Not long ago, gusty winds and powerful hailstorms riddled residential neighborhoods in the Denver Metro area and homeowners were faced with considerable damage to roofing, siding, and gutters. Although it is rare, a single hail storm can produce extensive harm. The accumulation of smaller storms can cause serious damage to your roof over time as well. The lifespan of a roof can be diminished from 20 years to 2 years, depending on the severity of the storms. So what can you do about it?
Here are some steps for Colorado homeowners to follow after a hail storm:
- Do not have a door-to-door solicitation roofing company inspect your roof. They may dupe you into filing a claim that will count against you (even if there is no damage).
- Contact a local, licensed roofer to inspect your roof. If they believe the damage is significant enough to file a claim, collect your homeowner’s insurance policy and call the insurance agent.
- The insurance company will send a claim adjuster to your house to assess the damage and formulate an estimate to have your roof repaired or replaced and to repair other damaged areas as well.
- Contact the same roofer who inspected your house to review the estimate from the insurance adjuster, and compare reports for the repairs that are required.
- Supplementing the insurance claim may be necessary to ensure all damages from the storm are covered.
- Tip: Not all roofing contractors offer supplementing services so be sure to ask before you schedule them to come out.
- The insurance company will send you a check for your roof replacement.
- Once the roof repairs have been completed, have your roofing contractor send an invoice to your insurance company to have them add it to your records and to confirm the project was indeed completed.
Hail Damage FAQ with Zenith Painting & Coatings
When is Hail Season & What Does That Mean for Homeowners?
Hail damage is an unfortunate reality in Colorado. “Hail season” in our region can start sometimes as early as March and run as late as September. Immediately after a storm, you may notice door-to-door “roof inspectors” offering free estimates. While it may seem convenient at the moment, we strongly recommend that you take the time to thoroughly research certified roofers and schedule a time to have your roof inspected. This step can drastically reduce out of pocket costs and allow you to search for a local licensed contractor that best suits your needs.
So I Should Do My Research Before Hiring A Door-to-Door Inspector?
This step will also allow you to weed out the out-of-state “Storm Chasers” that are generally only interested in pushing a claim through as quickly as possible so they can take off to the next storm rather than make sure your insurance claim is processed fully and thoroughly. Many homeowners are shocked to find out that the initial settlement amount offered by their insurance company only covers a fraction of the cost required to get the repair work completed. A reputable roofing contractor is there to work on your behalf and make sure the insurance company is providing the proper coverages based on the damage caused by the storm. We have seen settlement amounts of $7500 initially offered by insurance companies go up to more than $40,000 once a certified roofer got involved and started advocating for their client.
Does Zenith Have Any Recommendations for Local Roofers?
Zenith Painting & Coatings has a team of certified experts that will inspect hail damage upon your request. We are happy to provide you with a number of great local referrals if you are in need of a certified roofing contractor to assess your architectural shingled roof.
If you own a home with a flat roof, Zenith Painting & Coatings now offers UNIFLEX Fluid Applied Roofing Systems that may be able to repair the roof damage extending the life of the roof avoiding the need for a costly tear off and re-roof installation. Not only will this protect your roof from intense weather and hail damage in the future, it may also prevent your home from exceeding the “claim cost ratio” insurance companies use to determine whether or not they will continue offering you coverage.
If you recently experienced a severe storm and notice visible damage to your exterior paint or roof, please contact Zenith Painting & Coatings now.
If we believe the damage is beyond our control, we have trustworthy and local certified roofing contractors to recommend.
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