When your home gets damaged by hail or wind, it’s important to understand the insurance roof replacement process.
Depending on your policy and the adjuster assigned to your claim, your carrier may offer an estimate that does not cover the full cost needed to replace the roof.
Or, you might be offered an adequate amount that guarantees that your full roof gets replaced.
In this article, you will be armed with knowledge and resources to help you understand the roof replacement process.
From first signs of damage to payment and replacement.
Let’s dive right in.
What to Do Right After the Storm
Documentation starts right after the storm.
If your home was in the path of large hail (3/4-inch or bigger), you may have sustained roof damage.
The potential for damage depends on the age of your roof, shingle quality, method of installation, and other factors.
Roof Hail Damage Documentation
After the storm.
If at all possible, take a photo of some of hailstones from your yard.
Lay a tape measure next to the hailstone to indicate its size.
This documentation can be very helpful if there is a dispute about the size of hail that hit your property.
If the hail passed and has melted, that’s ok too.
Your contractor can pull up a hail map to show where big hail dropped to see if your home was in the path.
This will help determine if you need hail damage roofing services.
Roof Wind Damage Documentation
Likewise.
If your house was in the path of a significant wind storm, you may have missing shingles.
Or.
You could have shingle damage from the wind uplift near peaks, eaves, or rakes.
Accordingly, snap a few photos of shingle damage or shingles laying in your yard.
This contemporaneous documentation can be very helpful as you make the case for insurance roofing replacement.
Before Filing an Insurance Claim for Roof Replacement
It’s important to understand.
If you file a claim hoping for your insurance company to pay for roof replacement, you could get denied.
That’s why.
You need professional consultation before taking that step.
If you’re wondering how to get insurance to pay for your damaged roof replacement, you need a contractor with experience.
An expert in both roofing and the insurance claim process can help you confidently navigate the process.
Contact a Trusted Local Roofing Company
Before making the decision to file an insurance claim.
It is ALWAYS best to contact a local roofing company very familiar with roof insurance claims.
An experienced local roofing company will be able to fully document damage and use their expertise to advise you about whether or not the damage is cause by age or by a recent storm.
Millard Roofing serves homeowners all over eastern Nebraska and western Iowa from its offices in Omaha.
With the complexities involved in insurance claims, you need a professional that understands the entire process.
Millard Roofing has fought and won all the way up to the Nebraska Supreme Court level to ensure homeowners get treated fairly.
Steps in the Insurance Process for Roof Replacement
The following steps provide a general outline, but may vary based on your insurance provider and the needs of your project.
ONE – Roof Inspection & Damage Documentation
A professional roof inspection is the foundation upon which your claim is built.
An experienced roofer will thoroughly evaluate your roof, identify all points of damage, and provide a comprehensive report detailing recommendations for repair or roof replacement.
As a Haag Certified Roof Inspector, Millard Roofing evaluations carry more weight with insurance companies, as our team members have completed rigorous training to earn that distinction.
You may have damage to other areas of your property.
As a full-service contractor.
Millard Roofing provides Omaha gutters, windows & door replacement in Omaha, overhead doors, deck replacement and other services that may be required to bring your property back to pre-damage condition.
TWO – Check Your Insurance Policy
You will also want to check your insurance policy to confirm coverage.
Most homeowner policies cover verified damage related to hail and wind.
As well as things like damage caused by fallen trees, etc.
Your policy may stipulate a time deadline as well.
This would outline the time after the damage event within which you need to file a claim.
That’s why.
If you have legitimate damage, you should not delay walking through the insurance roof replacement process.
THREE – File a Roof Insurance Claim
Navigating your insurance claim can feel daunting
But you have an ally in this journey.
A trustworthy roofing company will assist you.
Ensuring that all documentation is in place.
And can help communicate the damage and the estimated cost of replacement to your insurance company.
Millard Roofing walks you through the entire process.
It’s important during this stage (and all stages) to take great notes.
FOUR – Meet With the Insurance Adjuster
Your insurance company will schedule a visit for their insurance adjuster to visit your home.
The adjuster is sent by the insurance carrier is sent to make their own evaluation to determine the extent of damages and to make decisions about what is covered and what is not.
You can choose to have your roofing contractor present (highly recommended) during this assessment.
An experienced contractor will have walked through this process hundreds of times before.
And will be very helpful in communicating with the adjuster and also helping you navigate the requirements of your insurance provider.
FIVE – Scope of Work Insurance Approval
Once the claim is filed, and the insurance adjuster has visited your property, your insurance company will provide an estimate.
This is where your contractor plays a vital role.
Your contractor will review the insurance provider estimate and will provide their own estimate as well.
During this stage, you want to make sure you get all of the requirements of your roof replacement project covered.
There are many things that inexperienced adjusters can overlook.
And it’s important to make sure you have all line items needed to bring you back to whole.
SIX – Roof Replacement Material & Color Selection
After claim approval, you’ll be in a position to select materials for your new roof.
Whether it’s asphalt shingles, metal roofing, a tile roof, or other premium roofing material, the selection should mirror both your aesthetic preferences and functionality needs.
Your contractor will present options to choose from.
SUPPLEMENTS – Sometimes, the initial insurance estimate might not cover all necessary repairs. This is where claim supplements come in. Roofing professionals can identify additional damages or pricing discrepancies and request supplementary claims to cover these costs. This ensures that no corners are cut during your roof repair or replacement.
SEVEN – Installation of Your New Roof
Replacement isn’t just about nailing down new shingles.
A meticulous process ensures that every layer, from the underlayment to the final shingle, is placed with precision.
Millard Roofing ensures that your entire roofing systems is installed per code and in accordance with manufacturer warranty requirements.
You might be surprised to know that many roofing systems can be installed in one day.
Depending on the scope of work, it might take a few days, but Millard Roofing will ensure minimal disruption to your daily activities.
Other Things to Know About Insurance Roof Replacement Projects
If you have not dealt with a property damage insurance claim before.
You will definitely get an education during the process.
Here are a few other parts of the process to be aware of.
Insurance Payment Process
The insurance company typically disburses payment in at least two checks (or direct deposit).
The first check (ACV check) is disbursed soon after approval by the insurance adjuster. This covers a portion of the roof replacement project.
The second check (recoverable depreciation check) is disbursed after your contractor has finished the roof installation.
The deductible is a payment that comes out of your pocket in accordance with the terms of your policy and is typically collected up front.
You may receive payments by check or by direct deposit, which you will forward to your contractor.
Alternatively, the insurance carrier may send payments directly to your contractor if you have a “direction to pay” agreement in place. This is a common practice in insurance roofing and restoration projects.
Insurance Supplements
Occasionally, your roofer will need additional labor, materials, or trades beyond those approved on the adjuster’s scope of loss to get the job done right and in compliance with building codes.
If the insurance adjuster did not include the correct amount of materials, or if unforeseen requirements like rotted decking show up during installation, your roofer will request additional funds from the carrier.
Your contractor will submit the supplemental items directly to the insurance company along with photo documentation, measurements, etc. to explain why these funds are needed.
Roof Warranties
Your roofer will offer roof warranty options that may include one warranty covering materials backed by the manufacturer and a separate warranty for workmanship backed by the contractor.
These would be considered basic warranty options.
A manufacturer-certified roofer, like Millard Roofing will offer better warranties that cover materials and labor backed by the manufacturer.
These warranties may cover materials up to 50 years or longer.
Replacement Cost Value (RCV) vs. Actual Cash Value (ACV)
Replacement Cost Value (RCV) and Actual Cash Value (ACV) are two valuation methods commonly used in homeowners insurance, especially concerning roof replacement.
RCV compensates the homeowner for the cost of replacing the damaged roof with a brand-new one, without accounting for depreciation. This means that if your roof was damaged beyond repair, the insurance would cover the costs to replace it with a new roof of similar quality and type.
On the other hand, ACV takes into account the depreciation of the roof over time. If you have a 10-year-old roof that gets damaged, the insurance payout would be based on the roof’s original cost minus the amount it has depreciated over those 10 years.
Consequently, ACV generally results in a lower payout compared to RCV, as it reflects the roof’s value at the time of loss, rather than its replacement cost.
Preparing for Your Roof Replacement Project
To prepare for your insurance roof replacement project, we recommend the following:
- Move your cars out of the driveway and garage, as the dumpster and materials are often placed in the driveway
- Remove any fragile yard decor within 15 feet of the house perimeter
- Ask any remaining questions you may have for your contractor
Steps Involved in the Roof Installation
- Tarps and protective materials added around your house perimeter to protect from falling debris
- Old roofing materials are torn off down to the roof deck and placed in dumpster
- Gutters will be cleaned to prevent roofing debris from clogging
- New roof materials along with ventilation and flashing are installed
- Yard is cleaned of debris and roofing nails
- Installation crew completes quality check of workmanship
- Final quality control checklist & photos completed by project manager
- You will be issued a Certificate of Completion verifying the completion of scope
In Conclusion
Understanding the insurance roof replacement process following storm damage will help you get the best outcome for your roof.
If you have roof storm damage, you do not want to come out of pocket if you don’t have to, as the roof replacement cost can be quite expensive.
If you are looking for roof replacement near me, an Omaha roofer or for a local roofer that serves your Nebraska or Iowa community, get in touch with Millard Roofing.
As one of Omaha’s best roofing contractors, we would love the opportunity to serve you with roof leak repair or full roof replacement.
Millard Roofing provides roofing services in Omaha and eastern Nebraska, including the communities of: Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue, Bennington, Blair, Elkhorn, Fremont, Gretna, La Vista, Papillion, Springfield, and all cities in between.
Request a complimentary roof inspection today!
