Yikes! Roof damage is frustrating but often inevitable. But who wants to deal with insurance companies and roof maintenance performed? Our Refined Exteriors team has performed enough roof replacements to understand the stress this can cause you as a homeowner.
With a simple understanding of what may or may not be covered by your insurance policy as well as tools for filing a claim, roof replacements don’t have to be as daunting as they sound!
Understanding Insurance Coverage and Homeowner Responsibility
Roof replacements occur for two reasons:
- Age/normal wear and tear
- Damage from exterior forces (referred to as “acts of nature” by insurance companies.)
These two reasons will be major distinguishers in filing a claim with your insurance company. When shingles begin to curl and lift, wear down, or even crack, it can be because the shingle is nearing the end of its life. An improperly maintained roof or severe weather can also take its toll. Insurance companies will not feel responsible for a homeowner’s lack of care and maintenance to their roof. Therefore, roof care is essential to keeping uninsured damage at bay.
Let’s break this down even further to help distinguish what type of roof damage insurance potentially covers.
Replacing an Old Roof
An eventual roof replacement is inevitable. It’s simply a part of homeownership. Therefore, roof replacements and repairs due to age are typically not covered by insurance. As a homeowner, you assume a certain level of responsibility for the care of your home. Most insurance companies consider 20 years to be the average lifespan of a roof and do not provide coverage for wear past that point.
Replacing a Damaged Roof
Every insurance policy differs in coverage and options. Make sure to review your policy with your insurance company to know in detail what is covered and what is not. However, typical insurance coverage of your dwelling will cover “acts of nature” which could include fires, tree damage, or other outside sources of damage.
Hail and wind damage are often the two perils that will require additional insurance coverage (though not always, so check with your insurance company). They sometimes do not fall into the category of typically covered perils. If you live in a hail-prone area, it may be worth investing in the additional coverage.
Repairing a Roof Leak
Roof leaks are common but not always covered by insurance. Again, coverage will come down to normal wear and tear of the roof versus damage from an actual exterior force mentioned in your policy.
The best thing you can do to avoid repairs from leaks is to know what causes roof leaks. When you take time to understand factors that can harm your roof, you grow into a smart homeowner who can prepare ahead of time to avoid these issues.
What to Do When Filing a Claim
You can help make the claim filing process easier by remembering to implement a few steps.
1. Assess your roof/Take pictures
Just like an accident with your car, you will want pictures of any damage your roof has experienced as proof for your insurance company. Make sure you walk the perimeter of your home and get pictures from the ground level, the interior if needed, and from the top of the roof itself. This can be done by a roofing professional for safety purposes.
2. Have a professional inspection
While you can do your best to inspect your roof, a roofing professional will be able to provide a detailed description of the damage and needed repairs for your roof to your insurance company. They know exactly what they are looking for, and having a professional assess the damage will help in negotiations with your insurance adjuster. In fact, finding the company you want to work with that has roofing contractors who will help negotiate with the adjuster will be a major benefit in getting the right amount for your replacement.
3. Contact your insurance company/File a claim
Do not delay this step. Getting in contact with your insurance and filing a claim quickly will help make the process move along more smoothly. Your insurance company should send an adjuster to your home to estimate the cost of your roof replacement. Keep in mind that adjusters will give you a low initial estimate for your replacement. A roofing contractor who will work directly with the adjuster can help alleviate the headache of negotiations.
4. Have your roof replaced
Once pricing has been determined, your roofing contractor can get to work on installing your new roof replacement. Consider installing high-quality, impact-resistant shingles for the Denver area.
Invest in F-Wave REVIA Synthetic Shingles
We understand the frustration of a damaged or worn roof. But you can combat that frustration with quality roof shingles. We choose to install the REVIA synthetic shingles from F-Wave.
They are a completely new innovation in roofing technology. Due to their extreme durability and impeccable warranty, they reduce the frequency of roof repairs and replacements. The F-wave synthetic shingles also have the potential to lower your insurance rates depending on your insurance type and location. If you choose to have them installed on your home, contact your insurance company for more information on savings.
Make Your Roof Replacement Easy with Refined Exteriors
Although roofing issues are inevitable, you don’t deserve to stress over them. You can be a carefree and happy homeowner. When you need a new roof, contact our team at Refined Exteriors. We can assess the overall state of your roof and provide a list of our expert recommendations. If your roof repair is covered by your insurance, our team will happily work directly with your insurance company to create the smoothest process possible for you.
Don’t let your roof stress you out. Schedule a free consultation to see how our team can help make your replacement easier and provide a high-quality roof replacement for your Denver home.
