TITLE: After the Storm: How to Handle Roof Damage Without Making Costly Mistakes
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---Hail and wind generate more roof claims than all other causes combined. A 1-inch hailstone traveling at terminal velocity hits asphalt shingles with enough force to crack the mat, knock off granules, and compromise the waterproof layer. The damage may not be visible from the ground and may not produce a leak immediately, but the accelerated aging begins from the moment of impact. What you do in the 72 hours following severe weather directly determines what your insurance covers and what you end up paying out of pocket.
Before any tarps go up and before any debris is cleared, take photographs. Time-stamped smartphone photos with GPS data establish the date and extent of damage. Photograph the damage from the ground with https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/roofings/lifetime-construction-builders/uncategorized/roof-upkeep-and-how-long-it-lasts-common-questions-answered.html wide shots and close-ups. Document granule accumulation in gutters, dented vents, damaged soffits, displaced shingles, and any collateral damage to skylights or fascia. This documentation is the foundation of your insurance claim. An insurer who later disputes the extent of the damage bears the burden of disproving time-stamped evidence from the day of the storm.
Contact your insurance company within 24 to 48 hours. Most policies have prompt reporting requirements. Delayed reporting gives the insurer an argument to reduce or deny coverage. Keep a written log of every phone call, including date, time, and the name of the representative. Request confirmation of your claim number in writing. These records matter if the claim becomes a dispute or if the original adjuster is reassigned and there is a question about what was reported and when.
The insurance adjuster who inspects your roof works for the insurance company, not for you. That does not mean you will be treated unfairly, but it means having your own roofing contractor present during the adjuster visit is a smart move. A contractor who understands insurance claims can point out damage the adjuster might miss. Hail damage on asphalt shingles is not always obvious. Round impact marks with missing granules at the center are the diagnostic marker. An adjuster who spends 15 minutes on a 3,000-square-foot roof without systematic examination from eave to ridge will not find all compensable damage.
An adjuster who misses damage is not necessarily acting in bad faith - experienced storm damage contractors simply look for different things. If the initial scope of loss seems low relative to the visible damage, you have the right to request a re-inspection or to submit a supplemental claim with documentation from your own contractor. Many storm damage claims are initially undervalued and later supplemented after the contractor identifies items the adjuster missed. Do not accept the first check as final until the contractor has reviewed the scope of loss line by line.
Temporary repairs are both permitted and encouraged by most homeowner policies. Emergency tarping costs $200 to $600 installed by a contractor. Keep every receipt for emergency work because most policies reimburse reasonable emergency mitigation costs. Save all invoices and submit them as part of the claim. A properly documented temporary repair bill becomes part of your total claim settlement. Avoid signing over your insurance rights to any contractor. Some storm-chasing contractors use Assignment of Benefits agreements to take direct control of your claim and direct the settlement funds to themselves, sometimes before you have reviewed what you are agreeing to. A legitimate contractor has no reason to require an AOB before completing an inspection or submitting a bid. Any contractor who makes an AOB a condition of beginning work should raise a flag. You retain the right to manage your own insurance claim and select your own contractor without surrendering your policy rights.