Hail Damage

Here are some commonly asked questions about hail damage.

 

What Does Hail Do To My Roof?

Asphalt shingles are designed with protective mineral granules that block the UVs of the sun and protect the underlayment. Hail damage can cause severe granule loss, material removal at the edges of the shingles and penetration of the shingles; all of which prematurely age the life of the roofing structure and will eventually cause leaks. Hail can damage virtually any type of roof, including modified bitumen, EPDM, TPO, metal and tile.

Can I Tell If I Have Hail Storm Damage to My Roof, From the Ground?

Usually you can’t spot hail storm damage to your roof from the ground. You will be able to easily spot damage to your siding or gutters; and it’s safe to assume that if there’s visible damage to your car, windows, siding or gutters, your roof most likely has hail storm damage too. Since hail damage is not always immediately evident, it’s a good idea to contact a local, professional roofing contractor in Colorado, who specializes in roof hail damage to evaluate the extent of damage after a storm.

What About Hail Damage Other Than My Roof?

Usually when hail damage occurs, it affects more than just your roof. There’s often painting, gutter, and window damage too. At CSR we are a one stop solution for all your storm damage needs. This saves you the time and hassle of hiring and managing a bunch of different contractors.

If I Think I Have Hail Damage, What Should I Do?

You should call Colorado Superior Roofing, or another reputable roofing company who specializes in hail storm damage, to come inspect your roof. You don’t want to call out an adjuster if you don’t have enough damage. Let us come check it out and give you a free, honest, assessment and then you can make an informed decision. If there is enough damage, Colorado Superior Roofing will help you document the hail storm damage and we’ll work directly with your insurance company to see that the hail damaged areas are repaired or that your roof is replaced, if needed.

Will I Need to Get My Roof Replaced Right Away?

Not necessarily, it may take a while before the damaged areas deteriorate enough to cause leaks and other associated problems. But the real concern is that insurance companies give you a limited amount of time to file a claim. So, if you wait until the roof starts leaking, you may be beyond the time limit established in your policy for filing a claim. Even if you don’t need a complete roof replacement, roof repairs should be left to the professionals. Replacing a single shingle should be done with the utmost care so the surrounding shingles are not compromised.

Why Would My Insurance Company Replace My Entire Roof?

The purpose of homeowners’ insurance is to protect the homeowners against losses due to damage that is beyond their control. In most cases, hail damage will result in a full roof replacement because the insurance providers know that a new roof is more cost effective than replacing all the valuable contents inside the home after the hail damage caused the roof to eventually fail.

Will My Home Insurance Rates Go Up If I File a Hail Damage Claim?

Typically, insurance companies cannot single out a homeowner for a rate increase based on an “Act of God” storm damage claim. However, your insurance company can raise rates for everyone in your area based on the severity of the storm. So, if you don’t file a claim, your increase in premium will pay for everyone else’s repairs, except for yours.

If you had hail in your neighborhood, CALL US! It’s important to have a knowledgeable roofing profession there when the adjuster comes out to do his/her inspection. Remember that the insurance adjuster represents the insurance company’s interests, not yours. So don’t just rely on only your adjuster’s inspection. You need a professional working for you to make sure that ALL damage is adequately addressed and paid under the claim.

Should I Get Two or More Estimates From Contractors?

If it’s an insurance claim, then there really is no point to getting estimates and you are not required to do so. Your insurance company has created their own price list and will only pay for the cost of repairs at the lesser of their fixed price list or the price you are charged by your contractor. So, if your insurance scope says they will pay $15,000 for your repairs and your contractor provides them with a final bill for 13,000, then they are only going to pay $13,000 (minus your deductible). Your contractor will have to submit a final bill to the insurance company to get the rest of your money (the deprecation) released, so there is no way to profit from your insurance claim without committing insurance fraud.

Most storm damage restoration companies will do your repairs for the amount the insurance company is paying. Your only out of pocket expense will be your deductible. Getting lowball estimates for your insurance company only saves them money and may provide you with an inferior product. You are legally entitled to use whatever contractor you choose and are not required to gather estimates.
Remember that all you are going to pay out of pocket is your deductible. That means for $1,000 (or whatever your deductible amount is) you can get a top-quality first-rate product from a highly reputable contractor or you can go with the lowest bidder and take your chances.

So, by all means, feel free to interview several companies so you can find someone that you are confident will do a great job, use quality materials, and will be around for the warranty period. But when you get multiple estimates or use price as the determining factor, all you are doing is saving your insurance company money and possibly cheating yourself out of the quality job you deserve.

If I Find Someone to do the Work for less, Can I Keep the Rest of the Insurance Money?

In Colorado, it is insurance fraud (both on your part and the part of your contractor) for a contractor to pay, waive, or rebate any portion of the insurance deductible or for you to keep any amounts that the contractor has billed the insurance company for.

In addition to the prospect of getting into legal trouble (and insurance companies are cracking down on this type of activity), you have to understand that a company that is willing to commit insurance fraud and induce you to do the same is very likely to make up the amount they credited you by taking other shortcuts like using inferior products on your roof. Many of these companies are also from out of state and aren’t going to be around to perform any warranty work on that inferior job either. We’ve seen this many times and have even been featured on Fox 31 News to warn consumers about this issue.

Colorado Superior Roofing experts have decades of combined experience in the residential and commercial roofing industry. We are an A+ rated Business with the Better Business Bureau and a proud member of Team Dave Logan. We have offices in Lakewood, Parker, Littleton, Denver, Colorado Springs, and Longmont, so wherever you are, we’re not too far. So give us a call. We offer free inspections and free estimates.

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