How to Handle Insurance Roofing Damage Claim

Roofing damage claim is something not every property owner thinks about on a daily basis.  It can be a nightmare when roofing damage from hail, strong winds or heavy snows cause roof leaks and other interior and exterior damages on your home or business. That’s why it’s important to understand your homeowners insurance policy and exactly what is covered—and what is not.  Be sure to go over your storm damages policy with your insurance agent before storm damages have a chance to happen to your dwelling, and you’ll prevent hidden surprises in your policy when you try to make a claim.

More often than not, minor roofing damages from hail, strong winds and even ice storms can cause your roof, siding and gutters to leak long after the storm has passed, ensuring more serious damages occur to your structure the longer they are allowed to continue unrepaired. That’s why after a serious storm passes through, it is a good idea to have a complete roofing and siding inspection performed to ensure damages are caught quickly so your insurance claims adjuster can inspect the damages for your insurance claim.

Five Steps to Beginning an Roof Damage Insurance Claim

To get your storm damage repairs moving as quickly as possible, it’s a good idea to perform the following steps to ensure you get a fair and accurate insurance claim.

1. Call your insurance company and report the damages immediately.
2. Set up an appointment with your insurance company’s claims adjuster and Ferreira Roofing of Taunton, MA; to perform a complete post storm damage inspection.
3. Make sure that your claims adjusters report and the roofing inspection/estimate coincide with each other and any discrepancies are reported to the insurance company right away. A supplement including pictures and a detailed description of any missed damages must be supplied to the insurance adjuster before the additional damages are paid for by your insurance company.
4. Ensure your roofing contractor creates a work order that matches the damage report so repair costs do not exceed the claim payment.
5. Once the check is received, it will have your mortgage lenders name on the check if you have a mortgage. Send the check to your mortgage company for endorsement as quickly as possible so your roofing contractor can begin roofing repairs right away.

Common Reasons for Withholding

Most insurance companies will provide your insurance money in installments or withholdings. The first installment is the actual value of the roof as it is. This is what the roof is worth in its present condition. The part that’s withheld is called the depreciation or replacement value and represents the actual cost of repairs. This part of your insurance settlement typically comes after the roofing repair has been resolved but sometimes comes when a record of the roofing contract has been supplied to the insurance company.

Withholdings are primarily used for two reasons. One: to make sure you have your roof repaired or replaced by a licensed and insured roofing contractor from Taunton, Massachusetts—and not spend the money on something else. Two: to make sure you pay for your deductible yourself. An insurance deductible is always left up to the homeowner to pay and by withholding the depreciation; they ensure that you pay for the deductible out of your own pocket—and not commit insurance fraud with your roofing contractor and insurance check.

Ferreira Co. LLC., is a licensed local roofing and siding contractor providing roofing and siding installation and repairs along with installation and repair of skylights, gutters and repairs of chimney.  We proudly serve the areas of Taunton, MA, Raynham, Easton, Bridgewater, parts of Boston MA and RI