How to Get Insurance to Pay for Your Roof Replacement without Stress

It’s often tough to convince an insurance company to pay your roof damage claim. In other words, it’s a nightmare you wouldn’t want to experience.
 
Sometimes, people lack enough information, documentation, and experience to convince the insurance company. But if you hire a professional roofer to work on your behalf, it could make a whole lot of difference.
 
In this article, you will learn how to get insurance to pay for your roof replacement. Sounds interesting, right? If you digest every tip discussed in this post, your insurance will pay your claims.

Understand Your Insurance Coverage
 
Ignorance could be dangerous. Do you know that most homeowners don’t even understand the extent of their insurance coverage? It sounds funny, but it’s reality.

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Insurance coverage on your roof refers to the amount of liability that the service covers. And the insurance company will not indemnify for damage outside what’s stated in your roof. Do you get it?
 
As a rule, never allow your insurance company tells you the content of the cover. Try to read the fine print of the policy yourself. Don’t wait until things go wrong before reading it. If you do, you would be putting yourself in a defensive position.
 
As you are reading this post now, hold on right here. Pick up a phone and call your agent to send you a copy of your coverage policy. Whether printed or electronic copy, try to have one with you.
 
Information is power. If you know the right thing to do; your insurance company would pay your claim quickly.
 
Most States in the United States have two types of roof insurance coverage. They are replacement coverage and repair coverage.
 
If your coverage is for roof repair, don’t expect any claim from your insurance when carrying out a roof replacement project.
 
Similarly, your insurance will not pay you the claims for a roof repair project if your coverage is roof replacement. You see, this is the first problem most homeowners have with their insurance company. For this reason, try to read your insurance policy; it would enable you to do the right thing.
 
Types of Roof Insurance Coverage
 
I earlier mentioned that most states in the United States have two types of roof insurance coverage. We will explain more about them here;
 
Replacement Policy
 
The replacement policies are common, yet very expensive. This policy will return your roof to a brand new condition if unfortunate events (which are covered in the policy) happen.
 
Repair Policy
 
The roof repair policy isn’t too common as the conditions aren’t favorable to homeowners most times. But some few people still subscribe to the coverage. It considers the depreciation of the roof and indemnifies you the percentage of the roof cost depending on your roof’s material and age.
 
If the roof is approaching the end of its service life, the indemnity for a repair policy could be as low as 15% of the replacement cost.
 
I would always advise you to read the policy carefully before subscribing to it. Also, if you find any language confusing, you can always ask questions. With this, you can have an idea of how each policy works and choose the one that works best for you.
 
If you don’t understand the content of an insurance cover, do one of the following;
 
Talk To Your Agent
 
You can talk to your insurance agent if you find any language in the policy confusing. It’s their job to educate you and honestly explain the content of each policy to you. But sometimes, you can’t trust some insurance agents. They have enough fraud tendencies; this brings us to option two.
 
Talk To a Roofing Contractor
 
Most roofing contracts have a wealth of experience in handling insurance claims. You could talk to a few contractors to give you a detail explanation of the policy. If possible, they will advise you accordingly.
 
If you live in Hartford in Connecticut, you can contact Suburban roofing for a professional insurance claim advice. Their three decades of experience in handling the roof project could help you make the right decision.
 
I would prefer you to talk to a roofer about an insurance policy. You know why? They will always offer a fair evaluation because they understand that it could be a potential business relationship.
 
In the next session, you will learn the steps to get insurance to pay for your roof replacement. Keep reading…
 
Step by Step Process To Get Insurance to Pay for Your Roof Replacement Easily
 
Like I mentioned earlier, it isn’t easy to get insurance to pay for your claims. It’s the truth. But if you follow steps below systematically, you could get your claims faster than you can imagine.
 
Step 1
 
Hire a Reputable Contractor
 
Before you contact your insurance company for a roof damage claim, have a reputable contractor on your team. Don’t make the mistake of hiring an attorney; he may not be able to deliver. But a licensed roofing contractor is your best ally when it comes to getting your claim from insurance.
 
In your search for a reputable contractor, consider the one with a stellar reputation and experience. Any roofing contractor with experience in handling insurance claim can get the task done.
 
Once you have an excellent roofer to work with, he will help with the necessary steps before you repair or replace the roof.
 
Prevent Further Damage to the Roof
 
This is an area where most homeowners flop. And it could lead to denial of damage claims, especially if it’s for secondary damage.
 
Once you notice that there’s any threat to your roof, take necessary steps to protect the roof. Otherwise, you will forfeit your damage claims if the roof finally gets damaged.
 
Step 2
 
File a Claim with Your Insurance Company within 30days
 
There’s a required timeline every homeowner is expected to make a claim for roof damage. This timeline varies, but most states required claims filing period is within 30 – 60days. And if you fail to make your claim within this period, your insurance company could deny such claims.
 
So, the first thing you should do after damage to your roof is to make a timely claim. I would advise you to file for claims immediately. You know why? The earlier you submit your paperwork, the sooner the claims would be processed.
 
Again, you need to involve your roofing contractor when filing your claim. The contractor will be able to guide you on the best way to file your claim without complicating issues for yourself.
 
Step 3
 
Get Your Contractor to Inspect the Roof and Document the Damage
 
Sometimes homeowners think getting your contractor to inspect the roof and document the damage isn’t necessary. Let me shock you with this. Your insurance company may deny your claim if you don’t have a contractor to inspect your roof independently.
 
From experience, insurance companies carefully scrutinize claims for roof repairs and replacement. They would want a full proof that the roof leak is due to the conditions entailed in the insurance cover.
 
Interesting, insurance companies usually employ adjusters to determine the validity of a claim. Don’t forget that these individuals work for the insurance company. And they would always find results that favor their employer (insurance company). In other words, adjusters will always come up with reasons why you shouldn’t be paid your claims.
 
Reasons Why Your Insurance Claims May Be Denied
 
If an insurance company denies your roof claims, here are some of the reasons;
 
· The roof wasn’t installed correctly, so reach out to the roofer. It’s his fault.
 
· When the roofing material is faulty, the insurance company will ask you to reach out to the manufacturer.
 
· When you didn’t maintain the roof very well, especially when they find loose flashing, cracked vent boot. The insurance company will say it’s your fault.
 
· When the shingles got cupped and vulnerable to wind due to the poor attic ventilation. The insurance company will tell you that it’s the builder’s fault.
 
· If the damage only affect the aesthetics of your roof, but it still protects your home. Your claim wouldn’t be approved.
 
· When the roof is too old.
 
Once an adjuster inspects your roof and finds any of the scenarios mentioned above, your insurance claim will be denied. Feeling bad? Don’t be yet, wait till you read the next paragraph.
 
 An adjuster will always come up with the result that favors the insurance company. But the inspection from a licensed roofing contractor will be a defense against what the adjust come up with. If you are using a contractor like Suburban roofing, you will get a free roofing inspection. And such investigation will serve as your defense against some of the things the adjuster identified.
 
What the Roofing Contractor Should Document
 
· The first thing the inspection report will capture is the roofing materials undamaged part of the roof. He will show that these parts are correctly installed and not defective. This will indicate that the damage isn’t due to poor installation or material quality.
 
· The contractor will also tackle anything that contradicts the common reason for denying claims. For instance, when the attic is vented correctly, or the damage goes beyond cosmetic, your contractor can make a case for you.
 
Step 4
 
Get a Detailed Report from an Independent Roofing Contractor
 
On your path, get a detailed report from a licensed roofing contractor that tackles some of the issues mentioned above. Some of the things the report should entail are; the extent of the damage, what causes it, and the conditions of the other parts of the roof.
 
With a credible report from a licensed roofer, you can always get your claim.
 
Never Settle For Inferior Roof
 
Let me make this clear, your roof damage claim is your right. And you are entitled to it. Whenever an insurance company agrees to pay your claims, it’s usually a large amount of money.
 
Most times, the money should be enough to replace your roof with the same standard of the previous one. This includes professional installation cost and other miscellaneous.
 
But sometimes, insurance adjusters may want the situation to be favorable to the insurance company. So, they may offer a settlement that can’t give you the same standard of roof you that got damaged. Never accept such offer, insist on getting the full settlement.
 
Hire an Experienced Contractor Who Can Fight For You
 
It’s always good to hire a roofing contractor who will make a case for you. He’s experienced in this regard and knows how best to convince the insurance to do the right thing.
 
Most times, when your insurer claims’ offer can’t pay for the replacement of the same quality roof, your roofer will advocate for you. Such roofer will present the issue to the insurance company on your behalf.
 
More often than none, the insurance companies always comply. They wouldn’t want a situation whereby the contractor spread the word that they aren’t true to their words.
 
How to Prepare For Future Claims
 
From what I have said so far, you will understand what homeowners are going through to collect their claims. This is a lesson every person should learn from. For this reason, here are some of the things you should do for future claims.
 
Inspect Your Roof Regularly
 
Inspecting your roof regularly will make damage claim collection a bit easier for you. Always maintain it and carry out repairs when necessary. But if it gets damaged after a storm, you will have a good case. And the insurer would have no option but to pay your claim.
 
Here are the inspection schedules for different types of roof.
 
· Carryout yearly inspection and maintenance on Asphalt Shingles once the roof is five years old.
 
· Inspect wood shingles and shakes once in 2-3 years once they are up to 10 years.
 
· Clay and concrete tiles inspection is once in 2-3 years once they are up to 10 years
 
· Metal and composite roofs inspection is two years after the roof is up to 15 years
 
Once a Major Storm Is Coming Document, the Roof Condition Before And After
 
Whenever there’s forecast for hurricane, storm, hail, and heavy tornado, try to inspect your roof. Document the roof condition, take before and after pictures. This is good evidence you can use to support your claim.
 
But if you are unable to get a roofer for the inspection, you can take pictures of the roof yourself.
 
It’s always very challenging to get a fair claim from your insurance company. However, if you apply these tips, your insurer will pay your claim.