Unfortunately, storms can cause damage to our homes and often to our roofs. If that isn’t stressful enough, we then have to deal with the headache of figuring out if the damage will be covered by our insurance which can be complex, to say the least. The silver lining is that there are wonderful roofing contractors, like Greentek Roofing and Solar, that know the process and are happy to help. We are experts in residential, commercial, and industrial roofing. If you have recently experienced storm damage, know that you’re not alone, and we would love to help walk you through the process of potentially getting the damage covered by your insurance.
Will Your Insurance Cover Your Storm Damage?
Before trying to get your roof covered by your insurance, it’s a good idea to read through your insurance policy so that you are familiar with it. If you have any questions, Greentek will be happy to help answer them. Not all insurance policies are created equal, and it can be hard to determine what storm damage your insurance company actually covers. Homeowner’s insurance coverage usually depends on the type of damage, how it was caused, the type of homeowner coverage you purchased, and where you live. In general, homeowner’s insurance typically covers the following types of storm damage:
● Damage caused by lightning strikes or power surges
● Water or ice damage
● Damage caused by wind, hail, or fallen trees
A newer roof that is around ten years or less is usually covered for repair or replacement on areas that the roof has been damaged. If the roof is older than 10 years, homeowners usually receive reimbursement for the diminishing value of the roof. The insurance company evaluates the depreciation by considering its age and the amount of wear and tear the roof has experienced. Some insurances will only cover the depreciated value of the roof regardless of its age.
In the state of Florida, homeowners are getting their roof covered by their insurance thanks to the 25% rule. The 25% rule states that if your roof has over 25% damage from wind, hail, or anything that’s considered an act of God, you cannot repair your roof; therefore you must replace it. Greentek can help you determine if your roof is eligible for this rule. If your insurance detects that you have failed to do proper maintenance on your roof, they may not offer coverage. This is why it’s important to hire licensed roofing specialists to perform regular inspections. If you can prove you’ve properly maintained your roof, you will be more likely to receive insurance coverage when natural disasters occur. If you had frequent inspections performed, it’s a good idea to gather these inspection reports so that you can turn them into your insurance. Before a major storm occurs, it’s also a good idea to take as many pictures of your roof as you can from the ground.
Material Requirements
Insurance companies sometimes require homeowners to use certain roofing materials when seeking repair. These roofing materials should meet state code specifications. Materials including shingles, nails, and tiles must be made to tolerate hail, wind, and other natural disaster situations. Before an insurance payment can be made, homeowners must show a state compliance certificate that proves that proper repair has been made. There is a lot of red-tape to navigate when getting a claim approved. We suggest working with a roofing contractor that has significant experience dealing with insurance claims. Greentek co-founder, James Casey, had over three years of experience advising homeowners on their insurance claims before starting Greentek Roofing and Solar with his partner, John Franco. Working with an experienced roofing contractor like Greentek will help accelerate the insurance claim process. This is important since there is usually a high volume of claims after a hurricane. Most states require homeowners to file a claim with their insurance within 30-60 days. The more promptly we can turn in the claim, the more promptly you can get your check. If you choose to work with Greentek, the first step would be to schedule an initial inspection with us.
Initial Inspection
Once you’ve found out you have roof damage and scheduled your initial inspection with us, we will send a trained roofing specialist to your home. During the initial inspection, we will tell you on the spot whether or not you have enough qualifying damage to be covered by your insurance. During this initial inspection, we will also take photos of the damage so we don’t miss anything when we meet with your insurance company.
Co-inspection With Your Insurance Company
Often times, an insurance company requires estimates from a licensed and insured roofing contractor, like Greentek, to determine legitimate repair and replacement work. We have significant experience filing claims for insurance companies. When it comes to dealing with your insurance, you won’t have to worry about a thing. Greentek will take care of everything for you. If we have discovered you do have enough qualifying damage, we will schedule a date to inspect your roof with your insurance company. When we meet with your insurance company on the roof, we will discuss with them all the damages we have found. We’ll also provide them with all the photos of the damage along with an estimate. If the insurance representative determines that the damage is due to normal aging, everyday wear and tear, or deteriorating conditions, they will be considered normal maintenance and would not be covered under a home policy.
Getting The Check
After all the damages are determined and the estimates are completed, you will be responsible for paying for the roof before getting reimbursed by your insurance. The insurance company will later send a check to us which we will then mail to you.
Install Paperwork
After we mail out the check to you, we would schedule what we call an install paperwork. It’s more exciting than it sounds. This is the part of the process that you’ll get to pick out the colors of the roof that we’ll be installing. During this time, we will also go into all the details about all the processes related to the actual roof installation. We’ll also go over details on any work that may need to be completed such as interior work, fence damage, and/or screen damage. It is important to get your roof repaired or replaced after a storm since it helps keep your home and your family safe. At Greentek, our customers are like family to us. We want you to be protected and prepared for future storms and hurricanes. Roof repairs and replacements can be costly which is why Greentek wants to serve as your advocate when it comes to dealing with your insurance company. This is a general overview of our process of helping you assess any storm damage in order to file a claim with your insurance. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about the process. Our goal is to always provide 110% customer satisfaction. You can give Greentek Roofing and Solar a call at (877) 389-0632.
