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Curb appeal is a significant part of finding the place you want to call home. A major component of curb appeal is the condition and age of the roof. From discoloration, missing or broken shingles, to old material, your roof leaves a lasting impression. Beyond that first impression, a faulty roof is a concoction for a slew of other major issues from leaks, mold, or damage to the structural integrity. Roof condition can have a negative impact on your premium or the chance of getting homeowner’s insurance in the first place.

In the eyes of home insurance companies, older roofs are more likely to succumb to damage over a newer roof; therefore, older roof homes may be charged a higher premium. Roofs must hold up to constant beatings from the elements and have a limited lifespan. The best of roofs can last up to 30 years. Generally, if the roof is 15-years old, the homeowner will have higher premiums for insurance.

Every time your homeowner’s insurance has to be renewed, then it’s time to reassess the home, which includes the aging of the home, so as time goes, so too does the possibility for increased premiums for the age of the roof. At 20-years, it is a given that the roof will have sustained some amount of damage. Depending on the extent of damage and insurance company, generally at this stage and age, a roof inspection may be required with a replacement. Generally, home owners can expect to pay what the roof is worth at its current age, rather than the value of a roof replacement.

Age and condition of roof are also taken into consideration when it comes to storm damage and reimbursement from the insurance company. Again, a new and good condition roof will likely get full coverage or reimbursement, whereas an older and in rough shape, may not get reimbursement. Pre-existing conditions affect options, the same is true in homeowners insurance when it comes to your roof. Another common issue is leaky roof. General rule of thumb is that the homeowner is to take preventative care and maintenance efforts to do all that is capable to avoid leaks. If the roof is known to have issues with leaks, the insurance company may not be flexible when said leaks cause damage to the home.

It’s important to feel comfortable and confident that the roof over your head will hold up under the toughest of conditions for the lifespan of the manufacturer. It’s important to take good care of your home, and to not neglect or skimp or preventative maintenance with your roof. Your roof is the secret key to good home owners insurance.

Insurance claims always seem daunting with a tedious amount of information to provide. Don’t let the task overwhelm or intimidate you. The professionals at G&R Roofing are here to assist in the process. If you suspect you may have roof damage from a recent storm, call your insurance claims department, not your insurance agent. Remember your first two calls when suspect roofing damage after a storm, is for a roof inspection (we do this part for you), then to your insurance claims office.

File the Claim

• Only the homeowner can make the claim.
• Notate the assigned claim number provided by insurance claim department
• Notate contact details of assigned adjustor, this can take up to 7 business days to be provided
• Contact G&R Roofing once adjustor details and meeting time are known, we can be there to help in negotiating with the insurance carrier for a fair settlement.

Damage Assessment

• Schedule meeting with assigned insurance adjustor
• Let them know that a G&R Roofing representative will be present at the inspection and serve as your advocate.
• The insurance adjustor will verify the extent of the damage.
• Roof measurements will be taken as well as verifying the layers of existing roofing system.
• We can provide satellite images and any engineering reports they may need.

We go above and beyond and are happy to work with your insurance adjustor to get you the best quality in the most efficient manner possible.

Fair Settlement

Once extent of damages is assessed, the adjustor will provide a detailed summary of the scope of roof repairs or roof replacement.

• Numbers are determined based on the cost analysis performed by the insurance company. Generally, they use an industry standard system called Xactimate that provides the average cost of labor of materials for a specific area at that time. The great news is that G&R Roofing uses the same system to work fluidly with your insurance company.
• You need to know your deductible, usually $500-$1,000 deductible, but again varies by policy, so find your policy paperwork to confirm.

The professional roofers at G&R Roofing use the same procedure of calculations to assist in the insurance claims process, so we usually have very close numbers as what the insurance adjustor will have. This is a standard and effective method of determining the cost of damage repairs to commercial and residential roofing systems.

Funding

• Most insurance companies pay out via two checks. The first is the value of the roof as of today, after the depreciation is taken out. Depreciation is determined by age of roof.
• The second check is only written out once the repairs are completed andan invoice is received from a licensed roofing company. You must get the roof fixed to receive the rest of the settlement.
• Be sure to follow the directions explicitly, as each company varies in preferred process.

New Roof Installation

Once you receive the first check, G&R Roofing can now install your new roof or install the replacement parts

The cost of an ignored leaky roof is more than just financial strain. The financial repair can be expensive, but what’s more costly and impactful, are the hazards an ignored leak can pose for everyone living under the damaged roof.

Hazard to Your Health – MOLD

Mold is a type of fungus, standing water creates the bacteria that creates the mold and the cycle doesn’t stop until the mold is removed, can’t remove mold without removing the standing water created by the leak in the roof

Removing mold is expensive, so now the pocketbook gets hit hard twice – mold removal, roof repair

Mold can be a severe problem to asthma, irritant to eyes, nose, throat, and skin.

One of the most important structural elements to a house is the roof. Certified roofing inspections are often required as part of the process of buying or selling a house due to its structural importance. The primary purpose of a roof is to protect against the elements of Mother Nature and to maintain the preferred internal temperatures. From safety, protection, comfort, energy savings, and money savings, roof inspections really do matter.

How often should the roof be inspected? In the roofing industry, it is strongly advised to get the roof inspected by a professional at least twice a year. The timing of said inspections is in the Spring and Fall seasons, right before the harsher seasons give a beating to the roof. Regularly scheduled roof inspections are a good practice to catch minor problems before they become major issues, or to fix major issues before storm season or intense weather that can make big issues into even larger nightmares for homeowners.

Think you can inspect the roof yourself and save money? With continued technological advancements, roof integrity can be determined by roofing inspectors professional tools and techniques such as infrared equipment and testing methods. Full scale inspections should be performed by an expert in the roofing industry. If you don’t have the knowledge or background, don’t do it yourself. Your family, home, belongings, and valuables rely on a properly effective roof. Is the risk of ruining all of that worth it?

You can trust the roofing inspectors at Woodlands Roofing LLC to provide you with outstanding and reliable roofing services. Contact us today to schedule your roof inspection