Written By Tristan Fain
Following this harsh winter season, your roof is likely to have damage. Whether that be from severe wind, hail, or anything in between, your roof bears the brunt of the damage to your home after a storm. It’s essential that you, as a homeowner, understand the insurance process so that following a severe storm you can quickly repair your home before there is further damage. That’s why we, at Revived Roofing, created this comprehensive guide to the insurance claim process. Let’s get right in!
1. Assessing the Damage:
When the dust settles after a harsh storm, it’s important for you as the homeowner to inspect the damage. Insurance companies typically throw out claims from storms longer than a year ago so an inspection every season of the year or after severe weather is important. If you notice missing shingles, dents in your shingles, missing flashing, or leaks within your home, it’s important that you reach out to a roofing company for an inspection so you have a better understanding of the damage done to your roof. Here’s where Revived Roofing comes in to perform an inspection and generate photos that can be used in your insurance process.
2. Contacting Your Insurance Company:
From here, you can reach out to your respective insurance through their website or through their claims department. They will generate a claim number for you and from there you will submit a detailed description of the damage, the date and time of the storm, and any and all documents provided by your roofing inspector. That way the information you are providing is as accurate as possible which greatly speeds up the insurance process.
3. Insurance Adjuster Inspection:
For most insurance companies, an adjuster will be sent out within the week to inspect the damage. It’s important for you, as the homeowner, to be present during the inspection so that you can point out specific areas of concerns and show them any interior water damage that might be present. It’s also important that your roofing inspector be present during their visit, as they might be able to provide a more comprehensive list of the exterior damage and discuss with the adjuster any damage the adjuster might’ve missed. The adjuster will assess the damage and then file a report with the insurance company, which will influence the compensation you receive.
4. Understanding Your Coverage:
At this point in the process it is essential for you to understand your coverage for storm damage. Additionally, check if your policy covers roof replacement and the potential interior damage caused by the storm. It’s important that you understand what your deductible will be at this point in the process so you can understand how much you will expect to pay to your insurance company for roof replacement.
5. Claim Approval and Payment:
Once your claim is approved, your insurance company will provide the initial funds for repair/replacement. This comes in the form of an ACV or Actual Cash Value check. This check will be for the depreciated value of your roof at the time of the claim. This means it does not fully cover the price of your new roof, but don’t worry, it will cover the initial contractor price to begin the roof replacement. Following completion of your roof replacement or repair, your contractor will issue a certificate of completion that you submit to your insurance company. Afterward, your insurance will send a second check in the form of an RCV or Replacement Cost Value. This covers the rest of the cost of your roof. Keep in mind that if you want to upgrade from a 3-tab asphalt shingle to an architectural asphalt shingle, or a metal roof, there will be some cost that your insurance does not cover. You must make up the cost of the difference out-of-pocket for those upgrades.
6. Choosing a Contractor:
This step goes hand and hand with the previous one. Before you receive the ACV from your insurance, it’s a good idea to begin researching reputable contractors. If you’ve reached out to an inspector beforehand, it might be a good idea to stick with them as they already understand the damage to your roof and you have worked with them. If you haven’t, consider working with us at Revived Roofing. We take pride in our 10 years of guiding homeowners through getting their roof replaced through insurance.
7. Final Inspection:
After all repairs are completed, schedule a final inspection with your contractor to ensure that the work meets required standards.
Navigating the insurance process for storm-damaged roofs requires attention to detail and effective communication with your insurance company. By understanding the steps involved and being proactive in working with an inspector, you can streamline the process and restore your home to its pre-storm condition. If you’ve noticed any damage to your roof, reach out to us today at Revived Roofing. We’ll simplify the process for you and assist throughout every step. Contact us today!
