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You need to be able to trust your roof to protect your home from all of Mother Nature’s elements. But when a roof becomes badly damaged, you’ll need to call in an expert to get it inspected and decide how to proceed. If you need an inspection, here’s what you can expect.
Roof Inspection Due to Storm Damage
After any severe weather incident, you need to check on your roof. Heavy rain, hail, tornadoes, hurricanes, and blizzards all have the potential to cause serious damage to your roof and eventually your home. Depending on what you find, you may need to contact your insurance company to help with repairs.
Actions You Should Take
When the threat of the storm has passed, there are a few things you need to do in order to assess the condition of your roof and determine your course of action.
- Perform a ground inspection to assess any damage. Look for holes, missing shingles, and areas of sagging.
- If you find any holes or other signs that your roof may leak, seal the area with tarps to prevent any further damage to the inside of your home.
- Contact a roofing contractor who can give you a professional assessment of your roof’s condition. Gone Coastal Roofing & Building performs roofing inspections and provides estimates for repairs. They also will work with your insurance company to make sure you are receiving the best possible coverage.
- Call your insurance company to inform them of your situation. This simply starts the process of filing a claim without actually filing one. You have not filed a claim until you agree to the terms the insurance company presents you.
- The insurance company will send out an adjuster to assess the damage, who will work with the roofing company.
Get an Inspection from an Independent Contractor
One of the most important things to remember is to make sure your roof inspection is as accurate as possible. To protect their interests, the insurance company will send an adjuster to look at your roof.
However, it is important that your roofer give an honest opinion as well. Then, they can compare their assessments and create a plan for the best course of action. They will decide if you need a full roof replacement, or if you only need small repairs.
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What the Insurance Company is Looking For
The insurance adjuster will determine if the severe weather event caused any damage to your roof. If they determine it has, your policy should cover some portion of the damage.
The adjuster will also want to find out if your home was damaged by leaks or any other damage because of the damaged roof. This damage should be covered as well.
What is not Covered
As the adjuster makes his or her assessment, there are certain things that could be denied on a claim. Things that could get rejected are:
- General wear and tear on an aging roof
- Wind and hail damage if your policy excludes these damages
- Damage caused by unresolved issues, such as leaks that go unaddressed
- Neglected action after a storm such as tarping holes and leaks in a roof
Ideally, the roofing contractor and the insurance adjuster will agree on their assessments. After the insurance company writes up its estimate, you can decide if filing the claim is worth the trouble.
Depending on the cost of repairs and how much you will have to pay for the deductible, sometimes you will find it’s better not to file a claim.
Tips to Keep Your Roof in Good Shape
Even though your roof is on top of your house, there are still things you can do to protect it from unnecessary wear and tear. Do a visual inspection twice a year for any signs of holes or leaking.
Keep your roof and gutters clear of debris to prevent a buildup of moisture. Make sure nearby trees never touch or hang over the roof.
A damaged roof can be stressful. Even if your roof is leaking into your home, don’t panic. By acting quickly, you can prevent further damage by tarping the roof and working closely with your contractor and adjuster. They will make sure your home is fixed and give you the peace of mind you need.
