Your roof can be damaged during a storm in various ways, and should such an event occur, it’s important to know what to do next. In extreme and obvious cases, you may have trees falling on your roof or areas of shingles missing, while damage from hail may be less noticeable from your yard. In either case, you’ll want to determine the damage to your roof and your next steps.
Fortunately, homeowners insurance typically covers roof damage caused by severe weather. But if you’ve just experienced a severe or prolonged storm and suspect roof damage, it can be a good idea to contact a trusted roof inspector for a professional assessment before opening up a claim on your homeowner’s insurance.
Here are a few things to remember if you suspect your roof has sustained storm damage.
First, Act Promptly
Assessing potential roof storm damage quickly with a roofer you trust is a helpful step ahead of contacting insurers to file a claim. If you know you have damage or your roofer’s assessment has confirmed you do, you’ll want to contact your insurance company promptly to prevent more extensive, costly repairs later.
Document the Damage to Your Roof
You’ll want to thoroughly document the damage for an insurance claim by taking photos of everything and keeping a good record of expenses. Keep documentation provided by emergency workers to receipts for food and hotel stays if you’ve needed to evacuate your home at any time.
Once you contact your homeowner’s insurance company to open a claim, they will send an adjuster to conduct their inspection and decide whether to approve the claim.
Wait For Your Claim’s Approval Before Signing on for Roof Repairs
If possible, wait until an affirmative claim has been approved by the insurance company before committing to hiring a contractor for major repairs. You may hire a professional to tarp your damaged roof while the claims process is carried out as the adjuster finalizes the process.
After your insurance adjuster has inspected your roof, they may approve the claim; at this point, you may hire any roofing contractor you wish. However, if the adjuster determines there is no storm damage, you can still appeal for a second insurance adjuster’s inspection or enlist the services of an engineer for assessment.
Once approved, you should speak to a few trustworthy roofing contractors to find which one is right for you and your roof repair or replacement project ahead. You’ll get a reimbursement check for a roof replacement or repair cost within 30 to 60 days.
For more information on how to know if your roof has storm damage or how to get your insurance to pay for roof replacement after a storm, contact the roofers at Powell’s today.
