Expert Contributor by Kevin O’Donnell O’Donnell Roofing Co.
What to Do If Your Roof Experiences Storm Damage Homes often suffer damage during bad weather. Unfortunately, not many homeowners fully understand what is covered by their homeowner’s insurance policy, including whether their policy has any exclusions. When it comes to your roof, you may want to contact your insurance agent before a bad weather event, to ask about your policy’s coverage for hail or wind damage, and if you have coverage for water infiltration and mold caused by damage. These are all important things to understand so that you’re not surprised in the event you need to file an insurance claim for damage. Here are a few things to consider if your roof experiences damage due to severe weather. 1. If you call a reputable local roofing contractor for an evaluation and recommended repairs, that may also be the time to make temporary repairs, to proactively mitigate future damages. Generally, a claim should be traced back to a specific weather event or date, so keep track of dates and times. 2. Depending on the severity of the damage, an insurance claim may or may not be worth it. If the estimated cost of repairs is less than your insurance policy’s deductible, it makes little sense to file a claim. 3. If you file a claim, it’s helpful to have your contractor meet with the insurance company’s representative when they assess
the damage, to ensure proper roofing standards are met. This is when it’s invaluable to have a roofing contractor who’s experienced in working with insurance claims. 4. Be cautious of “storm chasers” – roofing contractors who travel the country servicing areas recently hit by tornadoes, hurricanes, and windstorms. Once the roofing repairs are complete and the “storm is over,” those contractors generally aren’t available to address an issue that may arise or honor a warranty. 5. A good roofing contractor will typically be in communication with the claims representative throughout the process, ensuring all necessary items will be covered. Some examples of critical but often-overlooked items are code upgrades, removal of additional roof layers, and plywood replacement. 6. The insurance company will hold back a portion of the replacement cost until the work is completed. This is called “Recoverable Depreciation,” and you will receive those funds after you submit your contractor’s final invoice. NS
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