An Guide To Working With Your Insurance
Company For Roof Replacement
Most people, when working with their insurance company to have their roof replaced, get very confused. The confusion arises because most of the time, the insurance company will issue you two separate checks for your roof replacement. Not understanding that they will receive two checks, most homeowners panic when they receive their first check, and think, “This is ALL the insurance company is paying to have the roof redone?”
No need to fear! Here is an explanation, in easy-to-understand terms, of how most roofing claims proceed with the insurance company involved.
TRC will complete a thorough inspection of your property to identify and document claimable damage on your roof and other areas of your property including gutters, windows, siding, fencing, screens, garage doors, paint and stain. All these items are susceptible to hail and wind damage.
The property owner files a claim with their insurance company, after which the company will schedule an insurance adjuster to inspect the damage. In most cases the field adjuster calls the homeowner back with a time and date within 72hrs. TRC will meet with your adjuster onsite.
Things to remember and write down before filing a claim:
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What exact date and time?
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Did the storm affect your home?
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Do you have any interior leaks or damage?
"They will ask". Write down your claim number and adjuster number if possible.
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The day of the adjustment TRC representative will meet the adjuster or 3rd party appraiser onsite. We will physically inspect the roof and exterior of your home with the adjuster. At the end of the assessment we will compare our scope to his scope to assure they align. This will assure your damages our not missed and expedite claims the process.
Things to check before the adjuster leaves:
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Verify he has your correct mortgage company on file *checks sometimes included the mortgage*
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Verify your deductible
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The adjuster writes their estimate *sometimes onsite*, but in most cases the adjuster writes their estimate offsite, and then sends the estimate directly to the homeowner via email or USPS, along with the first check.
Once the estimate and first check is received please contact TRC to schedule a time to review the estimate line-by line. The estimating software used by all insurance carriers is updated on a monthly basis and is an average of what contractors in your zip code should be charging to complete each trade on your scope of work to get you to pre-loss condition. If the insurance check includes the mortgage company as an endorsee, the homeowner must contact their mortgage company directly to see what the endorsement process is, every mortgage company is different.
Agreement is signed by a TRC representative and homeowner. TRC works directly off of the insurance company's scope, estimate and pricing. *There is no need to get 3 estimates* If a homeowner contracts a bid that's lower than your insurance company's estimate and submits that bid after completion the insurance company only owes up to that amount for the remaining balance on that claim, "insurance only owes what you incur to get you back to pre-loss condition". Please remember it is against Texas law for a homeowner to profit off an insurance claim.
Schedule work, materials ordered, work commences and project is completed. Roofs are typically completed first, other trades after. During construction, TRC will document any unforeseen damage or repair requirements (supplements) while finishing the project. We also take before and after photos on every project that are available to you via our customer portal. NO money is ever accepted before the roof has been completed. Once the roof has been completed the first payment the ACV payment is due.
TRC submits a certificate of completion, photos and any applicable supplements to the homeowner insurance company for the release of the final payment "called the depreciation". Final Payment is sent directly to the homeowner. Once received, a TRC representative will stop by and collect the final payment once all trades have been completed. We will not accept the final payment until our customers are 100% satisfied with our work.
ROOF REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT FAQ's
The best way to know if you need a new roof or not is to have a qualified professional come do a comprehensive inspection. During a comprehensive inspection, the professional will assess the overall condition of the roofing system, and the individual components (flashings, boots, sealants, ventilation, etc.) and make a recommendation based upon the findings.
It’s a great idea to call a professional even if you suspect problems as ignoring them can lead to a much more costly repair in the future.
A professional can make a recommendation on this after assessing the overall condition of the system. Oftentimes regular maintenance will extend the life of your roofing system.
The answer here depends on the size of your home and the condition of your roof as well as the grade of materials you select.
That depends on the condition of the gutters and whether roofers can work around them. Usually, if gutters are in good condition we work around them. On steep roof systems it may not be economically feasible to work around them.
Times vary widely, but many roofing jobs typically are completed within a day or two. TRC will always tell you up front about the time estimate for any job we do.
We usually advise clients to clear cars and personal items like inflatable pools away from the area where work will be done. Roof repair can be noisy, so most of our customers try to be away for several hours during the heaviest repair work. Mowing the lawn within a couple of days prior to arrival is also helpful to the cleanup!
Hail and wind are the two biggest enemies of any roof. The other is time (aging). The big problem with hail, wind and other storm damage is that it can be almost invisible. The wear and tear on shingles and other roofing materials might not show up for months. That’s why it’s so important to have a roof inspected after a big storm. Inspections cost nothing and offer peace of mind for homeowners.
Call a professional to conduct an inspection. It is safer than climbing the ladder yourself. Spotting damages can be impossible for a untrained eye as bruising doesn’t always appear on the surface.
If you haven’t already decided to use our services we recommend you do your research! Roofing contractors rank among the highest number of complaints according the Better Business Bureau.
Unfortunately, scammers and unscrupulous contractors take advantage of many people after storms. Be aware that many contractors travel from state to state and leave town with loose ends or no one to warranty the work after the work has been completed. Here are a few tips:
Have you herd of them before? Good sign if you have!
Go to their website and ensure you know where their address is. Many companies try to claim “local” after a storm, but the reality is many of them are not.
Research their reviews.. you will want to ensure that there are a good # of reviews, they have some current ones, and that there are both good and bad reviews (to ensure they are authentic)
Are they dressed professionally? Driving a company lettered truck? (Good signs)
Are they licensed? This can usually be found on your state website.
We say, “Don’t do it.” Unless you are a skilled roofer, it’s best to have a pro handle the job. Getting up on a ladder and checking out a roof is dangerous business. Our teams are insured, experienced, and know exactly what to look for.
Wind, rain, hail, sun, and many other factors cause a roof to deteriorate over time. Some of the aging is obvious, and some is not. The UV rays from the sun cause asphalt roofing to “cook” out the resins and oils that make the asphalt soft, pliable, and flexible. The granules on the shingles purpose aren’t just for appearance, but more importantly to extend the life of the asphalt by protecting it from these UV rays! Seasonal temperature cycles also do their own kind of damage by causing materials to expand and contract year after year. This leads to brittleness and eventual breakage.
That’s something best left to an expert. Leaks come from all sorts of places, not always a roof. An experienced roofer can usually trace it to the source.
A new roof can add to the value of your home, increase its curb appeal (meaning it will sell faster if you put it up for sale), increased property value, and increased energy efficiency.
Discoloration on interior walls and ceilings, dripping water anywhere in the home, missing or damaged shingles, musty/bad odor coming from walls or ceilings, or any event you suspect may have caused damage.
INSURANCE CLAIM FAQ's
Storm damage will vary based on severity of the wind or hailstorm as well as the condition of the property prior to the storm. It can be as obvious as missing shingles or it may be something more subtle such as hail marks that are not visible from the ground.
Evidence of wind damage is the easiest to spot. You may notice that your shingles are “lifting”, or are missing completely. When one of our Roofing Consultants comes to inspect your roof, they will inspect the property for any damages.
Most insurance policies require the homeowner to take action after an event to prevent further damages from being incurred. If you have active water coming into your house through a roof leak, you should call TRC to do an emergency repair to prevent further damage. The costs of emergency repairs done to prevent further damage will be covered under the typical insurance policy.
The homeowner is responsible for calling in the claim, however, we will assist though the entire process. We’ll inspect your roof and provide all the photos and documentation to assist in answering any questions that insurance may ask. If damages are unknown, it is a good idea to call TRC first to ensure the damages exceed the deductible before filing a claim.
Yes! Contact us with the day and time the insurance adjuster is scheduled to be at your home, and we will be there to meet with them. We will walk the roof with the adjuster and show the areas of storm damage and other documented damage.
There are two major types of residential insurance policies: Actual Cash Value (ACV) and Replacement Cost Value (RCV).
Actual Cash Value (ACV): pays you what your property is worth today. Actual cash value is calculated by taking what it would cost to buy your property new today, and subtracting depreciation for factors such as age, & condition.
Replacement Cost Value (RCV): the amount it costs to replace your property with new property, without deducting for depreciation.
TRC consultants can answer all the questions you have about the specific manufacture and installation warranty length. Typical manufacture warranties start around 25 years, but many products are now lifetime (50 year).
No, we will not cover your deductible. Roofing contractors who say they will cover the deductible are committing insurance fraud. We pride ourselves in being honest and fair with all our customers and therefore we do not compromise on our ethics.
No worries!
We’ll work on your behalf with the insurance company to document the additional damage and request approval to repair the damage under the initial claim.
CONTACT US
Our team is dedicated to helping you understand your insurance process.