Roof Damaged in a Storm? How to Handle the Claim for Repairs
If your roof has sustained damage, and you think that the repairs might be covered under your homeowners insurance policy, you'll need to act fast. Most insurance companies have strict guidelines that need to be followed. Not only that, but failure to act quickly could result in additional damages to your roof, and to your home. If you've had to deal with home damages before, especially those related to the roof, you'll need to read the information provided below. These tips will help you to avoid mistakes.
Understand Your Policy
If your roof has been damaged, the first thing you need to do is read your policy. Your homeowners policy will provide you with vital information about the type of coverage you have. In most cases, your homeowners insurance policy will cover damages to your roof that were caused by perils such as hail storms, high winds, and fires. This includes damages that occur as a result of those perils, such as a power pole falling onto your roof during a windstorm.
File an Insurance Claim
If your roof damage was caused by a covered peril, you'll need to file an insurance claim right away. Your insurance policy will provide information on how long you have to file a claim. If you miss that deadline, the insurance company may deny your claim altogether. Not only that, but if you wait too long, and additional damage occurs, that damage might not be covered. That's why it's important that you file a claim shortly after discovering the damage.
Hire a Roofing Contractor
If the damage to your roof is covered under your homeowners' policy, you'll need to contact a roofing contractor as soon as possible. You might think that you can hire anyone to handle the repairs for your roof, but that's not necessarily the case. To avoid problems with your claim, you should hire a professional roofing contractor for the repairs to your roof such as Bounds Brothers Roofing and Construction, LLC. This is especially true when the repairs are being covered by your insurance company. Hiring a roofing contractor will ensure that the repairs are handled properly. Not only that, but a roofing contractor will have experience working with insurance companies, which means they'll know how to handle the details.
Maintain Accurate Records
Finally, if you need to have your roof repaired, and you've filed an insurance claim, be sure to maintain accurate repair records. Your insurance company may want you to provide documentation that the work has been completed. Not only that, but if your roof sustains damage in the future, you'll have documentation that the original work was taken care of through the initial claim.