Chances are that you hate to file insurance claims. But when a storm hits, and your roof is involved, you have no choice but to submit a homeowner’s insurance claim. Doing so reduces your out-of-pocket costs. All that said, our customers here at MY Pittsburgh Roofing are always asking how to calculate the cost of roof repair or replacement to get insurance. We strive to make it as easy as possible to understand the complexities of filing a claim.
IS MY ROOF COVERED BY INSURANCE?
There are frequently asked questions we often hear when it comes to storm damage claims and those needing insurance claim assistance:
- How do I get my insurance company to replace my roof?
- Is it possible to get my roof damage covered by insurance?
- Who can calculate such costs?
- Will that calculation be an issue for the insurance company, or can they make such an inspection by themselves?
- Can you dispute the calculation if you do not agree with it?
- What is the deadline to calculate the cost of roof repair after it was damaged?
As you can see, after roof damage, homeowners commonly find themselves involved in confusion trying to figure out how the insurance claim will be calculated. When you have an insurance policy for your home or business, the insurance company will need to understand why do you need them to calculate the cost of the repair. This means that your insurance policy will not pay for roof repair just because it’s time to be replaced because of age. And unfortunately, they will not approve of the claim just because you have a roof leak.
Standard Weather-Related Insurance Claims
- Hail Damage Insurance Claim
- Wind Damage Insurance Claim
- Tree Damage Insurance Claim
How to Get a Roof Covered by Insurance
Make sure you have insurance coverage. To find out how to calculate the cost of a roof repair due to storm damage, you should contact your roofing company for the free inspection/consultation. They will inform you about any deadlines involved and the entire process, but most importantly, to estimate if the weather related image is intense enough to file an insurance claim or not.
Take pictures of after-storm damage or anything related to it. You must prove to the insurance company that there is damage. It is also wise to document the date and time of the damage.
Extreme weather conditions: Typically, storm damage or extreme weather conditions causing a roof to repair must be the part of the picture for storm damage claims to be paid in full or partially covered by a homeowner’s policy. For example, roof insurance claims for damages due to wind or hail or by falling trees or branches are typically covered.
Don’t miss the deadline! It’s important to file your insurance claim before the deadline. If you miss it, you may not be able to get help from the insurance company. Even if you can’t get the claim filed in time, you can still try to take care of things on your own. But it’s best to consult with a specialist.
Who can calculate such costs?
Like we mentioned before, you need to get in touch with a reputed roofing contractor who is experienced with insurance claims. Be aware of poor-quality contractors who charge too much. And, be aware of roofing companies who do not have any background dealing with insurance claims. Insurance companies expect to see estimates from reputable roofing contractors like us here at MY Pittsburgh roofing. Otherwise, your claim could be denied.
There is a set of actions that has to be taken in certain order with the claim to be in compliance with the insurance policy requirements. Most of the time, if homeowners try to file a claim and get it done on their own, they fail. That’s why it’s crucial to partner up with a local roofing company who understands the insurance claim process and can get you the most coverage for the damages.
Dispute it if you do not agree with it: If you have recently experienced a roof damage and submitted a claim to your insurance company, you may come across a shock if they deny it. This can be frustrating, especially if you think the damage is covered by your policy. There are many reasons why a claim can be denied, but there are options that you can choose in order to receive your claim.
To appeal, you should begin with the customer service department of the insurance company. They may tell you the reasons for denial but most likely you will be referred to the paperwork, that was sent to you. It’s very complicated and not easy to understand. It’s easy to deny a homeowners request when you file on your own, but it’s much harder to do so when the homeowners partner up with the industry professional and all necessary steps are taken.
Types of Insurance policies
Insurance coverage will vary and may not always be available for every homeowner or business owner. However, the following coverage options are worth looking into:
#1 Recoverable Cash Value (RCV)
The insurance company will pay for replacement cost coverage so that the repair work will fix your home back the way it was before the damage occurred and with similar or better materials. This is the most common policy in Pennsylvania, but sometimes we do see other terms and conditions applied to it.
#2 Actual Cash Value (ACV)
The actual cash value is a little more tricky. It pertains to the value of the property when it was damaged or destroyed. In such cases, the insurance company calculates the ACV via the age of the property and any depreciation involved.
As you can imagine, ACV claim payments are a bit more confusing when trying to figure out the fair market value, especially when damage is deemed a total loss. However, in most circumstances, the way insurance companies calculate the actual cash value is by subtracting the depreciation from the replacement cost.
An Easy 4-Step Process to Claim Insurance
#1. At the event of the damages occurring, prepare as many relevant documents including photos, videos and notes.
#2. Contact your local roofing company which specializes in dealing with insurance claims. Never file a claim before you contact your local roofing contractor for a free inspection/consultation. If your house or business has been affected by storm damage, it is important to get in touch with your insurance provider as soon as possible. Your roofing contractor should be able to assess the damages, document it properly and guide you on how to properly open the claim for the losses due to damage.
#3. Schedule a time for the insurance adjuster to come see the damage. Your insurance company will send an adjuster to assess the damage as soon as possible. The adjuster will gather information about the accident, then work with the roofing contractor to agree on the scope of work that needs to be completed based on the policy details and the amount of damages.
#4. Get the job done. Your roofing company will cooperate with your insurance adjusters and get the scope of work approved. After all the paperwork is completed and approved, the repair work will commence.
Although we know filing insurance claims due to roof damage sounds complicated, we hope we have shown you how easy it is to map it all out. Hopefully by doing so will clear any confusion that you had until now.
Do you need help with your roof insurance claim? We’ve been helping people like you since 2011. Our team of roofers have deep experience helping customers to receive the cash needed to take care of a wide variety of roofing damages. Give us a call at 412-218-7082.
