Storm damage can create a real hazard for any home in Roseville, CA. From flying debris to high-force winds, your roofing materials can be damaged by just one nasty storm. Understanding how to file an insurance claim after your roof has experienced storm damage is a necessity for quick and convenient repair solutions.
Starting the Claims Process
When you need to file an insurance claim to get your roof repaired after it’s been damaged by a storm, the first thing you want to do is contact your insurance company. Be prepared to answer a few different questions for your agent so they can understand what happened. They will ask for things like the date of the storm, the extent of the damage, etc. They may even ask if you can take pictures of the damage and submit them for review.
Consult with Your Insurance Adjuster
The next step that your insurance company will take is to send out one of their adjustors to assess the damage in person. The insurance adjuster will look for things like missing shingles, water damage, the type of roofing material you have on your home, and so forth. The adjuster will use this information to determine whether or not the damage meets the storm damage criteria set by the insurance company.
Your Claim Gets Approved
Once your insurance adjuster has assessed the damage and determined what your coverage limits are, they will provide you with a check to pay for the damages. This check amount will be based on the type of insurance coverage that you have, your insurance limits, and your deductible. The check will be paid out to you, and you’ll, in turn, use the funds to pay a roofing contractor to fix the storm damage.
You Hire a Roofing Contractor
The last and final step of the process is hiring a roofing contractor. It’s best to show a potential contractor the paperwork that your insurance company provided you with. This way, they understand the scope of work and are adequately fulfilling what the insurance company has laid out as part of their payout. Some insurance providers may ask that you work with a specific contractor in your area, and they will take care of the payment process.
Insurance Coverage Types
There are two main types of insurance coverage that you need to be aware of. These include actual cash value (ACV) and replacement cost value (RCV). With an ACV policy, your insurance company will take depreciation into account when determining the actual value of what your roof is worth today.
With an RCV insurance policy, your insurance company will pay to replace the entire roof. This policy requires an extra step, as your insurance company will send you two different checks. The first check they send will be for the actual cash value of your roof today, with depreciation taken into account.
Once you get your roof replaced by a roofing professional, you’ll need to show proof of completion to your insurance company. They’ll then send you a check for the recoverable depreciation. This is the amount of depreciation that your roof has experienced since it was originally installed. If you have RCV insurance coverage, your insurance provider doesn’t have to give you a check for the recoverable depreciation. However, you must show proof that your roof was repaired by a licensed professional.
Supplementing Your Insurance Claim
When you’re choosing a roofing contractor, you want to pick one that is capable of supplementing your insurance claim. This simply means that they will install your new roof up to the current code levels. Any necessary repairs to bring your roof up to current code standards can be added by your roofer. Your insurance company will be responsible for sending you an additional check to pay for any extra repairs that were necessary to bring your roof up to your local code standards.
Be Prepared
If you live in a region of the country that regularly deals with nasty storms, then it’s a good idea to be prepared for the worst. Have the phone number of your insurance company and your policy number saved on your phone. The quicker you can make a phone call after the damage happens, the quicker you’re going to get compensation to get your roof repaired. Make sure that you choose a deductible that is feasible based on your finances.
Get Professional Repair Service Today
Clark's Gables Roofing is more than happy to provide professional storm damage roof repair for residents throughout the whole Roseville area. We can also help with all of your roofing installation, inspection, and repair needs. Simply contact our office today to schedule your next repair service appointment.
