Archive for the ‘Insurance Roofing Claims’ Category
Signs of Improper Roof Installation
Signs of Improper Roof Installation
The importance of proper installation of an asphalt shingle roof cannot be overemphasized. No matter how high the quality of the shingles and other materials used, if the installation was done poorly, the quality of the completed project suffers tremendously. The roof is much more likely to leak, to suffer storm damage including wind damage and hail damage, and also it more likely to fail much earlier than it should.
In addition, the shingle manufacturer’s warranty may be voided if the roof was not installed properly. Most of these warranties do not cover damage due to poor workmanship. Also, you may have problems filing an insurance claim for storm damage on a defectively installed roof. Many insurance companies are looking for any reason to deny a claim and improper installation might be just what they are looking for.
Many homeowners who have recently had a new roof installed want to know how to tell if their roof was installed properly. It is not always easy to tell, but things to watch out for are failure to remove the old layer of shingles, not using enough nails, failing to install water and ice shield, and shoddy work on flashing.
In many cases, shoddy roofing can be traced back to shady “storm chasers”, roofers who move into an area following a hail storm or other significant weather event to make a quick buck before moving on to the next hard hit area. Some of these storm chasers get away with shoddy roofing practices because they are long gone by the time problems start to crop up.
If you are concerned about the quality of the installation of your roof, have it inspected by a reputable local roofing contractor.
Roofing Contractor Tips
Roofing Contractor Tips
When you are looking for a roofing contractor for your re-roofing project, it’s helpful if you already know what type of roof you are planning to install. Most roofing contractors focus on one or two types of roofs. Just like you wouldn’t want a heart surgeon for your knee operation, you don’t want a roofing contractor that specializes in tile roofs installing your asphalt shingle roof.
Every type of roofing system is different and there is a learning curve associated with that type of roof. As a roofing contractor installs more and more of the same type of roof, they get a good picture of the materials and techniques that are most appropriate for your area. You don’t want a roofing contractor learning their trade by installing your roof. You want someone with the experience to get the job done right.
Even roofers who install the same type of roof can specialize to some degree. For example, some roofing contractors do not like to do insurance work such as replacing hail damaged or wind damaged roofs. They prefer to focus on roof replacements for worn out roofs or on new construction.
On the other hand, for some roofing contractors insurance work is their specialty. If you need a new roof due to hail damage or wind damage, you are much better off with a roofing contractor that does a lot of insurance work. They understand how the insurance claims process works and can help you get your claim approved quickly so you can get your new roof installed before it starts leaking.
The bottom line is to choose a reputable roofing contractor that does a lot of the same type of work that you need.
The Insurance Claim Process
The Insurance Claim Process
In many parts of the country, it is almost inevitable that your roof will get hit by hail. For many, it’s a matter of when rather than if hail will fall and if the hail is large enough your asphalt shingle roof will probably suffer some damage. The good news is that most hail damage to your roof is covered by your homeowners insurance. The bad news is that the insurance claim process can be difficult. A good roofing contractor can help you through the insurance claims process.
The first step is to see if you even have hail damage. Not all hail will cause roof damage and it can vary widely between roofs. Just because your neighbor’s roof was damaged is not a guarantee that your roof is damaged.
Most reputable roofing contractors offer free roof inspections. Call a good local roofer and arrange for a roof inspection. If they find hail damage the next step is filing a claim by contacting your insurance company.
The insurance company will send out an adjuster to inspect your roof for damage. If you already have a roofing contractor lined up, it may be a good idea if they are present at the inspection to make sure no damage is overlooked. If your claim is denied, ask for a re-inspection by a different adjuster.
After the claim is approved, the insurance company will usually issue you a partial payment and the roofing contractor can begin replacing the hail damaged roof. Upon completion of the project, submit the contractor’s invoice to the insurance company. They will issue a check for the balance of the covered loss up to the amount of contractors invoice. If the invoice is greater than the covered loss amount, the contractor will need to justify the additional cost in order to get the insurance company to pay the full amount.
Jasper Contractors has offices in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, New Orleans, Phoenix and Salt Lake City.
Wind and Hail Insurance
Wind and Hail Insurance
Is your home insured against wind and hail damage? High winds and hailstorms are the source of a huge number of insurance claims every year, but some homeowners may not be protected against wind and hail damage to their roofs.
Most homeowners believe that their homeowners insurance policy covers roof hail damage and wind damage. In the majority of cases, this true – the homeowner’s policy covers wind and hail damage to your roof. However, in some cases the homeowners insurance policy excludes wind and hail damage. If the homeowner wants to have coverage for wind and hail damage, they have to buy a separate policy or add a wind and hail damage rider to their current policy.
The most common areas where wind and hail damage exclusions are found are in the coastal areas – exactly where homeowners need this coverage the most! The laws vary by state, but in some coastal states insurance companies are allowed to exclude hail and wind coverage from their homeowners insurance policies, typically for homes located near the coast.
If you are one of these homeowners and your roof is damaged in a hail storm or by high winds, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise. If your homeowners insurance policy excludes wind and hail damage, you could end up spending thousands of dollars out of your pocket to repair the hail damage to your roof.
Make sure your home is protected against hail damage and wind damage. If your homeowners insurance policy excludes wind and hail damage, you should check with your insurance company about adding a wind and hail damage rider. Be sure to price separate wind and hail damage policies because you may be able to save a lot of money on your insurance.
Jasper Contractors has offices in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, New Orleans, Phoenix and Salt Lake City.
What Does Your Homeowner’s Insurance Cover?
What Does Your Homeowner’s Insurance Cover?
Your roof has your home covered, but does your homeowner’s insurance policy have your roof covered? If your roof is damaged, the amount your homeowner’s insurance will pay to repair or replace the roof depends on the terms of your policy and the nature of the damage. Most homeowner’s policies cover damage to your roof from storms, hail, wind, fire and other sudden, unpreventable perils. Old age, wear, intentional damage and damage that could have been easily prevented by regular inspection and maintenance is usually not covered.
Even if the damage to your roof is covered by insurance, the insurance company may not pay the entire cost of repairing the damage. Most policies have a deductible that you will have to pay out of pocket. A typical deductible is usually $500 to $1,000. The higher the deductible the less expensive the insurance will be.
If your homeowner’s insurance policy has replacement cost coverage, then you are covered for the full cost of the roof replacement even if the roof is 15 to 20 years old and only had a few years of service left. If your coverage is actual cash value coverage, then the insurance company will only pay the current value of the roof based on the age and condition of the roof.
Homeowner’s insurance policies that have actual cash value coverage are less expensive than those with replacement cost coverage, but you can end up paying most of the cost of replacing the roof out of pocket if your roof is older. Be sure to read your insurance policy carefully. Some policies provide replacement cost coverage for the house with the exception of the roof which only has actual cash value coverage.
Jasper Contractors has offices in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, New Orleans, Phoenix and Salt Lake City.
What To Do If Your Roof Insurance Claim is Denied
What To Do If Your Roof Insurance Claim is Denied
When your roof is damaged by hail, wind or some other cause, you naturally assume that your homeowner’s insurance will pay to repair the damage. However, before they pay the claim, your insurance company will need to verify the damage and calculate the covered cost.
When you submit a claim for hail damage or other damage to your roof, the insurance company will send a claims adjuster to your home to inspect the roof, document the damage, calculate the cost to repair the damage and determine if the damage is covered by your insurance policy.
If the adjusted denies your claim, you should have your roof inspected by a reputable local roofing contractor. If you submitted the claim because a roofer inspected your roof and told you that it had damage, have a different roofing contractor inspect the roof. Most reputable roofing contractors offer free roof inspections so it shouldn’t cost you anything to get a second opinion.
If the roofing contractor confirms that there is damage to your roof that should be covered by insurance, call the insurance company and ask for a re-inspection by a different adjuster. Ask your roofing contractor to be present during the re-inspection and let the roofing contractor and claims adjuster sort things out.
In most cases, this procedure will result in an approved claim, but if the insurance company is still refusing to approve the claim, you may need to hire a lawyer and sue the insurance company in order to force them to pay the claim.
Jasper Contractors has offices in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, New Orleans, Phoenix and Salt Lake City.
Benefits of Working With a National Contractor
Benefits of Working With a National Contractor
If your roof needs to be replaced due to hail damage, wind damage, water intrusion or other storm damage, you will need to carefully choose a roofing contractor to do the work. There are roughly three categories of contractors who will be looking for roofing work in your area – storm chasers, local roofing contractors and national roofing contractors with a local presence.
You should steer clear of storm chasers. These are shady roofers who travel from one hard hit area to the next. While some of these do good work, many of them are inexperienced or worse, simply scam artists. Even the legitimate storm chasers often work without insurance and all of them are difficult, if not impossible to find later if you need warranty work.
There are many locally based roofing contractors who are licensed, bonded and insured and who do excellent roofing work. Most will still be around later if you need warranty work. They are a very good choice for replacing a roof that has worn out or for new construction, but they are usually smaller operations and can be quickly overwhelmed with work when a hailstorm, hurricane or other severe weather damages hundreds or thousands of roofs in a neighborhood.
For replacement of a storm damaged roof, a national roofing contractor with an office in your community like Jasper Contractors is often the best choice. Jasper and similar reputable national roofing contractors have the resources of a national company with the customer service and response time of a local contractor.
Jasper understands how insurance claims work and what constitutes storm damage to your roof that should be covered by insurance. Jasper can help you deal with the claims adjuster and guide you through the insurance claims process. And since they are a financially strong and stable company, you can rely on Jasper’s warranty if you ever need it.
Jasper Contractors has offices in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, New Orleans, Phoenix and Salt Lake City.
Ceramic Granules
Ceramic Granules
After a heavy rain storm or a storm that is accompanied by hail or high winds, you may notice some sand or dirt like substance in your gutter downspouts and collection trays. This sand is actually the ceramic granules placed on the asphalt shingles and is a warning sign that your roof may have suffered damage during the storm.
Ceramic granules are placed on the shingles to help provide UV protection and provide a protective layer to the shingle itself. Asphalt shingles need UV protection to help prevent deterioration and to preserve the life of the shingle. Excess exposure to UV light will cause the shingle to dry and crack more frequently than normal.
The ceramic granules also provide a layer of rain, water and moisture protection. The granules act in this manner by helping to remove the water and encourage the water to move off the roof and towards the gutter for removal. As the ceramic granules are removed or worn off, the shingles become less water resistant and water leaks are more common during this time.
If you have noticed that dirt or sand is accumulating in your downspouts or collection trays after a storm, you likely have shingle damage. This sand that is found is a classic warning sign of roof damage. Contact your local roofing professional for a free roof inspection. Granules that have been removed from storm damage are often covered under homeowner’s insurance policies.
Professional roofing contractors will work with your homeowner’s insurance company to help expedite the claims process and repair your roof.
Jasper Contractors has offices in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Chicago, Cincinnati, Colorado Springs, Denver, New Orleans, Phoenix and Salt Lake City.
Handling a Roof Emergency
Handling a Roof Emergency
When you are faced with sudden damage to your roof, you need to act quickly to protect your family and property. The first thing to do is to make sure your family is in a safe location. Once your family is safe and secure, you can focus on the roof.
If the roof was damaged in a storm by wind, hail or tree limbs or other debris falling on the roof, wait until the storm has passed to take any action outside your home. If the damage has caused the roof to begin leaking, remove furniture and other items from the affected are if it is safe to do so. You can also put out buckets or pans to catch dripping water and minimize the damage.
Once the storm has passed, take steps to stop water from penetrating your home and causing further damage. A local roofing contractor will be able to temporarily cover the damaged area with tarps to prevent water intrusion while awaiting repairs. Avoid the temptation to climb on the roof yourself to install the tarps. The roof may not be safe and your roofing contractor has the necessary experience to safely secure the roof.
Call your insurance company to let them know about the damage to the roof. They will send an adjuster to inspect the roof and give you an estimate of the damage. It may be helpful to have your roofing contractor present during the inspection. The contractor may be able to identify damage that the adjuster overlooks and can help coordinate the repairs.
Be sure to have the repairs performed promptly by a reputable Baton Rouge roofing contractor. Any damage left unrepaired can allow water to enter and cause further, more expensive damage to your home.
Hail Damage Insurance Complaints
Hail Damage Insurance Complaints
Have you had an insurance claim for hail damage to your roof denied? If so, you are not alone. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, complaints against homeowner’s insurance companies for denied hail damage claims quadrupled from 2007 through 2009. The problem stems in part from an increased number of claims due to numerous hailstorms in the area during that period. Most claims are legitimate and paid quickly, but the influx of “storm chasers” causes the number of questionable claims to increase.
Storm chases are roofing contractors who flock to an area where hailstorms or any severe weather have occurred. Some of these roofing contractors are honest roofers looking for opportunities to find new business, but many of them are unscrupulous roofers who have given the industry a bad name.
These shady roofers move into an area with hail damaged roofs and go door to door looking for business. They offer to inspect the roof then tell the owner to file a claim whether there is significant hail damage or not. In some cases, the roofer creates fake hail damage to the roof.
Storm chasers have been known to do substandard work and then move on to a new area before the roof starts leaking. The homeowner ends up hiring a reputable local roofing contractor to fix the roof. In other cases, the storm chaser accepts a deposit for the new roof, then leaves town without doing any work.
If you have an insurance claim denied, have your roof inspected by a reputable Atlanta roofing contractor. They can advise you on whether or not you really have hail damage and should continue to pursue your insurance claim.
