Insurance claims can be complicated. It’s important to work with a contractor that has experience in dealing with these claims. We are able to give you a free, no obligation estimate on the damage and then work with your insurance company to ensure that all you will have to pay is your deductible. We work with all insurance companies so no matter who your policy is with you can be sure we’ll be able to help.
Common Questions
- Should I file a claim?
- Do I need to be in a hurry?
- What’s the deductible?
- What does my insurance company pay for?
- Who’s the best local roofing contractor?
Should I file a claim?
Most insurance companies want you to get an opinion from a roofer on the amount of damage before you file a claim. They do this to help prevent you from filing a claim if there isn’t any damage. You don’t want to file a claim if you don’t need to because most insurance companies will count the claim against you and may raise your premium. At White Castle we know what hail and wind damage look like, and we’ll give you our experienced opinion of the damage. Our goal is to help you make a smart and educated decision.
Do I need to be in a hurry?
No, unless your roof is leaking. Most of the time hail damage doesn’t cause the roof to leak. Fly by night roofing companies are going to be the people trying to get you to hurry into a contract. They won’t be around for long, so they need to get their work done right away – and then skip town.
Most insurance companies allow you file a claim within a year of the date the damage occurred. After they approve the claim they generally give you about a year to get the work completed. Make sure to check with your insurance agent so that you know your company’s exact policy.
What’s the deductible?
The deductible is a set amount of money you are required to pay in order complete your insurance claim. Deductibles generally are $500, $1,000, or 1% of the value of your home. In the state of Nebraska it is the law that the deductible be the first moneys paid on any insurance claim. Be very weary of companies that offer to “give back your deductible”, as this is insurance fraud and can get you and them in serious trouble.
For example: If your deductible is $500 and your roof claim is for $6,000 your insurance company will pay a maximum of $5,500. If you have a bid for $5,500 from a roofing company and you choose to get the work done at that price, your insurance company will write you a check for $5,000 upon completion. If the roof cost is $6,000 you will receive $5,500 from your insurance Company. In both of these cases you would be required to pay the $500 deductible out of pocket.
What does my insurance company pay for?
Your insurance company will pay for everything that they deem damaged and “totaled out”. If any part of your roof is deemed damaged, your insurance company will pay to fix it. However the amount that it costs to fix the damaged area has to be higher than your deductible. Often times a roofer will be able to quote you a price on the damage before you file a claim so you’ll know if it’s necessary to file the claim.
If your insurance company says your roof is totaled they will pay to have it replaced with a comparable shingle. Typically for a roof to be considered “totaled” there needs to be about 8-10 hits in a 10×10′ test square on each directional slope of the roof. This means the North, South, East, and West slopes all have incurred damage. A hit is what insurance companies call the spot where a piece of hail hits and damages the roof.
If the insurance company totals out your roof they will only pay for the same quality of materials that you currently have. If you want to upgrade any part of your roof system you will be responsible for the increased costs. The most common upgrade is to go back with an architectural shingle over the current 3-tab shingle most homes have. On average it can cost anywhere from $10-$20 per square to upgrade your roof from a 3-tab shingle to an architectural shingle. Other upgrades would be to install Ice & Weather shield and ridge vent.
Ice & Weather shield is a rubber-like compound that goes on the bottom edge of your roof and up the valleys. Its purpose is to give you a 3′ high water tight seal all the way around your roof. This is useful when you get ice dams in your gutters because it won’t allow the water/ice to penetrate the roof deck and cause an interior leak. The other common upgrade is ridge vent.
Ridge vent is a ventilation system that takes the place of the current vents you already have. It goes on the ridge of the roof and ventilates the length of the ridge instead of just a few areas here and there like box vents and wind turbines. Because of this it will on average move the most air through your attic and it will always be better at keeping rain and snow out.
Who’s the best local roofing contractor?
White Castle Roofing, of course! You can trust us to help you through the claims process and get the work done right. Click here to get a free estimate, or give us a call at 423-1796!
