Frequently Asked Questions About Roof Damage
FAQ Regarding Insurance and Hail Damage
Q: What if the Insurance Company Denies, Delays or Low-Balls?
A: In my experience, most of the times the insurance company does the right thing. Sometimes they don’t. Sometimes, the insurance company will have an “independent” engineer or roofer come to inspect the roof. That “independent” engineer or roofer may say that the roof has no damage, or is simply failing because of age, wear and tear, or poor maintenance. Based on that report, the insurance company may deny the claim in its entirety or offer a nominal settlement. The insurance company’s “no,” is not the end of the inquiry…it is just the beginning.
If your insurance company says “no,” you should contact an Curb Appeal Construction immediately. In a situation such as this, I will always meet with you and review your case for free. We will review your situation and if needed have our attorney meet the adjuster at your house.
Q: I looked at my roof and didn’t see any problems, or a roofer inspected it and there are no problems. I need a new roof, Is there anything else I can do?
A: Roofing systems must be physically inspected by someone who has training and experience to determine if there is actual hail damage. Unfortunately there is not much training for the roofing or home inspection industries, therefore you need someone with years of “real world” experience.
Q: I’m not missing any shingles Does that mean I have no damage?
A: Missing shingles are related to wind damage claims and can happen during a hail storm if the winds are high enough. However hail damage is insidious in nature and may not physically cause leakage for years after a hail storm.
Q: Do I only have 1 year to file my insurance claim?
A: Many insurance companies do have a one year time limit and some even less, however due to the nature of hail damage they may pay claims past the deadline. This usually happens if a hail storm is widespread geographically.
Q: My roof is new so it’s covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, home builder, or contractor, right?
A: Manufacturer’s specifically name hail as an exclusion to their product warranty, so do home builders and roofing contractors. Newer roofs can actually be more susceptible to hail damage versus older roofs due to the time it takes a new roof to cure from exposure to the elements.
Q: I was told my roof has minimal or very little damage and therefore I don’t need to file a claim.
A: If your roof has any damage what-so-ever you have a valid insurance claim and should file with your insurance company. Damage might not cause your roof to leak for years. This is why it’s important to have a qualified person inspect your roof.
Q: Will my insurance company cancel my policy if I file a claim?
A: Most states prohibit insurance companies from cancelling policies for filing claims arising from severe weather related events.
Q: If I don’t file my claim, my insurance company won’t raise my rates.
A: After a disaster, insurance companies may raise every one’s rates. In this case your rate will still increase even though you didn’t file a claim, your rate increase is paying for everyone else’s damage except yours.
Q: What are the rules in our state as to “matching” new to old materials? (For example, roof tiles, siding, etc). The insurance company is telling me they don’t owe for matching, but my property value will go down if I have a patchwork roof.
A: The rule on matching in Arkansas is not crystal clear. The nature of claims is that most things are negotiable with your insurance company, and this is no different. If your property was matching before the loss (i.e. it had a “uniform and consistent” appearance), but will look “patchwork” if it includes both old and new materials after the repairs are completed, you should stand your ground. Argue that you are entitled to matching in order to restore your property to its pre-loss uniform appearance
Q: Do I have to accept the dollar amounts the insurer offers me?
A: No, you should contact an Curb Appeal Construction immediately if you feel there is more damage or you feel the insurance settlement isn’t fair for any reason.