How long do you have to file a storm damage claim for your roof?
Most home insurance policies require you to file a claim within one year of when the damage occurred. You should ask your insurance agent to be sure so you do not miss the deadline to get coverage for the storm damage.
You want to call your insurance company as soon as you can after the storm damage occurs. If you wait too long, you easily risk not being able to get coverage for storm damage. After a bad storm occurs, you should hire a roofing company to perform an inspection to make sure there is not any unseen damage. This can prevent you from losing the ability to get coverage for storm damage if it was not easily noticeable damage to your roof. It's key to act fast so you do not have to pay for repairs out of pocket, which can be quite costly, especially if the damage goes unattended and worsens.
After you file your insurance claim, an adjuster from your insurance company will contact you to schedule an inspection. This inspection is so the adjuster can assess the damage that happened to your roof, evaluate the costs of the repairs, and decide the amount of coverage that will be provided. Our roofing professionals at Roof It Forward can be available to be at the adjuster inspection to help provide more insight to the damage, the repairs necessary, and the costs associated with the repairs.
How to identify storm damage on your roof
Prior to calling your insurance company, you need to ensure that your roof incurred damage and how extensive that damage is. Having an understanding of the damage your roof experienced will make the claim filing process easier. If you had hail damage or a tree fell on your house, the damage is easily seen. However, some damage, such as shingle damage, can be more difficult to see without getting up on your roof. It is not recommended to get up on your roof yourself because you are risking injury. Instead, start looking from the ground to see if you can spot any damage or areas of concern. If you experienced a very bad storm in your area, your best course of action is to go ahead and schedule an inspection so any damage does not go unattended. Once you have confirmed any damage with documentation, it's time to file a claim with your home insurance company.
How to get a roof inspection for storm damage
First, you need to find a good roofing contractor. Be sure to do your research before picking a roofing company to make sure they are licensed and have great reviews from prior customers. While a higher-quality roofing company may be more expensive, getting an unlicensed or poorly reviewed roofing company will only complicate the repair process. It is also important to have a roofing contractor that prioritizes their customers and remains transparent throughout the repair process.
Secondly, you need to schedule an inspection to evaluate the damage to your roof. At Roof It Forward, we provide a free video roof inspection where we video the damage on the roof, review it with you, explain the repairs necessary, and provide an estimate for repairs.
Find a roofing company that will walk you through the insurance process
Dealing with insurance companies can be very scary and stressful so having a trusted and experienced roofing company on your side can ease your mind. At Roof It Forward, we pride ourselves on providing excellent customer service, which includes working with insurance companies. RIF can handle the insurance process from start to finish so you can have one less thing on your plate.
See How Roof it Forward Helps With The Insurance Process
Find a roofing company that will meet with your insurance adjuster
After your roofing company does an inspection and confirms the damage that your roof inflicted, contact your insurance company. Once you call an adjuster they will schedule a time to visit your property to take a look at the storm damage. Our roofing professionals at Roof It Forward are more than happy to come to the adjuster inspection to point out all of the damage your roof has experienced. Your roofing contractor can also provide their opinion to the adjuster about all the repairs that are necessary. Having the adjuster and the roofing contractor together can help provide you with a more accurate estimate.