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A hailstorm rolled through, and you suspected your roof may have been damaged. After contacting your insurance carrier, they worked with you to schedule a roof inspection. The insurance claims adjuster came to your home and inspected your roof. The adjuster then provided the insurance company with a detailed photo report documenting the storm damage to your roof. The adjuster also wrote a scope of work estimate detailing the repairs that they observed your insurance company should pay to replace. Based on the photo report and the scope of work estimate from the insurance claims adjuster, your insurance company has notified you that your claim has been approved…now what?
Hail damage claims are approved by insurance companies using a very strict criterion. Insurance adjusters begin their roof inspection by looking for collateral hail damage to each elevation of your home. Some of the damage they may look for is hail hits to window screens, gutter troughs, gutter downspouts, and fences.
When the adjuster is on your roof, they inspect the field shingles on each directional slope of the roof. All insurance companies require a 10x10 test square to be marked in chalk on each directional slope of the roof. Each insurance company requires a certain amount of hail impacts within the test square to qualify for a full roof replacement. The number of hail impacts required per test square varies between insurance companies and can range from 8 hail hits all the way to 13 hail hits or more to warrant a full roof replacement, depending on the insurer.
Once your hail damage insurance claim is approved, your insurance company will provide you with the approved scope of work estimate. The scope of work estimate will include detailed line items of the work needed to repair or replace your roof, as well as the insurance company’s pricing for those items. Now you’ll want to hire a roofing company to complete your roof replacement. At Orbit Roofing, we use the same estimating software the insurance companies use.
After your insurance claim is approved, you’ll need to hire a roofing company if you haven’t already. It’s important to hire a local roofing company that is familiar with the insurance claims process. A local roofing company will be familiar with your city’s code requirements, meaning there could be some upgrades to your roof that you are eligible for that an out-of-town roofer may not be aware of. Also be sure to hire a roofing company that follows all Texas laws regarding insurance claims. Beware of fly-by-night roofers that offer to cover the cost of your deductible or give you an undervalued quote for repairs.
A roof replacement is a major investment in your home. A reputable roofing company will require a homeowner to sign a contract prior to beginning a roofing job and will offer warranties when the job is complete.
A contract is important because it protects both the homeowner and the roofing company by laying out the terms and conditions and cost of the roof replacement. A dependable roofing company will offer warranties on their workmanship and products. To offer warranties, a roofing company must have established relationships with shingle manufacturers. Be cautious of any roofer that does not offer contracts or is unable to warranty their work.
At Orbit Roofing, we are compliant with state insurance laws, work with all insurance companies, are staffed by former insurance adjusters, and use Xactimate, the same estimating software that insurance companies use to create your scope of work estimate. Our contracts mean that we work for you to make the insurance claims process as smooth as possible, and we stand behind our work with a warranty.
It’s important to know that your scope of work estimate is your roofing estimate. A reputable roofing company works for insurance proceeds and the only cost incurred by a homeowner is their deductible.
After a storm, insurance claims adjusters are under pressure to complete many roof inspections in a short amount of time. It’s not uncommon for the insurance claims adjuster to miss items. Some examples include accessories on the roof, code required upgrades, incorrectly identified accessories, incorrect measurements, or even missed hail damage. An inaccurate scope of work estimate from your insurance claims adjuster means that there may be a shortage of funds to replace your roof.
At Orbit Roofing, our roofing professionals will review your scope of work estimate for accuracy. Any missed damage, shortage of materials from incorrect measurements, missed roofing accessories, code requirements, or anything else that got missed by the insurance claims adjuster will be submitted to the insurance company as a supplement for approval.
Supplements get approved after your roofing company provides the insurance with photographic documentation of missed items, corrected measurements, or documentation from your city’s permitting department regarding code upgrades. If your roofing company knows up front which repairs will have to be included in the supplement, it can save time in the insurance claims process.
You have 365 days following a weather event to file an insurance claim for roof replacement. If your roof replacement is not completed within this state mandated time frame, you run the risk of having to pay out of pocket in order to have your roof replaced.
At Orbit Roofing, we work for you to get through the claims process so that you can get back to your everyday life as quickly as possible. With your permission, we’ll handle communications and paperwork with the insurance company so that you don’t have to. We understand that you can’t put your life on pause just to deal with your insurance company and aim to make your roofing experience hassle free.
How much money you receive for your roof replacement depends on the type of homeowner’s policy you have; actual cash value (ACV) or replacement cost value (RCV).
An ACV policy typically has lower monthly premiums than an RCV policy. This is because an ACV policy usually provides less coverage in the event of a loss. The actual cash value is the amount it costs to replace or fix your home, minus depreciation. Depreciation is when the value of your roof is decreased based on age, or wear and tear.
An RCV policy will cover your repairs in “like kind and quality,” ensuring that you will have the full amount necessary to complete your repairs. RCV policies tend to have higher premiums, but typically pay out better in the case of a loss.
It’s important to review your insurance policies prior to storm season. Many insurance companies have started converting their policies to ACV when it comes to roofs due to the prevalence of severe weather.
Although your roofing company does not determine coverage, the roofing professionals at Orbit Roofing can help you understand your coverage after a storm and what it means for your roof replacement.
After your claim is approved, you are responsible for paying your deductible to your roofing company. To comply with Texas law, some insurance companies require your roofing company to provide them proof that your deductible has been paid. Typically, your insurance carrier will pay a portion of the total cost of your scope of work estimate to allow you to begin your roof replacement. The final payment will be sent when your roofing company has provided proof that the roof installation is completed.
If you have a mortgage on your home, your insurance company may send the checks made out to you and your mortgage company. The mortgage company will then release the money for your roof replacement.
Your approved scope of work estimate from your insurance claims adjuster will be for the type of material that is currently on your roof. You’ll work with your roofing company to choose the brand and type of shingle that you want. You’re free to upgrade the shingles used on your roof, you’ll just have to pay for the difference in price between your existing shingles and your new shingles.
For example, if you currently have an architectural or 30-year laminate shingle, you can choose to install a class 4 impact resistant shingle. You’ll just be responsible for the difference in cost between the roofing materials. Choosing a better shingle for your new roof at the time of an insurance roof replacement is a great way to get the roof you’ve always wanted for a great price!
Orbit Roofing offers high quality roofing systems from top-of-the-line manufacturers. GAF Timberline HDZ, Owens Corning Duration, and CertainTeed Landmark are some of the excellent shingles you can choose from. Each of these first-rate shingles come in a variety of stylish cuts and striking colors that will accentuate the style of your home while providing your home maximum protection from the elements. Be sure to talk to your roofing professional about the advantages of upgrading your shingles during your insurance roof replacement.
After you’ve chosen your new shingles, your roofing company will order your roofing materials and schedule your roof replacement. On the day of your roof installation, you will need to park on the street and leave your driveway clear of vehicles. Your roofing company will need to access your driveway for material delivery, work, and clean up.
On the day of your roof installation, your roofing company will begin by tearing off your existing roof in sections. They will use specialized tools that slide under the shingles and lift them up, revealing the roof decking. After the old roofing materials are removed, they’ll begin installing your new roofing system. Expect to hear loud scraping and hammering throughout the installation process. You may want to contact your neighbors and let them know you are having your roof replaced so they can be prepared for the noise and extra vehicles parked on the street.
After your new shingle roofing system is installed, it’s normal for the new shingles to shed some granules. You may notice shingle granules in gutter troughs or on the ground, but don’t worry. Shingles are manufactured with excess granules. The excess granules will slough off after installation, often after the first rain to which they are exposed. This is completely normal and isn’t anything to be concerned about.
Orbit Roofing is highly experienced in handling insurance claims for storm damage. We work with all insurance companies and will help you navigate the insurance claims process. We employ former insurance adjusters who are well versed in the requirements of various insurance companies.
At Orbit Roofing, we offer professional roof inspections. We offer free roof inspections with a verbal confirmation of hail damage for all homeowners. For homeowners that have chosen to hire us, we offer a more in-depth inspection with a photo report as part of our service. The photo report we provide can even be submitted to your insurance carrier as proof of hail damage. Your roofing professional from Orbit Roofing will also meet with the insurance claims adjuster at an insurance claim inspection appointment.
At Orbit Roofing, we install premium roofing systems that provide maximum protection for your home. We specialize in replacing your roof quickly and professionally with minimal disruption to your daily life. We are proud to provide dependable service, solid workmanship, and high-quality roofing materials. We use the most durable and attractive shingle roofing materials from industry leaders. We back our roof installations with our own roofing warranties so that you can rest assured that your roof is expertly installed and that we’ll be there when you need us most.
