What To Do After A Hail Storm?

After the storm, locate your homeowner’s insurance policy. Grab your digital camera and walk around the property and take photos of the hail stones covering the yard, sidewalk and patios. Next, set a tape measure by the hailstone and take a picture. Look for obvious signs of roof damage such as missing or torn shingles, dings on the air conditioning units, external light fixtures, window trim, screens and soft metal downspouts. Hail stones can dent and bend the cooling fins, blocking the airflow.

What Does Your Insurance Cover?

There are many factors that determine if your damage will be covered, wind, rain, and hail are covered by your home insurance policy. Some policies take the age of your roof into account at the time it is damaged. For example, if your roof is under 10 years old, you may be covered for the full cost of repairing or replacing the damaged section of your roof at the time of the claim. If your roof is over 10 years old, you may only be reimbursed for the depreciated value of the damaged roof. Other policies will cover the full cost of repairing or replacing the damaged section of your roof at the time of the claim, regardless of the age of your roof. The insurance company will send an inspector to your home to investigate and verify your claim. If the damage is determined to be from aging, wear and tear, or poor condition, your roof typically will be considered normal maintenance, and will not be covered under your policy.

Beginning The Process Of Filing A Claim

To ease the experience of the claims process and to help you receive proper settlement for your loss, take a set of “before” photos of your roof and exterior property. Update the photos whenever you have maintenance or repairs done. After damage occurs, take a set of “after” photos. Document and record the damage as well as any estimates, invoices and bills you receive. Having all of this information on file will help ensure a smooth and hassle-free claims process.

Choose A Contractor With Insurance Expertise

Your roofing contractor should be able to help you navigate your way through the roof insurance claims process. Look for contractors with extensive experience in providing roof estimates for insurance claims and helping clients navigate the process of getting their roof repair or replacement covered by their insurance company. The most important thing to remember is that, if you suspect your roof has been damaged, you shouldn’t wait, get it inspected by a roofer. Find out the extent of the damage as soon as possible. This will help expedite the process and also help you avoid further damages that might not be covered under your policy.

Filing A Claim

Lastly, schedule a time for an insurance claims examiner to review the damage.

Call Stinson Services To Find Out What We Can Do For You

Stinson Services storm damage inspectors are certified and trained by HAAG Engineering to spot storm damage on all types of roofing, siding and gutter material.  You’ll receive a full report documenting the status of your property. If emergency repairs are necessary, our professional maintenance team will be available to repair in a timely manner to mitigate any further damage. Our company offers a free consultation on all exterior remodeling projects.