6 Ways Roofing Contractors Help with Roof Damage and Insurance Claims
Has your roof recently suffered unavoidable damage due to weather like rain, hail, or high winds? Are you thinking of filing an insurance claim to cover some of the repair or replacement costs?
Here are six ways your roofing contractor can support you in an insurance claim. They…
Have your back
Advise you on insurance policies
Assess damage of your roof
Are present at the adjuster inspection
Supplement your damage claim
Adhere to your insurer’s scope of work
You may have heard that it’s stressful to get approved claims from your insurance company. Hate to say it, but the stress can be real. However, with a roofing contractor that genuinely cares about you and knows the process, it’s easier to get the proper compensation from your insurance company. Keep reading to see how a professional roofer can help with your insurance claims!
1 - They have your back
A good roofing contractor will help you with a roof damage insurance claim. A great roofing contractor will not only help you with your claim but they’ll also have your back. Sometimes, insurance companies can be a pain to deal with. Some of them can be difficult to get a hold of or use jargon that they hope you don’t understand.
However, there's no need to stress about all that. Roofing contractors with great knowledge of insurance policies can help back up your claims if your insurance company is proving difficult. Roofing companies like DA Roofers are here to save the day, and we’ll stay by your side through the entire process.
2 - They Advise You On Insurance Policies
If you've ever gone through an insurance process before, you might have noticed that it can get pretty confusing. The fine print, the legalese, and the fact that adjusters will draw out the process make it long, frustrating and stressful. However, the whole roof insurance claim process can be more straightforward with a knowledgeable roofing contractor.
Roofing contractors with experience dealing with insurance policies can guide you through the entire process. The right contractor will provide you with the best advice and guidance to get you through the process and have your claim approved. They can also help you avoid common tactics that insurance companies use to delay the claim.
3 - They Assess Damage Of Your Roof
Contacting your insurance company first isn’t always the best step. Regardless of whether your claim is approved or not, as soon as you connect with them and file a claim, it’ll be on your permanent claims history. So get in touch with a roofing contractor first so they can assess what you think is damage.
Your contractor can help you find out if there's any real, verifiable roof damage before you continue with the insurance claim. Expect a complete inspection, detailing areas with missing shingles and areas of roofing components that have signs of storm damage. Your roofer should also take pictures of the damage so you and your insurance adjuster can see the proof.
Although the roofing contractor doesn't have a say in whether the insurance company will approve your claim, they can give you the evidence necessary to back up your claim.
4 - They Are Present At The Adjuster Inspection
Once you submit your claim, you'll definitely receive a visit from an insurance adjuster. This is another time your roofing contractor can help. They're not there to challenge the adjuster or cause trouble; your roofing contractor is just there to make sure the inspector doesn’t overlook the evidence of the damage.
Adjusters are people too and they can make mistakes and overlook things. That's why it's always a great idea to have your roofing contractor present during the insurance adjuster meeting. Since both parties have experts on the ground, it'll be hard to miss anything.
5 - They Supplement Your Damage Claim
Yay, your claim is approved! But getting your claim approved on an ACV (Actual Cost Value) or RCV (Replacement Cost Value) policy isn't the end of it. A roofing contractor can still be of help. For RCV, insurance companies estimate all the aspects of the roof that they'll pay out for, which may not cover everything needed to replace or repair your roof. This is because certain line items may have been overlooked, or their rates on materials don’t reflect current prices.
So it’s important to have a roofing contractor look through the claim so that you can feel confident that you’ve got everything covered and paid for. Your roofing contractor will compare line items and help you advocate for the supplementation before submitting your claim for approval. The roofing contractor can't do it directly for you because you're the only one who legally has the right to supplement as the insurance policyholder.
All this said, supplementing the claim is a decision that is totally yours. So, if you're fine with the payout and think it’ll cover all the costs of a roof repair or replacement, you can skip this step.
6 - They Adhere To Your Insurer’s Scope Of Work
As long as your claim is approved, the roof repair or replacement will follow the estimate provided by the insurance company. A good roofing contractor will come in handy here by making sure the replacement goes exactly according to the scope of work.
Your roofer will study the scope of work and execute it accordingly to ensure you get the second check for the recoverable depreciation. After everything's done, they'll send pictures to show that they completely adhered to the scope of work.
Once it all checks out, you'll get the second check. If you paid the full amount already, you get to keep the whole thing, but if you haven't yet, you can sign what's left over to your roofing contractor.
Final Thoughts
Now you know how helpful roofing contractors are when it comes to roofing insurance claims. Your roofer can make the entire insurance process simple and stress-free, working hard for you so that you can keep your money in your pocket. All you have to do is find the right roofing contractor to work with.
If the roofing contractor is well-experienced in insurance jobs, like DA Roofers, they'll most likely cover the six things we've gone through in this article. Ready to make that claim or have more questions? DA Roofers is here for everyone in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area.
FAQs
1 - Do insurance companies pay for roof replacements?
Yes. If your policy covers what causes the damage and you can back up the claim, the insurance company will cover the cost of replacement. For example, if a storm or falling branch damages your roof, insurance usually covers it. However, if it's intentional damage or something due to poor maintenance, they're unlikely to cover the replacement. If you're on an ACV policy, you'll get the depreciated value for the roof replacement. An RCV policy, on the other hand, considers the current market price when releasing payment.
2 - What happens if I don't use my insurance money to fix my roof?
If you don't use the insurance money for the roof repair or replacement, the insurance company can deny your future claims. That means that any future damage caused by storms or other natural hazards won't be covered, and you'll have to pay for the whole thing yourself. And you’ll still have damage to your roof, which can lead to a lot of other problems.
3 - How long do I have to file a claim for roof damage?
The time to file a claim for roof damage varies depending on your policy and insurance company, but it's usually between 30 days and a year from the date of the incident. It's best to do it early to avoid any complications that can lead to a denial.