Hail Storm Roof Damage Insurance Claim

Hail Storm Roof Damage Insurance Claim – Did you know that hail can reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour? In addition, some hail can be larger than golf balls.

Obviously, hail can cause serious damage to your roof. If you are the victim of hail damage to your roof, do you know what to do?

Hail Storm Roof Damage Insurance Claim

Read on to learn everything you need to know about what steps to take to have a successful roof insurance claim.

Understanding Insurance Coverage For Roof Damage

The amount of damage hail can do to a roof depends on the type of roofing material, hail size, density, and speed.

It is important to note that hail damage is classified as temporary or active. If it is cosmetic, then there may be dings and dents, but it will not affect the ability of your roof. If the damage is active, it affects the integrity and longevity of the structure.

As you might guess, insurance companies will not cover cosmetic hail damage. Unfortunately, sometimes roofs with active damage are listed as damaged only by the insurance company.

That’s why it’s important to get an inspection from a professional, qualified roof inspector. They will know the difference between functional and cosmetic damage and can confirm that the insurance name is correct.

Storm & Hail Damage Specialists In Chicago

After a major storm, check to see if you suspect you have roof damage.

First, look at any metal, such as metal caps and air motors to check for leaks. If they have visible dings, the shingles probably do the same.

Next, check your gutters. See if you can spot any grittiness. This is a sign that the surface of the shingles has been removed and collected in your gutter.

Tree branch damage is also a sign that your roof may be damaged. If you get any of these symptoms, it’s time to move on to the next step.

Does Insurance Cover Storm Damage To A Roof?

The answer to this question is both. You will need to contact your insurance company and a reputable roofing company.

A roofing company will perform a thorough inspection of your roof and categorize the damage as functional or cosmetic. Generally, this test is a free service.

Be sure to ask for a copy of the roofing report. You will need to get a copy of that from your insurance company.

Remember that insurance companies look for reasons not to replace your roof. That’s why it’s important to make sure you get a qualified professional to do an independent evaluation.

Roof Hail Damage

One of the main benefits of a good contractor is that they have experience dealing with insurance claims. They will guide you in documenting the damage so you can get the best result from your insurance adjuster.

Sometimes your insurance company will want their adjuster to come to your home to assess the damage. Even so, it is still wise to have an independent professional inspect your roof first.

First, insurance companies are not always quick when it comes to sending out adjusters. You can wait a few days before your appointment. However, local experts know that timely inspections are important and often respond very quickly.

Every roofing company is a little different so it’s a good idea to ask a lot of questions before you get a professional to inspect your home.

Here’s How To Find Local, Reliable Roofers For Hail Damages

And you want to know what they will do during their roof inspection. A reputable company will look for the following:

At the end of the inspection, the roofer will provide you with a complete, written list of all damaged items and materials. They may also take pictures. Together, these are part of the documents you will share with your insurance company.

Unfortunately, there are some storm chasers who want to profit from your misfortune. These out-of-town scammers often go door-to-door after hurricanes and use scare tactics to get homeowners to pay for roof repairs.

Sadly, they often take the deposit they are offered and leave town without completing any work. That’s why it’s important to ask questions before hiring a roofing company.

Wind Damage Roof Insurance Claims (a Guide On What To Do)

Most importantly you want to make sure the roofing company is licensed, bonded, and insured in your state. Here’s why these are important.

To obtain a license,  a contractor needs to register with the state board of licensing contractors. The price of the job will determine what license they will need.

Roofing contractors must have a general contractor’s license. Requirements for this license may vary by state. Generally, to be licensed, a contractor must pass one or more tests and must show proof of a certain number of years of experience.

You definitely want a licensed roofer to make sure they are qualified to do the job.

Insurance Companies Increasingly Deny Metal Roof Hail Damage Claims

The second requirement is that your roofing company is bonded. This means that there is a bond company that ensures that the roofing contractor is doing their job properly and ethically. They post a bond so that if the contractor disappears or does the job improperly, you are covered.

This insurance is to protect you (and the contractor) from any accidents of doing work on your home. The limits of their insurance will depend on the size (and cost) of the works performed by the contractor.

If the roofing contractor is not licensed, bonded, and insured in your state, do not trust them with your roof. You may think it will save you some money, but the risk is too great to be worth it.

Thanks for reading. We hope this guide will give you the peace of mind you need if you have to deal with a hail damaged roof.

How To Find Hidden Storm Damage On Your Roof

With the right experts on your side, you can navigate both the insurance company and repairs as efficiently and comfortably as possible. Roof damage claims are often denied by homeowners insurance or only approved for bare repairs. But not on our watch! Read on for a discussion of insurance coverage and the law, as well as some examples of Chateau getting denied and the money policyholders must receive to repair and reimburse their property damage claims.

Something we here at Chateau talk about all the time is the fact that insurance companies have a profit motive to deny claims. This usually means that they will deny a roof damage claim on the basis of a “cosmetic damage” exclusion. Homeowners are often unaware that this is a wrongful denial of benefits.

The fact is that unless expressly stated otherwise, direct damage to property is always covered. Even cosmetic brands. As long as the damage was due to a covered peril – such as a hail storm – your insurance must pay for the repairs and replacements needed to make it as good as new.

FC&S, an organization that provides policy analysis and interpretation for all types of insurance professionals, agrees. In their opinion, the question of whether cosmetic damage should be covered is answered with a resounding yes. They responded to a recent roof damage claim that was denied on the basis of a cosmetic damage exclusion:

How Hail Damage Affects Your Roof

The goal of an indemnity is to restore the insured to what they had before the loss, and this insured had a toothless roof. – FC&S Bulletin (source)

In a June 2015 appeals court decision – Advance Cable Company v. Cincinnati Ins. Co., No. 14-2748, 2015 WL 3630699 (7th Cir.) – the court actually agreed with FC&S, ruling against the insurance company and setting a precedent for property and roof damage issues.

In that case, the plaintiff’s roof was damaged by hail. The insurance company denied their claim, arguing that in their policy, “loss or damage” means “injury”, and cosmetic damage is harmless, therefore not covered.

The court didn’t buy it, and they ruled in favor of the policy owner. Their decision was that if the insurance covers “direct physical damage” there is no difference between cosmetic and structural damage.

Homeowners Insurance Hail Damage Claim

There are no exceptions to the definition of “loss” for cosmetic damages, or any other type of specific damages. If [the insurer] wished to exclude cosmetic damage from coverage, it should have written the policy that way. – 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, 2015 ( source )

Roof Damage Claims Approved in Hanover PA by Chateau Our Public Adjusters Use Their Knowledge of Property Damage Law To Help Policyholders Get Paid To Repair, Restore And Replace Damage To Roofs, Siding, Gutters And More Caused By Covered Perils Like Hail, Hurricanes, Etc. . Recent Examples Below…

This claim for hail damage to the roof was initially denied by the insurer, and the Chateau’s public adjuster reopened it one year later. We fought to get it approved, and finally got insurance to pay for the roofing system with a full 50 year warranty, by Superior Services of PA & MD.

We ensure that our clients receive the representation they deserve, and fair compensation for covered accidents or damages. A homeowner should NOT accept an insurance company’s rating, inspection or range as the final word. – Eric Hare, owner of Chateau and Superior Services of PA & MD

Insurance Claims Assistance

This home in Littlestown had a major leak, which our professional restoration contractor located and repaired. During our inspection we found that the leak was caused by wind and storm damage to the roof. We got insurance to cover the roof leak