Roofs might seem like a trivial part of your property. However, they protect your home from violent weather. In fact, they maintain the internal temperature of your property. When your roof is healthy, getting roof replaced by insurance seems like a wasteful idea.
Because of the durability and longevity of their material, people often take roofs for granted. However, they will become huge financial commitments when it suffers massive damages.
On average, you’ll need to spend thousands of dollars on repairs. However, if you’ve prepared for this rainy day, then you’re ready to make a replacement claim with your insurance provider.
To head to the steps to make a claim, skip the next section!
Common Coverage of Roof Insurance
Getting roof replaced by insurance means getting the right policy for your roof. Insurers develop their financial protection products depending on the weather in the region.
For example, a tornado-prone region will have insurers provide high premium but full-coverage insurance products for home and property owners.
While you’re paying higher, you avoid the headaches of sudden financial shock. Here are the common coverage of roof insurance available.
Hailstorms introduce the biggest damage to roofs. A single hailstorm can trigger your insurance.
Hail
Most roof insurance coverage includes hailstorms. Most property owners opt for single-premium hailstorm insurance if they often contend with the extremely violent weather.
Hailstorms yield sharp ice with sizes ranging from peas to softballs. Their edges will create bruises and damage roof membranes. In fact, roofing materials will merit a full replacement with just a single, violent hailstorm.
Insurance for hailstorms is the most expensive type of policy. However, getting roof replaced by insurance after massive hailstone damages is a great headache reliever.
Wind
Tornado-prone areas see huge demand for wind and tornado insurance from property and homeowners. Therefore, if you live in a “tornado-zone,” you can expect insurers to provide wind and tornado insurance.
Similar to insurers in hailstorm-prone areas, local companies will place high premiums but full coverage for roofs in your region.
Despite the secure nail and fastening of your metal roof, tornadoes will strike at the joists of your roof. In turn, it uproots the entire system.
Getting roof replaced by insurance is a financial reprieve for any property owner. Roof materials at risk of strong windstorms and tornadoes include shingles, single-ply membranes, and metal roofs.
Tornadoes will uproot any roofing material from its foundations.
Fire
Fire is common mostly in urban communities. Because property owners live side by side in cities, fire spread is highly likely from a single incident.
However, wildfires are common in some regions. If your house or property is along a wildfire-prone region, you can expect insurers to place a high premium on fire-caused roof replacement.
Most roofing materials are fire-retardant. However, they still receive damage. In fact, fire will reduce the durability and lifespan of any roofing material. Therefore, getting roof replaced by insurance helps restore the longevity and protective capacity of your roof and complete property.
Flooding will introduce massive property and roofing damages.
Flood
Areas prone to massive monsoon rains with low land foundations require flood insurance. Most full-property flood insurance includes the benefit of full roofing repairs or replacement. In fact, some insurers provide single-premium, roof-only protection if you have separate property flooding insurance.
Flooding weakens the concrete foundations of any property. In addition, it will weaken the roofing joists and introduce moisture once the flood reaches the roof. Therefore, flooding merits no minor repairs but only a full roofing replacement. Getting roof replaced by insurance is imperative during flooding.
Five Steps to Getting Roof Replaced by Insurance
Getting roof replaced by insurance is similar to claiming for any other insurance benefit. Home and property owners need to present evidence of damage. Unfortunately, their tools and knowledge of roof damages can be insufficient.
This is where contractors will come in to help assess the full extent of roof damages. Most reputable companies provide free consultations. In turn, property owners receive the full estimate of damages allowing them to claim full insurance benefits.
Just follow the steps mentioned here and make getting roof replaced by insurance in the easiest way possible.
Record All Visible Roof Damage
Use a ladder to get up your roof. Then, observe the visible damages you can spot from your location.
Visible damages include bruising. Because of hailstone impacts, some roof material surfaces will feel softer than the rest.
In the case of asphalt shingles, you may see holes and dents on your material. In fact, you may see sediments on top of the shingle surfaces. These are clear signs of massive damages.
Additionally, metal roofs will have dents and discolored bends after hailstorms.
Contractors perform advanced roof damage testing for accurate estimates.
Contact a Reliable Contractor
You will see visible damages. However, only contractor-performed tests with state-of-the-art equipment and methods will reveal possible leaks and damages.
Reliable contractors will inspect your roof in full and record all damages. Most of them will do this free of charge. Therefore, they’re the best option for a comprehensive, evidence-backed insurance claim.
Most contractors will perform leak tests to reveal microscopic roof damages. Additionally, some also perform thermal scans of your roof to reveal compromised insulation.
In short, contractors will paint the full picture of the damages sustained by your roof warranting a replacement.
Allow Your Contractor To Represent You
Roofing contractors have spent decades working with properties across your area. Therefore, they have the knowledge, experience, and equipment to record evidence. Additionally, their experience allows them to provide an accurate damage presentation to your insurance adjuster.
As a rule of thumb, never meet with your contractor on your own. Insurance adjusters will bring their own contractors to conduct comprehensive inspections. They may try to double down on your insurance benefits through omission or ignorance of certain roof damages.
Reliable roofing contractors will present their evidence as they found it without biases. Therefore, having your expert representation ensures an accurate claim.
Finalize Extent of Damages and Repairs
Once your contractor and the insurance adjuster sort every roof damage detail, you have just finished your claim.
In fact, you won’t need to do anything. The two parties will discuss the final extent of damages, the replacement costs for both materials and labor, and the final schedule for repairs.
The contractor will inform you of the insurance adjuster’s payment date wherein you can deposit their service check. This is all you need to do in addition to taking it easy as the contractors start work.
Conclusion
It’s easy to get full roof replacement benefits. However, make sure to use a reliable contractor without any biases.
Remember, insurance adjuster contractors will try to minimize damages to prevent triggering your contract. While it is unscrupulous, it is common practice in the industry.
Therefore, a reliable contractor is the key to a full benefit roof replacement on your behalf.
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