Its almost always worth filing a roof claim if the type of damage or the extent of the damage is extensive. The cost of replacing a roof often outweighs the cost of higher premiums.
Lets look at a few of the factors that determine whether your claim will end up covering your whole roof or leave you with a blemished record.
Only An Insurance Adjuster Can Approve Your Roof Damage Insurance Claim
The first thing you should do is call your insurance company when you think you have a claim. After giving them all the relevant information, theyll either send out an insurance adjuster or tell you to call a roofing contractor for an inspection.
If they tell you to find a roofing contractor, theyll be able to inspect for storm damage and let you know the roof is damaged. Now, you might think your claim will automatically be approved when this happens.
Unfortunately, thats not the case. The insurance adjuster is the only one who can approve a roof damage insurance claim.
Your roofing contractor can take pictures of storm damage as proof and advocate for you if they think you have it. But at the end of the day, the insurance adjuster has the final say, even if the roofing contractor is 100% sure you have a claim.
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Research Roofing Companies And Hire The Most Reputable
After you submit your roof insurance claim, seek out a reputable roofing company with insurance claims experience to perform a roofing inspection. They can look for damage and compile a report for your insurance agency. If you dont hire professionals for the inspection, your insurance company may pay someone to inspect the roof on their behalf. Because this third-party inspector represents the insurance agency, they may try to find any reason to deny your claim. However, by taking charge and hiring your own inspectors, you give yourself the best chance to get your insurance to pay for your roof repairs.
But how should you choose a roofing company?
First, look for a company that provides both roof replacement and roof installation services for the most common roofing materials in Florida, including shingle, tile, and metal roofing. A reputable roofing company should also have a website and Google My Business page with reviews from other customers.
Make sure the roofers you choose have experience in dealing with insurance claims, as this will make it easier for them to communicate with your insurance agency and offer proof that your claim is valid.
A reputable roofing company will replace your roof correctlywithout causing more damage or charging you an unreasonable amount. If you choose roofers with a poor reputation, then your future insurance claims could actually be denied due to improper previous installations.
Dont Give Up After Your Roofing Claim Has Been Denied
Never give up after the first roof claim denial, especially with Allstate. With our experience, we have learned that many roofing claims get opened only after the second or third adjustment. If you do not agree with the original decision, insurance companies will send new adjusters at no cost.
Just like we explained in this video, sometimes it might need a few adjuster meetings and third parties to get involved to complete the process.
Fighting insurance companies for a homeowners insurance claim is a time-consuming task. They usually delay the process to starve contractors and tip negotiations in their favor. Also, by doing this they hope that contractors or homeowners will drop the case.
Either way, it might take up to a few years but the result is worth waiting: you can restore your entire exterior at no cost to you. Team up and work with your trusted contractor. Do not assume that the contractor is greedy or aggressive if he asks for more funds from your insurance.
Whether it is roof replacements, fixing roof leaks or installing wood shakes, roofing is a complicated process. It involves lots of codes and variable costs which includes insurance, labor, code compliance, and material costs.
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Have Regular Inspections And Maintenance Done
Most insurance companies will rely on the hopes of you not having your proper paperwork on hand when they come out to assess the damage. Most companies will ask for before and after pictures, but many homeowners dont think to randomly take pictures of their roof. Have these pictures available as they will help you in the process.
Youll also want to have regular inspections and maintenance done on your roof to prove that its been well taken care of. Keep all receipts and paperwork showing this so that you can use it in your claim.
There Are Two Major Types Of Residential Insurance Policies
- Actual Cash Value
- Replacement Cost
Actual Cash Value
With an ACV policy, your roof will depreciate in value each year for 10 years. As a result, if your roof has sustained any damages, you will only receive a check for the depreciated value of your roof.
Replacement Cost
If you carry a RC policy, your insurance company will cover the cost to replace your roof, minus your deductible. In addition, home insurance policies that are replacement cost will generally pay two installments for a new roof.
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Saves You From Committing Insurance Fraud
If you have an RCV policy, showing your paperwork can save you from insurance fraud. When the work estimate is less than what the insurance company agreed to pay, you dont get to pocket the leftovers.
To receive your recoverable depreciation, the items that were included in the claim must be included in the contractors scope of work so you dont inadvertently commit insurance fraud.
Thats why an RCV policy requires proof of completion before they send you a check for the recoverable depreciation. If you ask for the check but didnt get the work done, your insurance company wont make your life easy.
Hire An Experienced Roof Replacement Contractor
Scammers sometimes target homeowners whose roof was damaged by bad weather, making them promises of a free roof and other promises that they cannot deliver upon. It is important to avoid these scams and only work with a roofing company that has experience with insurance claims. This helps ensure you do not have work done on your roof that is not covered by your insurance provider. Additionally, it is important to choose a roof replacement company who offers a workmanship warranty.
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The Process To Get Insurance To Pay For Your Roof Can Be Long
Some homeowners have the misconception their roof will be replaced quickly after filing a claim. Unfortunately, this isnt the case.
The truth is, getting insurance to replace your storm-damaged roof is a long process. Below is a list of some of the steps leading up to an insurance roof replacement:
- Youll call your insurance company
- They send out an adjuster for an inspection
- If approved by the adjuster, theyll write up a claim
- Youll find a reputable roof contractor
- Theyll go over the claim and supplement anything missing if needed
- The supplemented claim will be sent back to the insurance company for approval
- If approved, your roof replacement is ready to be scheduled
The steps above arent the exact process and vary based on your insurance company, policy, and even your roofing contractor. This list just demonstrates how much goes on behind the scenes once you file an insurance claim and that each phase of the process takes time.
Knowing this from the beginning helps you understand why its taking so long to get your roof replaced through your insurance company.
File Your Insurance Claim Asap
Delaying on filing your insurance claim is as detrimental as waiting to report suspected damage. Most policies require filing a claim within 60-days or less. In addition to complying with your policy, filing your claim on the early side helps your roofing contractor, too.
Most licensed roofing contractors are happy to help you with all of the steps required when filing a roof replacement insurance claim, and many handle the bulk of the work for you. Keep this in mind if you dont have a regular roofing contractor you work with, and only hire contractors who are willing to partner with you when it comes to filing, tracking, and providing the necessary documentation for keeping the claim moving forward.
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Hire A Reputable Roofing Contractor At Adelphia Exteriors
Do you have severe roof damage? If so, then contact our Northern Virginia roofing contractors at Adelphia Exteriors to schedule a roof inspection. We have experience working with home insurance companies to ensure you get the coverage that you are entitled to receive. You can reach us by message or give us a call at to get the roof replacement process started.
The Steps To Take When Filing A Claim
If you want to file a claim, you need to navigate the process with care. First, take pictures of the damage and what caused the damage. Be sure to take the pictures before you attempt to make a temporary repair.
Then, call the insurance company and send them your pictures. Give them the details and file the paperwork for the claim. Eventually, an adjuster may come to your home. Theyll document the damage and write a report. Based on the evidence, theyll decide whether or not you have grounds for a claim.
At times, you need to fight for the repair or replacement. You can go through an appeal process and prove the validity of the claim. This could include hiring a public adjuster to do their own investigation.
If possible, avoid hiring a roofing company until you have approval from the insurance company. Upon approval, you may need to use a contractor from a short list of roofers.
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What To Consider When Claiming For A Roof Repair With Your Insurance Company
A roof repair can be stressful because not only can repairs be costly but the overall issue can affect your day to day living. The latter means that the roof damage repair is not something that you can delay. For this reason, insurance companies can help you out with the costs. However, several things need to be considered before your insurance claim is granted.
How To Get Homeowners Insurance To Pay For A New Roof
by John Bert | Jul 25, 2020 | Roofing
So, youre looking at a damaged roof. Thats not fun, but were not past the point of all hope. It can be fixed, and even though the prospect of repairing a roof sounds expensive, there are resources that can help. Chief among those resources is your homeowners insurance. Its there for a reason, and roofing claims are quite common.
Theres a process you can follow to try and get some money out of your insurance company to help cover roof repairs. Dealing with insurance companies, however, can be totally frustrating or shockingly pleasant. In order to prepare yourself for both, you can learn a little more about the claims process and pick up a few tips to help you convince your insurer to shell out some cash.
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Should I Make An Insurance Claim On My Roof
If you need roof repairs or replacement, youll have to take into careful consideration whether to file a claim or not. Frequently filing claims can affect your premiums as well as the amount paid out on a claim. You may even risk getting your policy voided. You should avoid filing a claim if the estimated repair amount doesnt meet or exceed your deductible, its better to pay out of pocket. If the repairs are due to normal wear and tear or lack maintenance on your part, you are better off not filing a claim. Insurers normally only cover damage caused by covered perils such as hail damage. Its also best not to file a claim if youve filed one in the past three years as your insurer might void your policy if you file too many claims in one year, and you might have problems getting insurance elsewhere.
Does Home Insurance Cover Roof Replacement
My house was hit by a pretty intense hail storm last night and there is some wicked damage to the roof. I might need to get it fully replaced. Will my home insurance cover a roof replacement?
Answer
most homeownerâs insurance policies cover roof replacement if the damage is caused by nature or an unexpected accidentrecord of repairs, before-and-after pictures, and any inspection reports
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Two: Document The Damage To Your Roof
Image source: Redfin
A picture is worth a thousand words, and when it comes to documenting the damage to your roof, theres no better way to get your point across to your insurance company than with plenty of visual evidence.
Even if you dont currently have any damage to your roof, its recommended that you have a few before-damage pictures at the ready. These will be invaluable if your roof is ever damaged and will increase your chances of a little extra help from your insurer.
If you dont have any before pictures, dont worry. Pictures of the damage are just as useful during the claims process. Make sure each picture has a timestamp as well. This way, you can correlate the visible damage with an event such as a bad hail storm or the common Florida hurricane, where your shingle roof may suffer some wind damage.
The more evidence and documentation you have, the better.
