When your roof is damaged by hail or storms, starting the process of working with your homeowners’ insurance can feel overwhelming. To help make this process less stressful and provide the resources you need; we wanted to outline some helpful tips on the home insurance claim process. In this article, you’ll learn if your roof might be covered by insurance as well as three tips for starting the home insurance claims process.
At AIC Roofing and Construction, we help Louisville homeowners take the stress out of navigating the homeowner’s insurance process and getting the roof replacement they deserve. We work directly with your insurance company to ensure you’re getting all the repairs and replacements that your home deserves. We are experienced working with insurance companies and advocating for Louisville homeowners. Just as you wouldn’t go to court without an attorney, don’t navigate the homeowner’s insurance process without an advocate.
Home Insurance Basics
So, what does your homeowner’s insurance cover? When it comes to your roof, your homeowner’s insurance will cover damage resulting from covered events – which are typically described as “acts of nature”. Some examples of covered events include: wind, hail, lightning, fire, and ice.
If a tree is knocked over by a wind or lightning “event” and ends up damaging your roof, that would typically be covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy. If a covered event directly damages your roof – i.e., hail damages the shingles on your roof, that would be covered under your insurance policy as well. Similarly, if your shed or fence is damaged, your homeowner’s insurance policy generally covers those structures. However, you would be responsible for paying your deductible and insurance would pay the rest.
If you are experiencing a roof leak due to normal wear and tear, improper installation, lack of maintenance or some other uncovered event, it’s unlikely that your insurance company would pay the cost to repair or replace your roof.
Be sure to note that homeowner’s insurance policies vary – to get the specifics on your coverage, be sure to ask your insurance agent.
3 tips for starting the home insurance claims process
The insurance claims process for your roof repair can feel overwhelming at times. We suggest having an expert whose interests are aligned with yours – your roofing contractor – advocate for you and guide you through the process.
1. First, contact your roofer
Most Louisville roofing companies (AIC roofing included) offer free roof estimates and inspections. If you suspect your roof may have storm damage, scheduling a free inspection is a good place to start. This will help you get an idea of the type of damage, if any, that you’re dealing with. Your roofing contractor is your advocate and can help you navigate the claims process.
If you reach out to a roofing contractor after you have contacted your insurance, make sure that your roofing contractor has experience working with insurance companies and supplementing insurance claims. In our experience, homeowner’s insurance companies can leave out items that need to be repaired or replaced. Your roofing contractor will help point out all the items to your adjuster to ensure your roof is restored to its condition before it was damaged by a storm. Even if you’ve already gotten a check from your insurance company, if you work with an experienced roofer, they’ll work to make sure you receive reimbursement for all covered damages.
Your roofer works for you, not your insurance company. To ensure a fair outcome for all parties, it’s important that everyone’s interests (the homeowners and the insurance company) are represented when evaluating a roof.
2. Claims Process
If your roofer determines that your home has incurred damage due to storms, hail, wind, or an event typically covered by a homeowners insurance policy, you may formally begin the claims process by filing a claim online with your policy. This will initiate the claims process from your insurance. It’s important to initiate these processes as soon as you’re aware of the damage. Many homeowner’s insurance policies have a time limit of how soon after a storm a claim must be filed to be covered.
After they have received the claim, they will send an insurance adjuster out to examine your roof. It’s important to keep your roofing contractor in the loop, as they can come meet your adjuster and explain their findings. Your adjuster will then approve or deny your claim. If your claim is approved, your adjuster will give you a list of all the repairs your insurance company will cover.
3. What should you do if your homeowner’s insurance claim was denied
What should you do if your home insurance claim was denied? As we’ve mentioned before, homeowners insurance adjusters are typically not experienced roofers. They’re trained to look for damage. If your claim was denied before you contacted a roofing company to do an independent inspection, it’s still not too late! Contact a local, trustworthy, Louisville roofing company right away!
Every day, homeowners’ insurance claims are rejected – for appropriate reasons and sometimes for reasons that are difficult to understand. There are measures you may take to contest your homeowners’ insurance claim denial if you’ve had an insured property loss and your insurance carrier has refused your claim. Depending on the nature of your claim, this is something your roofer can help you prepare and collect supporting evidence to supplement your appeal.
If you’ve already been working with a roofing company and your homeowners’ insurance has denied your claim, you can always file for an appeal. Depending on what their reasoning is and the urgency of your repair, most roofing companies offer financing options to ensure your roof gets the repairs it deserves to function properly.
It’s important to note that homeowner’s insurance will not cover your roof if it was improperly installed. For example, if a storm with strong winds rips through Kentucky and takes off some of your shingles during its tirade – if the insurance adjuster finds your shingles were improperly installed to begin with, they probably won’t cover the claim. That is just one of the many reasons why it’s important to work with a reputable, experienced roofing company that offers a competitive craftsmanship warranty on their work.
Best home maintenance practices
We strongly recommend having your roof inspection annually, as part of your yearly home maintenance tasks. Inspections are free and can help identify small repair items before they cause thousands in damage, prevent mold in your home, and allow your roofer to spot any storm damage that you may be unaware of.
Wrapping Up
Your roofing company is YOUR advocate during the insurance claims process. Make sure you choose an experienced, knowledgeable company to represent your home.
At AIC Roofing and Construction, we’ve replaced over 10,000 roofs in the central Kentucky area. We’re experienced in repairing storm damaged roofs and are proud of our track record when it comes to successfully advocating on the behalf of Louisville homeowners. Whether your home has been damaged by a storm or you’re simply due for a roof replacement, our Learning Center has information on every aspect of the process so you can feel confident navigating your project.
If you suspect your roof may have storm damage or if your roof is due for a checkup, contact us today to schedule your free roof inspection!
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