1260 Milo Way - Deerfield, WI  53531

HAIL DAMAGE?

 

HOW HAIL DAMAGES A ROOF

Hail is dangerous to your home's roof because it decreases the roof's life expectancy. Damage to the asphalt roof occurs when the protective granular surface of the asphalt shingle loosens and falls off. With the granules removed the shingle loses some of its protection, shortening the lifespan of the roof and making it more susceptible to additional damage.*

 

HOW TO IDENTIFY HAIL DAMAGE TO YOUR ROOF

Like most of the country, asphalt shingles are the primary roofing material used throughout Wisconsin . Common signs that your roof has been damaged by a hail storm:

- Dents or bruising on the shingles
- Granules are missing from the shingle
- Affected shingles feel softer to the touch
- Granules are present in the gutters or at the base of downspouts
- Metal air vents, gutters and siding are damaged and dented

 

FILING AN INSURANCE CLAIM FOR HAIL DAMAGE TO YOUR ROOF

Many insurance companies will cover the replacement of a roof in the event that it is damaged by hail. They do this because the damage to your roof has reduced its life expectancy and its ability to provide protection against potential water damage. If your homeowner's policy covers hail damage and the insurance company accepts your claim, you are typically responsible for paying the deductible.

If you are not sure that your homeowner's insurance policy covers hail damage, consult your policy paperwork or contact your insurance agent.

1. Note the date. If you know for sure that you've had a recent hail storm, note the date. You'll need this date to file a claim. If you didn't take any pictures of the hail storm yourself, do an internet search with the name of your city and the keywords, “hail storm.” You should be able to find a lot of pictures of people showing the size of the hail. Save a few to show to your agent.
   
2. Get a qualified opinion. If you suspect you have damage to your roof from a hail storm, give us a call and we will come out to do an inspection. Assuming there is damage we will provide you with an estimate to present to your insurance company. The inspection typically takes 15-30 minutes.
   
3. File the claim. This is the easy part, just call your insurance company and tell them you want to file a claim for hail damage. They will then request all the relevant dates and information from you. They will probably ask if you have any interior damage.
   
4. Meet with the insurance adjuster. When the adjuster arrives, there will not be much for you to do. The adjuster will take about a half hour to access and take pictures of any damage and then explain the next steps to you. Some companies give you a settlement quote right then, but many can take a couple of weeks.
   
5. Get the work done. You will most likely get enough money, less your deductible, to complete the work. If it is not enough, let us know and we will help you to dispute the amount based on the work needed. Don't be alarmed if your insurance company depreciated the amount allocated for repairs because of the roof age. They are just holding back some of the money until the work is complete. Once the work is done, all you have to do is send them a copy of our invoice and they'll send the remainder.
   
6. That's it. A new roof for the price of your deductible.
   

 

BE AWARE OF STORM CHASERS!

If your home has been damaged by hail or wind related to a storm, make sure you take extra caution to companies going door to door offering to repair your roof.

Violent storms ripped through southern Wisconsin on April 3, 2011. While I was doing inspections the next day, there were already contractors in the area from multiple states, including one from Texas ! Why should you be aware of these “storm chasers”? They often move into a neighborhood soon after a storm, offer bargain prices to replace your roof, ask for full payment up front, and then quickly replace your roof before moving onto the next storm-damaged area.

Even if they offer a written labor warranty, it is of decreased value from a company that does not have a local presence and is only in town because of the storm. If their workmanship fails it might be very difficult to get the company to follow up for repair.

Ask the contractor for local references within the last month and the last year. Many storm chasers cannot provide local references, and if they can, typically not from a year ago as they just got into the area.

3 Reasons To Use
Scott's Exteriors

Any major home repair can seem daunting; replacing or repairing a roof is no exception. So how do you make the right decisions about the roofing process? Scott's Exteriors can help.

	Scott's Exteriors can help you decide if you need a new roof.
	Scott's Exteriors can inform you about important roofing considerations.
	Scott's Exteriors can even schedule on-site estimates for you to fit your schedule! (click roofing or siding)
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