It’s been a storm-filled summer. If you’ve had storms move through your area in the past few months, now is a good time to have your roof inspected by professionals. As a homeowner, it can be difficult to identify damage that, over time, will compromise your home. If you carry a mortgage on your home, it’s a requirement of your loan to stay on top of repairs such as hail damage to a roof. Additionally, most homeowner’s policies will cover hail damage, minus your deductible, for up to two years after the hail event. If you file a claim past the two-year limitation, it could be denied thus leaving you with a costly bill.
Even if you haven’t had large hail or strong winds, you may still have damage. Even small hail coupled with high winds can damage an asphalt roof. Below are the steps to take if you suspect you have hail damage to your home.
Next Steps:
- First, only a trained professional can determine the severity of your hail damage. Insurance adjusters and trained roof replacement specialists will determine and mark the number of hail hits your have within a 100 sq ft area. A rule of thumb used for this is anywhere from 7 – 13 hits. Some companies will also require the damage to be on more than one slope of the house to replace everything.
- If you have your roof inspected by a roofing contractor and they determine you have a good case for a claim, your next step is to contact your insurance company. They will then open a claim and send an adjuster to your home to do their own inspection. In most cases, your roofing professional should also be present to be sure all hail hits are recorded by the adjuster.
- When the insurance adjuster is onsite, it is also important to be sure they inspect your gutters and siding for damage.
- Once you receive word from the insurance company regarding your claim, contact your chosen roofing contractor right away. As the colder months draw near, it will be more difficult for your contractor to fit your job into the work line up for the year.
Home maintenance is important to maintaining the value of most people’s largest investment, their home. Look for a reputable roofing, siding, gutter, and window contractor to help you replace and monitor your home for damage and safety. If you have questions, or would like to schedule a free roof inspection, contact Robinson Construction Inc today.
A locally owned and operated company, we specialize in insurance storm damage restoration and have over 20 years of experience.