How To Handle Roof Damage From Hail Storms
One of the biggest mistakes you can make after a hail storm is to wait until you see a roof leak. Hail can cause tiny hairline cracks in the shingles that you can’t see unless you examine them up close.
Also, a leak can go on for months before it stains the ceiling or warps the wall drywall. Other problems, like loose flashing, are hard to recognize.
If you wait too long and later discover the roof damage, your homeowner’s insurance may not cover the repairs. Dealing with roof damage from hail storms immediately is the best thing to do.
But how should you go about it? Here are three basic steps to deal with hail damage on the roof or siding of your home.
Step 1: Call your insurance company to report the hail damage
Anytime the roof or other areas of your home are damaged by a hail storm, call your insurance company to report the damage. Call them if there is:
- Hail damage
- Wind damage
- Falling trees
- Falling objects
- Water damage
- Fire damage
The call will start the claims process. The insurance company will send their inspector to assess the hail damage and necessary repairs. From there, they provide the details of the repairs that the claim will cover.
The problem is that they use information that is not always accurate for the repair cost. Only local roofers really know what the material and labor costs in the area will be. Keep in mind that the insurance adjuster may not have any experience at all in home repairs.
If there are repairs that the claim does not cover but are needed, you will have to cover the difference.
Step 2: Find a roofing contractor
You’ll next need to find a local roofing contractor. It is best to call a home repair contractor who has experience in negotiating hail damage insurance claims.
Commonly, the claim won’t cover everything necessary but you can fight for it. If you can prove that the claim should cover the entire cost of repairs, you won’t be stuck with paying the difference.
By getting a detailed roof and siding inspection from an experienced local home repair contractor, you will be armed with the information needed to fight the claim payout.
Negotiating with the insurance adjuster is easy. You’ll need a detailed written inspection that lists all the materials and labor costs as well as why the repairs are necessary. An experienced remodeling contractor, like
ALL IN 1 Home Improvements, who can negotiate the claim for you is going to save you big money.
