When to File an Insurance Claim for Your Roof

Sometimes things happen and your roof may need to be replaced earlier than expected. High winds, falling trees, and even hail storms can damage a roof and either immediately compromise the integrity of your roofing system or subsequently reduce its life span for the years to come.

When events like this occur, it is best to have your roof inspected by a professional Tacoma roofing service, with experience dealing with insurance claims. You might eligible for your insurance company to pay for most of the repair costs.

How to file an Insurance Claim for Your Roof

In the event that you suspect that you have had damage to your roof, it’s best to follow a few easy steps to make sure you are in the best position possible. The first thing you are going to want to do is to verify the damage. Now this might seem pretty obvious if a big tree is lying across the side of your roof, but often times, damage is not so apparent. During a windstorm, shingles can blow off or become creased. They can be damaged with flying debris that can also ruin the integrity of your shingles. Metal roofing systems can get creased, kinked, dented, and sheared which will also eventually cause your roof to have a lower than normal life expectancy. You need to know what damage you have, and, if at all possible, when the damage occurred.
Once the damage has been verified, it’s time to call your insurance carrier. Have your policy and date of loss handy to help give them the information they need. At this point, your insurance company will send out an inspector, called a claims adjustor, to verify the damage and determine what the insurance company will pay to have the damage fixed. This is when having a good local Tacoma roofer experienced in handling insurance claims can really work to your advantage.
Working as your advocate, your Tacoma roofing company can help make certain that all damage is documented and included in the claim. They can also submit unforeseen damages directly to the insurance company for you to make sure everything that needs to be replaced and repaired is paid for correctly. Occasionally, there can be differences in the scope of work deemed necessary by you insurance company and your roofing contractor. These can usually be ironed out by the contractor with a phone call and a resubmission on the scope of work to your insurance carrier.

I have an Insurance Claim, What Can I Expect to Pay for My Roof?

Almost all insurance policies are based on replacement cost. When a roofing claim is filed and processed, your insurance company breaks this replacement cost into three separate categories. The actual cash value of your roof is what your roofing system is worth when its age is considered. This depreciated cost is based on the life expectancy left on the portion of roof needing replacement. The first check your insurance company will issue is this actual cash value amount minus your deductible. The deductible is the cost of repair that you as the homeowner are responsible to for; it is the only money you should have to pay to have your roof fixed. The remaining depreciation is called recoverable depreciation. When the job is complete and the insurance company has an invoice from your Tacoma roofing contractor for the repairs, they will release the remaining money to reimburse you for the whole replacement cost of your roof.
When working with an insurance company dealing with thousands of dollars in repairs, it is always good to have someone knowledgeable about roofing and the insurance process to help make sure the process goes as smooth as possible. Getting the work done right and being able to afford it are the most important things to consider, so find a good Tacoma roofing contractor to help you with the process.
This roofing article was a contribution by Jeff Mance , Co-Owner and Founder of Caliber Roofing , Dallas, TX. For more information on roofing in the Dallas area, please visit our Roofing Knowledgebase.