Wind. Rain. Hail. Ice.
These are just some of the major weather elements that can wreak havoc on your home and leave you in need of professional storm restoration services.
In fact, according to the Insurance Journal, three of the five most common types of homeowner’s insurance claims are weather-related:
- Exterior wind damage
- Non-weather-related water damage
- Hail
- Weather-related water damage
- Theft
One particular part of your house that is often subject to extreme damage from the weather is your roof by loosening or even cracking shingles, causing water damage, and causing your gutters to loosen, bend or break. If your roof has been affected by weather damage, one of your first phone calls will be to your insurance company.
As part of the claim process, your insurance agency will send out an insurance adjuster to assess the damage to your roof. If you are not sure what to expect from this process, here is a guide on what to expect.
Need A Storm Damage Inspection?
Review Your Homeowners Insurance Policy
When you file a claim for roof damage caused by weather, you should first review your insurance policy to ensure you understand what is and what is not covered. For example, if your roof damage was caused by wind and hail damage in a state with wind and hail exclusions, the damage may not be covered.
Once you understand your policy, you will want to get the process started as quickly as possible. So be sure you are prompt about how quickly you reach out to your insurance agency.
Obtain an Estimate From a Storm Restoration Company
Your insurance agency will provide details on the storm damage estimate process, but you will typically take this step as part of the adjustor’s assessment. Your estimate can be factored into your payout amount. In most cases, you will want to contact an independent roofing contractor to get an estimate of damages. Be sure to get a written copy of the estimate on the storm restoration company’s letterhead along with the company’s contact information.
When you are getting an estimate, do not feel like you need to get multiple estimates. If you do, your insurance may want to see all of them, which could lower your payout and possibly not result in you getting the most quality work.
Gather and Turn Over Any Supporting Documentation
As part of the adjustor’s assessment, they will want access to any supporting documentation you may have about the damage, including:
- Photos of the damaged roof: Only worry about providing these if you can access the roof safely.
- Photos of the weather: When possible, it can also help your adjustor better understand the situation if they have photos of the weather event that cause the damage to your roof. For example, if your damage was caused by snow, provide any photos you might have taken of your house during that storm. Or, if the damage was caused by a tornado that pushed a tree onto your roof, take a picture of the tree on your roof.
- Provide any work receipts: After the damage is done to your house because of the weather, you will most likely need to take steps to ensure your house is secure and to ensure that more damage does not occur. You should move forward with these steps and as you do, be sure to save the receipts from this work and turn them over to the adjuster when they visit.
- Provide any other receipts: If you were forced out of your home and into a hotel, be sure to save those receipts for the claim. These will also need to be turned over to your adjustor.
Keep a Log of Your Correspondence
As you move through the claims process, it will help to keep a log of each time you speak with your insurance company and your adjuster and note any decisions or directions that were provided.
Don’t Forget to Be Patient With Your Insurance Adjuster.
If you live in an area that often experiences extreme weather or has recently been through a significant weather event such as an ice storm or a tornado, it may take a while for an adjuster to make it to your case and home.
Get Help Navigating the Insurance Process
Not every insurance claim is the same, and the process can sometimes be daunting. At Elysian Construction, we are experienced in storm damage restoration and meet our customers’ needs through proactive problem-solving and teamwork. Our team can complete a free no-obligation assessment of your roof, and if your property does have storm damage, we can work with you through the insurance claims process to properly restore your roof and the rest of your home.