Most home insurance policies provide coverage for residential roofing systems damaged by severe weather. This includes wind, hail or any other bad weather conditions. Filing a claim for this type of problem should be easy enough; however, there are many ins and outs in navigating your insurance policy that might be confusing for a lot of people, especially for first timers.
The whole process of dealing with your insurance can be a little stressful. Add this to the existing stress of having a storm-damaged roof, and you have a potential recipe for an even bigger disaster. Thankfully, there are steps you can take that can make the whole experience go as smoothly as possible. H
Familiarize Yourself With Your Policy
Insurance policies aren’t exactly material for light reading; however, it’s important to be familiar with some of the most relevant points pertaining to your roof and how weather damage is covered. It’s best to do this before signing any contract with your provider. Some policies might not even offer coverage for specific types of problems, such as wind or hail, at all, and it would be disastrous to find this out only after your roof has been affected. Take the time to read your policy, highlighting the parts that can help you in case of any weather-related problems on your roof.
Document Everything
The first thing to do after a storm is to call your local residential and commercial roofing contractor for a quick inspection and assessment. But it’s also important to have proper documentation on your own. As soon as the weather clears up, and it’s safe to go outside, give your roof a quick visual inspection to see if you have any observable problems. Take photographs of all the damaged spots and other affected areas. Do not, however, get on the roof to take these pictures.
Additionally, prepare all important documents about your roof like maintenance records and material and labor warranty information. These will all help you make the claim filing process a little bit less stressful.
Call the Professionals
Depending on how severe the problems are on your roof, your insurance provider might require you to contact your local roofing contractor for emergency repairs right away. Sometimes, failing to do so might be grounds for the claim to be denied. Clear up any questions you may have about how timely repairs must be done with your provider. This is because contractors are typically fully booked in the days following a storm.
Maintenance Is a Must
Many insurance providers require homeowners to regularly maintain their roof and mitigate any potential problems that may arise from unexpected weather conditions. There are cases when claims are denied on the grounds that the homeowner has failed to keep their roof in good condition with routine inspections and maintenance. Call your local roofing company, and ask about regular maintenance programs. This takes away the stress of keeping up with your roof’s maintenance schedules and even prolongs the life of your roofing system.
The Adjustment Process
Insurance companies will send an adjuster to assess the damage once a claim has been filed. Having a professional roofing contractor conduct a separate inspection can be helpful in case there are spots that the adjuster might have missed. A contractor will also provide you with an estimate for your claim, which can make processing a little bit faster.
At AQ Roofing LLC, our roofing professionals can help you with all your storm-damaged roofing insurance claims from start to finish. Give us a call at (501) 951-1683, or fill out our contact form to schedule an inspection and request a no-obligation quote on roof repair, maintenance, installation and other related services today.