Living in North Texas means dealing with heavy and constant hailstorms during the storm seasons. With hail damage to your residential or commercial property being at risk during each heavy storm, owners begin to raise questions about whether the damage can be waived or if it is a potential red flag. If you are wondering if your hail damage deductible can be waived, keep reading this article. We discuss who is responsible for hail damage, what can be considered a “red flag,” and how to appropriately report fraud.
Who is responsible?
We’re just going to put this straight – the homeowner is responsible for any and all deductibles that are part of his or her insurance plan. As of 09/01/2019 per Texas law, the state “requires property owners to pay the full insurance deductible they agreed to pay in their property insurance policy”. If someone comes knocking on your door offering a deal that includes your deductible, this should be a red flag for you! Here at Classic, we always ensure that we are following all Texas laws and regulations when it comes to repairs on your home or commercial property. Keep reading to spot the companies that don’t.
A Contractor Red Flag
Many contractors who purport to waive the deductible may either fraudulently report the costs incorrectly to your insurance company and/or cut corners by using lower-quality materials for your hail damage repair that keeps their costs low, provide a low-quality repair, and their pockets full.
At the end of the day – the insurance company will confirm that you paid your deductible before your claim is paid by asking for proof (a canceled check and/or credit card statement with the deductible amount). If the contractor “waived” your deductible – then you may be liable for fraud.
Reporting fraud
You may be tempted to call back a company that leaves a flyer claiming to pay your deductible as a means to save some cash, but for the reasons above, you probably want to steer clear! If you receive an offer from a company and something feels off, you should trust your gut! You can go so far as to report fraud to the National Insurance Crime Bureau to open an investigation. Typically, companies that make this offer are fly-by-night operators that are looking to profit from your distress after severe weather and major roof damage.
We’ve explained why you should never hire a contractor claiming to pay your deductible for roof repairs for a few reasons, including staying within the bounds of the law! Contact Classic for a reliable commercial and residential roofing contractor. Not only are we honest and trustworthy, but we have many years of experience under our belt, especially when it comes to hail damage. If you have further questions about when you as a homeowner are responsible for paying any and all deductibles reach out to us today for more information.
Most homeowners who have recent hail damage on their roofs can file an insurance claim and receive some compensation, yet far too many people fail to do this. Some of them don’t know they even have hail damage on their roofs, while others might not think it’s worth the time and money to have it fixed. However, the most significant reason why so many homeowners don’t file an insurance claim after a storm is that they simply wait too long to act. By the time they realize how severely their roofs have been damaged, it’s too late to receive any compensation from their insurance companies. They must pay for the repairs out of their own pockets, which can get very expensive very quickly.
How Long Can I Wait to File an Insurance Claim for My Damaged Roof After a Hailstorm?
That really depends on your insurance, but most companies allow you up to a year to file a claim. Of course, that doesn’t mean that you should wait for several months before taking action. Your best bet is to file a claim as soon as you think your roof has sustained damage in a storm. The damage is still “fresh” at this time, which means it’s unlikely that anything else has caused any further damage. This will make it easier to prove that it was the hail that damaged your roof, and it will be much easier to repair the damage sooner rather than later.
Hail damage can take years to cause roof leaks and many homeowners put off getting an inspection or fixing damages. This is never a good idea. Here’s why:
When hail hits an asphalt shingle it often knocks off the protective granule coating. Once the granules are gone, the protective layer underneath is exposed to the elements.
The sun’s ultraviolet light will weaken the exposed spots and make them brittle. These exposed areas are very susceptible to leaks.
Once leaks occur, the damage can be extensive due to potential damage from mold, electrical issues, ceiling and wall damage from water, and perhaps even personal property losses. The damage can also come very quickly and often is not initially detected.
Who is Responsible for the Costs of Additional Damage if I Decide to Wait?
While hail damage to your roof is covered by homeowner’s insurance policies, the additional damage caused by waiting to get repairs is not. Most insurance companies believe it is the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain their homes and take action to prevent leaks and subsequent damage. Therefore, if you wait until your roof is leaking to make a claim you could be footing the bill for all the major repairs.
Preventing additional damage to your home is one of the reasons why some (but not all) insurance companies have time limitations to file a claim. In fact, most policies state that claims should be filed “promptly” or “as soon as possible”. We also always recommend having a professional contractor assess the situation to prevent further damage and costs. Don’t forget, that you can always rely on Classic Construction for your roof damage and repair needs. Feel free to reach out to us today for any restorations that need to be done to your damaged roof caused by hail storms.
Severe roof damage, such as shingles getting ripped off your roof or tree branches down may seem obvious to spot. However, minor damage can be difficult to detect through an untrained eye. Get a roof inspection from a trained professional to assess the hail damage on your roof or follow our helpful tips on how to know if your roof or exterior has hail damage.
The first place to look for damage caused by hail is your gutters. High-impact hail that causes roof damage will most likely dent your gutters or downspouts. This is the easiest place to see and evaluate when looking for potential roof damage. If there are dents and dings on your gutters and downspouts, you’re likely to have problems on the roof.
Gutters will also fill up and clog due to granules that shingles can shed when hail hits them. Clogged and overflowing gutters will indicate that hail has damaged your roof.
The second place we suggest looking is your siding, and the third place is your deck. Both of these areas will experience damage from a bad hailstorm and are easy indicators for potential shingle damage. Any hail damage on our siding or deck means you should get a roof inspection.
Can 1-Inch Hail Cause Damage to a Roof? What About Smaller or Larger Hail?
Metal fascia, siding, decks, and gutters are all places that show hail damage easily.
Yes! In fact, even hail smaller than 1 inch can cause damage to a roof or to other areas of your house. After a hailstorm, the size of the hail can be the easiest indicator as to what types of damage you may face. While this is not a foolproof method for predicting storm damage, understanding the various sizes of hail and how they affect your home is a great place to start!
¾” Hail
The smallest hail we measure, ¾” hail can still be damaging depending on accompanying wind speeds. Hail this size typically dings vinyl siding, window screens, metal fascia (the horizontal or angled pieces that hang from the edge of the roof) and paint on decks. We also see it dislodge granules from asphalt shingles and damage gutters and downspouts. Because of its smaller size, property owners often fail to identify the damages associated with hail under one inch.
1” Hail
Once we hit the 1” mark, we start to see bruising to shingle underlayment and significant damage to siding, gutters and fascia. Wind speeds will determine the severity of damage, and you will also see roof damage similar to damage caused by smaller sizes of hail.
1¼” Hail
With only a ¼” increase, the severity of this size of hail is much more significant. Parts of your property exposed to hail have the potential to look like Swiss cheese. Even without wind, we’ll see this hail cause damage by simply falling out of the sky.
1½” Hail
This size of hail causes significant damage to property. Depending on the amount of hail, the length of time it falls and the accompanying wind speeds, damage to your property could be severe.
1¾ – 2” Hail
Now we’re getting to the size where the hail can penetrate softer parts of a roof, such as ridge caps or plastic roof vents. Combined with wind, this size of hail can tear siding completely off a house, crack windows, and damage most types of metal fixtures.
2” Hail
Anything this size or above will cause significant and severe damage to your property. We are no longer asking “if” you have property damage, but “where” you have property damage. It’s suggested that you call a roofing contractor with insurance experience immediately after this type of storm event.
What Does Roof Damage From Hail Look Like?
If a storm brings hail that is over one inch in diameter, the hail damage to your roof will probably be obvious. When hail is combined with high wind speeds, roof damage can be even more severe. It’s likely that you will be able to see signs of damage such as cracked or broken windows, damaged siding or dented gutters. Smaller hail can cause unseen damage to your roof, so make sure you contact a Classic Construction & Restoration, Inc. to inspect your roof, free of charge, after a hailstorm – no matter how small the hail was.
What does hail damage look like on a roof?
While these are the common types of damage we see on asphalt shingles, hail can crack or even shatter harder materials like clay or concrete. This type of damage will be easy to see, but when you consider something like hail impact marks, you really start to see how a roofing expert can help spot small, important details.
Can Hail Damage to a Roof be Repaired?
Yes! Depending on the extent of the damage, repairing a roof damaged by hail can be as simple as fixing a single shingle or as involved as replacing the whole roof. This vast difference in repair options is why we suggest everyone have their roof inspected by a professional after a big hailstorm. An experienced roofer can quickly determine the severity of the damage.
Most roof inspections are also free, giving you a no-cost solution if you think your roof has been damaged during a recent or past storm. If you’re unsure on whether you need a hail damage roof inspection, look for signs of damage like the ones noted above. If you are finding more than one instance of a dented gutter or damage to your siding, you should seriously consider a hail damage roof inspection. As we mentioned before, shingle damage can be severe or relatively mild. While it’s easy to tell when severe damage has occurred, it’s more important to understand the mild damage and decide what kind of hail damage roof repairs may be needed.
What Happens When You Ignore Hail Damage Repairs?
When ignored, shingle and roof damage can quickly turn into leaks or ice dams, which create ice build-up on the eaves of sloped roofs. These eventually turn into mold damage, electrical issues, or rotting wood — all of which are expensive to fix.
Wood rot and mold, for example, can spiral out of control and are hard to detect until it’s almost too late – causing increased costs and a ton of headaches. Being proactive about potential issues like these can save you thousands of dollars and keep your property in great condition.
Handling Hail Damage
Okay, so now that you know how to see if your roof or exterior has hail damage, it’s important to find a roofing contractor that you trust and, preferably, one that has experience working on projects that require extensive and, often complicated, insurance claims.
Is a hail damaged roof covered by insurance?
A typical homeowner’s insurance policy will include coverage for roof damage from hail, but coverage may be applied differently depending on where you live, who your insurer is and the details of your policy. Coverage may not include what you expected.
How long do I have to file an insurance claim for hail damage?
Many insurance companies require you to file a claim within one year after determining that your roof has sustained hail damage. We recommend that you make an appointment to have your roof inspected as soon as possible after you suspect roof damage caused by hail. You want to be sure that you have plenty of time to review damage assessments as well as any quotes for hail damage roof repairs in order to make the hail claim window.
Now that you know how to tell if your roof or exterior has hail damage, and what to do if you find it, keep us in mind when Texas storms hit. Classic Construction & Restoration, Inc. promises to deliver top-quality work on budget and on time. We’re ringing in the new year with our same promise as we do every year – to value our clients as a top priority. From pre-construction, staging and planning, to the deployment of our team to your property, we only bring you the best quality service. Contact us today for an estimate today!
It’s no surprise to anyone who’s lived here from May to August that North Texas summers are hot and humid. What might surprise you is the damage that the summer heat and humidity can cause to your home. That’s why today, we’re going to share with you the top 3 ways that heat and humidity damage your home – and what you can do about it.
Foundation Damage
Perhaps the biggest threat the Texas heat poses to your home is the threat of foundation issues. Your foundation is designed to gather moisture from the soil around it to help it maintain itself. In the heat, the soil around the base of your home dries up and shrinks away from the foundation, causing an imbalance in the delicate foundational support system. Furthermore, having large trees with large root systems near your home can cause further foundation damage as the roots spread out in search of water. A good way to keep your foundation damage-free is to make sure the soil around your home is continuously moistened by a sprinkler system and to remove any large trees from near your home. You might also consider bringing in more soil if you find that the soil or mulch around your home is already receding.
Roof Damage
Here at Classic Construction, we are unusually passionate about regular roof maintenance, and for good reason. Your roof is your first line of defense against the elements, and the heat and humidity in summer can cause damage to your roof that can affect other areas of your home as well. The heat can cause shingles to crack, making them more likely to leak. A good summer shower can come along and then cause unbearable humidity in your attic which, when combined with the heat, can cause the shingles to deteriorate at an even faster rate. The humidity can also cause the insulation in your attic to breakdown. To help prevent damage to your roof, we suggest scheduling regular roof maintenance to keep it properly maintained.
Sealant Damage
Sealant essentially prevents moisture from entering your home or escaping your plumbing. Areas in your home that require sealant include your roof, pipes, windows, doors, tubs, and any openings that lead to the exterior of the home or are near the plumbing. Sealants typically have only a 6-month shelf life before they start peeling or become cracked enough to become ineffective. With the Texas heat and humidity, this shelf life becomes even less. Once moisture enters your home, you can have interior damage from the leaks such as stains on your ceiling or even more serious damage such as rotted wood or buckling hardwood floors. Furthermore, the humidity created by the combination of the leaks and the Texas heat can cause mold and mildew to grow. To prevent any of this from occurring in your home, we (again) suggest regularly scheduled maintenance and a healthy dose of vigilance.
If it’s been a while since you had someone come out and inspect your home for signs of heat damage, reach out to us here at Classic Construction today for a free quote!
Here at Classic Construction & Restoration, Inc. we take pride in being among the top 2% of roofing contractors in North America. How did we achieve this lofty goal?
We went through the process of becoming GAF Master Elite® certified!
GAF is an acronym for General Aniline & Film, which is the leading manufacturer of roofing and waterproofing materials in America. If you have a roof over your head, there’s a 1 in 4 chance that it was built with GAF’s materials.
The Master Elite® Certification is GAF’s factory certification program that provides ongoing training to roofing contractors and assurance to you, the homeowner, that the roof will be completed well and professionally. This is a highly prestigious award because only 2% of all roofing contractors in the country have qualified as Master Elite®.
What does this mean for you as a homeowner?
Choosing a GAF Master Elite® contractor is your assurance that you will be dealing with a quality, dependable and professional contractor. In order for a roofing contractor to qualify for the certification, they must meet the following standards:
A+ BBB rating
possess an established license for the state they work in
be current with distributor partners in receivables
have been in business for at least 3 years
consistently show ethical contracting in their service area
be adequately insured
show a commitment to ongoing professional training
A certified GAF Master Elite® roofer is the only contractor that can offer 2 of the best warranties in the industry, Silver Pledge and Gold Pledge, both backed by GAF. GAF also covers a Master Elite’s workmanship. Approximately 95% of the issues that arise on a roofing project are related to the installation of the product, not the product itself. With a Master Elite® roofer, you can be sure that they have been trained to install the materials correctly and have the ethical wherewithal to make sure that your home is protected.
As a full-service general contractor proudly serving North Texas for over 90 years, and one who qualifies as a top 2% roofing contractor, you can rest assured that your roof is in good hands with Classic Construction & Restoration, Inc.
If you find yourself in need of a new roof, call Classic Construction today for your free quote!
According to the Community Association Institution, “having your roof inspected is the single most important thing you can do to ensure its overall lifespan.” I know the roofs over our heads aren’t top of mind most days, but it’s important that we make sure they can withstand the storms that are potentially headed our way this spring.
The purpose of roof inspections is to find any problems as well as gauge the remaining life of the roof. As a roof can be one of a homeowner’s or HOA’s more costly expenses, it’s well worth the minimal price of an inspection to make sure no major damage has accrued over the years.
While a thorough roof inspection is something that should be left to a professional roofing contractor, you as the homeowner or property manager can perform a basic inspection. This can be done from the ground with binoculars as you circle the property, or from the top of a ladder set against the roof. Slowly circle the property and search for obvious signs of damage: missing shingles, sagging near ridges, or rusty metal where the house meets the roof.
For safety reasons, we do not recommend climbing up on the roof to perform the inspection unless you are a professional. We also don’t recommend this because a professional contractor will be able to notice some of the more subtle damages that can be acquired during the lifetime of the roof.
These subtle damages include:
Loose shingles
Nail pops
Improper air conditioning installation
Loose, missing or corroded flashing
Proper ventilation to allow roof to breath
Depressions near vent pipes, clogged drains or separations in flashing that cause water to pool in ridges
An inspection report from a qualified roofer should let you know how much longer you can keep your current roof or if it needs serious repairs. If you’re on a budget and looking for an inspection and estimate for repairs, call Classic Construction today at 972-437-0909 or contact us through our website. We offer free estimates!