Your home should be protected for at least 12 to 15 years with a professionally built asphalt shingle roof. A major storm, on the other hand, can change everything in a single night.
If your roof has been damaged by a storm or hail, it’s critical that you make an insurance claim and get your roof repaired as soon as possible.
Claims can be complicated, and if done incorrectly, you could find yourself waiting a long time for a settlement. When you’re ready to make an insurance claim for your roof, keep the following eight procedures in mind.
Assess your roof damage.
To begin, climb up onto your roof and assess the extent of the damage.
You can engage a local roofing firm to inspect the damage for you if you’re not confident you can adequately analyze the damage yourself or if your physical condition prevents you from securely getting on your roof. The contractor may provide you with a full report detailing everything that is wrong with your roof and what needs to be done, depending on their services. Some contractors even have qualified public adjusters on staff who will speak with your insurance company on your behalf. To learn more about what your local roofing company has to offer, give them a call.
Find out what your insurance covers.
Before you can file a claim, you must first understand your insurance plan’s rights.
Check your insurance policy files to see if your contract includes coverage for roof damage. Take down any additional pertinent information, such as the sorts of damage that are covered.
Document your roof damage.
After you’ve determined what’s wrong with your roof, you’ll need to present your insurance company with particular papers to support your claim. Photograph all of the damage. Make a careful list of everything that’s been destroyed, as well as what will most likely need to be done to repair the roof. Include the time and date of the storm that caused the damage. Make a note of any internal damage that occurred as a result of roof damage.
If you have images of your roof from before the damage, you can send those to the insurer as well, as they will show that the current damage is recent. As a general rule, have images of your home’s exterior on hand in case you need to file a claim.
Get in touch with your insurer.
To learn how to make a claim, you should contact your insurance agent as soon as possible. Depending on your coverage, you may be required to contact your insurance company within a particular time frame after the damage has occurred.
Find out what your insurer’s procedures are for roof repairs and replacements when you speak with your representative.
Find a local roofing company.
Request a formal estimate for the cost of a new roof. If your roof needs to be completely replaced, make sure they state that in their report that this is the case and that modest repairs are not an option.
File your claim.
Fill out the claim form provided by your insurer with the assistance of your insurance agent. Make sure you include all of the information and proof your provider will need to approve your claim.
Include copies of all receipts for damaged furnishings, as well as an estimate of how much it will cost to repair the interior if it has been damaged.
If the damage is severe enough that your family will have to stay in a hotel while repairs are being performed, you’ll need to account for this expense as well.
Meet with an insurance adjuster.
To validate your claim, an insurance adjuster will need to come to your home and inspect the damage. If possible, have the contractor you’ve chosen present when the adjuster arrives so they can talk about your repair needs together.
Replace your roof.
It’s time to contact your preferred local roofing business once your claim has been granted and the settlement quote is sufficient to effectively repair the damage.
How do you handle a roof damage claim?
To get your claim approved, you’ll have to rely on insurance adjusters. The first thing you should do if you suspect roof damage following a severe storm is contact your insurance carrier. After chatting with them, they’ll either dispatch an insurance adjuster or urge you to schedule an inspection with a roofing contractor.
What does a roof engineer do?
A roof expert can examine your current roof structure, decide which elements need to be replaced, and plan a reroofing project that is both cost-effective and long-lasting.
How do I know if my roof has wind damage?
Loose or missing shingles, chimney difficulties, curling or peeling shingles, granule loss, damaged soffit or fascia, and inside leaks are all signs of wind damage on a roof. Tree branches can also fall during high winds, causing roof damage. Wind, like hail, can induce granule loss (the sandpaper-like part of the shingle).
How long is a roof good for?
It’s been around 20 years since your asphalt roof was installed. The lifespan of a roof is determined by the number of years it lasts. That’s 25 years for a regular 3-tab asphalt shingle roof. If your roof is properly vented and installed, you should be able to reach close to that 25-year lifespan.
Do roofs come with warranties?
Despite the many misconceptions surrounding roofing warranties, there are only two types to consider: manufacturer warranties and contractor warranties.
Each has its own characteristics. It’s vital to understand which policies cover you, what they guarantee, and what you need to do to keep your coverage.
The bulk of roof warranties are provided by the shingle manufacturer. A 25-30 year guarantee is typical for asphalt shingles (but there are various alternatives for 50 year and “lifetime” coverage).
Roofing materials are usually covered by a basic manufacturer’s warranty. However, keep in mind that if you submit a claim in the future, the prices will be prorated and the disposal costs will not be paid.
Most crucially, workmanship is not covered by standard manufacturer warranties. You’d have to upgrade to a better warranty for it. While warranties vary by manufacturer, they typically cover the full replacement cost as well as craftsmanship for a set length of time.
Contractors may provide workmanship coverage in addition to the manufacturer’s guarantee.
The issue is that these guarantees vary greatly from one contractor to the next. It can be tough to maintain track of project proposals as you collect them. You can learn more about contractor warranty coverage by doing the following:
- Request a formal explanation of what is and is not covered. If the contractor is unable to give this document, you should consider looking for another contractor.
- Inquire about the warranty and whether it covers craftsmanship, materials, or both. A contractor’s warranty will, in most situations, only cover craftsmanship.
- Examine the contractor’s history and track record to determine the warranty’s trustworthiness.
What do you call someone who builds roofs?
A roofing contractor, roofer, or roof mechanic is a tradesperson who specializes in roof construction. Roofers work with a variety of materials, including shingles, bitumen, and metal, to replace, repair, and install roofs of structures. Roofing work is physically demanding since it requires heavy lifting, as well as climbing, bending, and kneeling, frequently in inclement weather. Curled or rotted shingles, missing shingles, and scorching are all indications that your roof requires repair.
What are the different situations that call for investigation of structures?
Cracks of various patterns and sizes, rust stains or rust spots, peeling of plasters, etc., spalling of concrete, and rusty reinforcement if exposed are all common visual symptoms of a distressed or damaged structure. The first step is to figure out whether the damage is structural or non-structural.
What does a structural engineer’s report cover?
The structural engineer should give you a written report explaining his or her findings and conclusions, as well as recommendations for the next steps, which could include intrusive investigations, a plan to monitor the situation for a set amount of time, or a solution to the problem.
Does insurance cover shingles blown?
YES! Windstorm damage to your home, other structures, and personal goods is covered by most homeowners insurance and most property policies, subject to your deductible.
The insurance company faces some particular challenges when settling a claim for a damaged roof. Roofing materials deteriorate with age and have a 20 to 30 year usable life. The color of the shingles that blew off the roof may be difficult to match. The insurance company is required to repair or replace the damaged roof, whichever is less expensive and without regard for aesthetics. To suit their customers’ desires, most insurance firms will strike a reasonable compromise between cost and cosmetic considerations.
In most cases, the roof will simply be fixed if the shingles can be matched. If the shingles can’t be accurately matched, or if the damaged area is big, the entire side of the roof will be rebuilt with a cosmetic match as close as feasible. The roof is only replaced on the damaged side, not the intact side. Many homeowners use this opportunity to repair the undamaged side of the roof at their own expense if the roof is nearing the end of its usable life.
If your homeowners insurance policy has a Replacement Cost Loss Settlement endorsement (which most do), the insurance company will pay the full cost of repairing or replacing the damaged area of the roof, including depreciation.