Filing A Homeowners Insurance Claim For Roof Damage

After a storm, it’s important for homeowners to file a claim with their insurance company. A lot of people are under the impression that they can’t file a claim if they don’t have any damage, but this is not true. Filing an insurance claim will help you get reimbursed for any roof repair or replacement costs you may incur down the line.

What Are The Benefits Of Filing A Homeowners Insurance Claim For Roof Damage?

When a homeowner is hit with a claim for roof damage, many times it comes as an unpleasant surprise. This is because the homeowner may not have noticed any roof issues prior to the storm or they didn’t realize there were enough damages that would warrant filing a claim. Let’s look at some of the benefits of filing an insurance claim:

You May Be Able To Get Money For A New Roof

You should speak with your insurance company and inquire about the policy deductibles. It is possible, depending on your deductible that you will not have to pay anything out of pocket in order to start getting paid back for new roof installation costs. Some homeowners are surprised to find out that their deductible amount is only $200 or $300 because they assume they need thousands of dollars saved up before they can be reimbursed by their insurance company. Don’t forget, you’ll also receive an advance from your insurance company for the cost of repairs and this advance usually goes right towards paying off the roofing contractor.

You’ll Discover Who Is Responsible for Damage Caused by the Storm

In the case of a severe storm, there may be damage to your roof caused by high winds. It can be hard for a homeowner to tell if wind damage occurred or if water damage is to blame. In these situations, it’s necessary for you to file an insurance claim so that you can get paid back in full. If you don’t file and your adjuster discovers wind damage that was not reported during your home inspection, then they will not pay out any money towards roof replacement costs.

You’ll Know Important Information before Making the Repair Decision

Many homeowners find themselves stuck when trying to make repairs because they aren’t sure what type of material is needed for their particular situation. For instance, there are many different options out there for storm damage repair. A homeowner may have an ice dam that caused water to puddle on the roof and destroy the shingles. In this situation, there are multiple solutions in order to completely resolve the issue. You can replace all of your shingles with new ones or you can use a heat gun to remove the existing shingles, clean up any debris, fill in damaged wood with cement or sealant and then apply a bitumen coating or membrane over it all. Contractors will help you determine which solution is best for your particular situation but they need to know what’s going on first!

Repair Estimates Become Less Expensive

It’s very common for insurance companies to negotiate lower prices as they pay out more claims because contractors have to keep their prices competitive. This means that filing a claim with your insurance company will help you get the best repair option while paying the lowest possible price.

What Is My Next Step After Filing The Insurance Claim For Roof Damage?

Once you’ve filed a claim with your homeowners insurance company, there are several things that should be done in order to prepare for roof repairs. First of all, make sure your contractor has a copy of the inspection report that was done on your home before filing the claim. This is essential because it will tell them exactly what type of damage need to be repaired and replaced. The inspection report can help a contractor determine whether or not water damage was involved, how many layers of shingles were affected and if reinforcements like underlayment are needed on your roof (more details below).

Be Prepared For Surprises!

Sometimes an insurance adjuster will inspect the property and find issues that weren’t mentioned during the initial inspection by their own repair team. These issues will need to be addressed before work can begin because your roof cannot be installed without the necessary repairs first being completed. Some examples of surprise damage include: wood rot on exposed rafters, rotten fascia boards, damaged flashing around chimneys and skylights and storm debris that clogged a gutter line or drain pipe. If you find yourself in this type of situation, do not hesitate to call your insurance company right away so they can send out a qualified inspector who can give you an estimate for these additional repair costs!

Underlayment — what is it?

Underlayment is a waterproof barrier that is laid down before roofing materials are installed over top of the sheathing (plywood) layer. Underlayment is the first layer of protection between your shingles and roof sheathing. This means that if there is water damage to an underlayment, it can cause problems when waterproof sealant is applied overtop because you’ll have less coverage for water to sit on top of. It’s common practice in many regions for contractors to install two layers of underlayment or spray foam before applying a new layer of shingles but this depends on your particular situation and what kind of weather conditions you experience at your home throughout the year.