The insurance claims process can be difficult to navigate, especially when compounded by the stress of having a storm-damaged roof. This situation can leave homeowners with a lot of insurance questions, and wondering where to start. With that being said, the crew at Elite Exteriors are insurance claims specialists, are here to help you with your roofing needs, and to answer any insurance questions you may have.
If you’ve recently experienced a severe weather event, and are in the market for a roof replacement, you will want to go through your insurance company to pay for your new roof. And while every homeowner may have unique insurance questions based on their particular situation, we’re here to help you with the process. Keep reading for the Top 7 Insurance Questions: ANSWERED, to become an informed consumer and make your insurance claims process a breeze.
Table of Contents
– What Kind of Roof Damage is Covered by Insurance?
– What are the Different Types of Insurance Policies?
– Who Should I Call, and Can My Roofing Contractor Approve My Claim?
– What Does it Mean if I Need to Get my Claim Supplemented?
– What if My Insurance Claim is Denied?
– What Should I Expect From the Insurance Claims Process?
– How Much Will this Cost?
What Kind of Roof Damage is Covered by Insurance?
To answer your first insurance question, in order to have roof damage covered by your insurance company, the damage must have been caused by a severe weather event. This means that the damage occurred during strong winds or thunderstorms, hail storms, snowstorms, and/or tornadoes. Most insurance companies will also cover any damage from fallen tree limbs caused by strong storms.
If your roof damage occurred due to any of the aforementioned reasons, then your insurance company should cover the cost of a roof replacement. It all boils down to whether or not the insurance adjuster found enough roof damage to warrant a full replacement during the inspection. But with that being said, your homeowner’s insurance should pay for a roof replacement if extreme weather was the cause of the damage.
What are the Different Types of Insurance Policies?
As far as insurance questions go, this is a common one we get asked. Homeowners will have one of two types of policies, an Actual Cash Value policy, known as an ACV policy, or a Replacement Cost Value policy, also known as an RCV policy. No matter which policy you have, you can expect to receive financial help from your insurance company, but it’s important to note that the value between the two policies is very different.
With an ACV policy, the insurance company will pay the depreciated value of your roof, which means they will pay you only what your roof is valued at today. RCV policies will pay out what it will cost to actually replace your entire roof. With that being said, they won’t give you the full amount for the roof replacement upfront.
In this situation, you’ll get a check for the actual cost value of your roof, and the insurance company will hold on to the rest of the money in order to calculate the recoverable depreciation. Once the insurance roof replacement process is complete, you will have to provide proof that the job was done in accordance with the claim. Once they receive said proof, they will send another check that covers the rest of the cost.
If you don’t get the work done, however, they are not obligated to send you the second check for the depreciated part of the claim. When it comes to insurance questions, knowing which type of insurance policy you have goes a long way. Both policies will protect your roof if it sustains storm damage, but having an RCV policy will ensure that your full roof replacement is paid for by the insurance company.
Who Should I Call, and Can My Roofing Contractor Approve my Claim?
Calling your insurance company is the first thing you should do after a severe storm damages your roof
One of the top insurance questions we get asked is in reference to who to call first, the insurance company or a roofing contractor. After sustaining storm damage to your roof, the first thing you need to do is call your insurance company. After they receive all of the information they need, they will either send out an adjuster, or advise you to contact a roofing company.
If your insurance company sends out an adjuster, the adjuster will come out to inspect your roof, and decide if there was enough damage sustained to continue with the claims process. If they approve your claim, then it’s time to hire a vetted and experienced roofing contractor you can trust. They’ll document any storm damage they find and send it to your insurance company for approval.
Following this question, the next insurance question we often get asked is if the roofing contractor has the authority to get an insurance claim approved. The short answer is, no. While your contractor is always in your corner, and will document and submit evidence of storm damage to support your claim, it is ultimately up to the adjuster and your insurance company as to whether your claim is approved or denied.
Getting multiple quotes is not only stressful, but also unnecessary, when it comes to insurance claims for storm-damaged roofs
So, even if your contractor is certain that you need a roof replacement due to storm damage, the insurance adjuster is the only one who can move you forward in the approval process. Once your claim is approved, the next insurance question most homeowners ask is, “do I need to get multiple quotes for my insurance roof replacement?” After your claim is approved, there is no need for multiple quotes from different roofers.
This is simply because your insurance company determines the cost of your insurance roof replacement. They use software to come up with the prices based on the average pricing of materials in your area. It’s because of this that there is no need to go around looking for the roofing company with the lowest estimate. Even if the roofing company’s estimate is more than the estimate provided by your insurance company, your roofing contractor will supplement your claim.
What Does it Mean if I Need to Get my Claim Supplemented?
Contractor inspects roof to see if existing insurance claim needs to be supplemented
Another common insurance question we get asked is, “what does it mean if I need to get my claim supplemented?” Supplementing your insurance claim means that your contractor does their due diligence to make sure that everything your roof needs is covered by your insurance company and included in your payout. This happens when the insurance adjuster leaves line items off of their original estimate.
This can be an issue because sometimes an insurance company will leave off important items that are required to make sure your roof complies with state building codes. When this happens, your claim will need to be supplemented. This is why it is so important to hire a roofing contractor with insurance claims experience. They will ensure your roof has everything it needs, and that you get the amount of money you need to get the job done right.
We think it’s worth mentioning that sometimes the insurance company will fight back when it comes to supplementing. This can be stressful, but as long as you’re working with a roofing company with insurance claims experience, like Elite Exteriors, then they will know how to deal with the adjusters, and make sure your roof gets everything that it needs. For more information about getting your roof claim supplemented, check out our recent blog, “What is a Supplement on a Roof Claim? [And Why it’s Important].”
What if My Insurance Claim is Denied?
When it comes to insurance questions, this is an extremely common one, “what if my insurance claim is denied?” Many homeowners may be unaware of this, but just because you file a claim for storm damage through your insurance company, it doesn’t mean that your claim will be automatically approved. Common reasons your claim may be denied include the following:
- You waited too long to filed your claim
- Policy exclusions
- Your attic isn’t properly ventilated
- Your roof wasn’t installed properly
Unfortunately, these are all valid reasons for an insurance claim to be denied, and if it’s denied for any of the above reasons, there’s not much you can do about it. However, if your claim is denied because the insurance adjuster didn’t find enough damage to warrant a claim, there are still things that you can do.
Adjuster inspecting a roof to give a second opinion on an insurance claim that was denied
If you’re insistent that your roof sustained damage during a storm, we highly recommend asking your insurance company to send out a different adjuster for a second opinion. If your second adjuster agrees with the first and denies your claim, then you can contact a structural engineer for a third opinion.
Structural engineers will conduct an inspection and show evidence to your insurance company that the roof structure needs to be replaced. If this last step fails, the only option to consider from here is to hire legal aid. For more information on what to do if your insurance claim is denied, check out our recent blog, “What Happens If My Roof Claim is Denied.”
What Should I Expect From the Insurance Claims Process?
Contractor reviewing paperwork during the insurance claims process
Anyone with insurance questions is probably wondering what to expect from the insurance claims process. Unfortunately, the insurance process can be a long one, and many homeowners will have to wait some time between when the insurance claim is filed and for the roof replacement to be complete. The insurance claims process has many moving parts and quite a few people involved. Below are some of the steps and what to expect when filing an insurance claim for a storm damaged roof:
- The homeowner calls the insurance company and initiates the claims process
- An insurance adjuster comes out to inspect your roof and report their findings
- The adjuster writes up a detailed claim if it’s approved
- The search for a reputable roofing contractor to hire for the job commences
- Your contractor will review the claim paperwork, inspect your roof, and supplement the claim if anything was missed
- The supplemented claim will be sent off for approval and reviewed by the insurance company
- If the supplementation is approved, then you will schedule your roof replacement
This is a general overview as to what you can expect when it comes to the insurance claims process, but each step will vary depending on the insurance company, the policy you have, and the contractor. Even though these steps won’t be identical and will vary pending each individual situation, it shows how and why the process takes time, and what’s going on behind the scenes when you make an insurance claim for your storm damaged roof.
How Much Will this Cost?
Roof replacement in progress after insurance claim was approved
As far as insurance questions go, this one probably tops the list, “how much will this cost?” Unfortunately, we can’t give you an exact price, as this will vary depending on your insurance policy, but if your claim is approved, you should only have to pay your deductible. So, the deductible amount agreed upon in your insurance claims policy is what you will pay, and the insurance company will pay for the rest.
Sometimes your insurance policy will have a code upgrade provision, which means they will also pay for whatever your roof needs to ensure that it’s up to code. With that being said, any aesthetic upgrades, like going from asphalt shingles to composite shingles, for example, will have to be paid for out of pocket. Many homeowners do take advantage of upgrades during this time, however, because the majority of the roof is paid for through insurance.
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The crew at Elite Exteriors are insurance claims specialists, and ready to help when it comes to your roofing needs
Elite Exteriors is proud to be insurance claims specialists, and works hard on the homeowners behalf, guiding them through the insurance claims process, and taking the stress out of making a claim. We are happy to answer any insurance questions you may have, and to bring your roof back to its pre-storm condition.
Elite Exteriors is the Southeast’s premier residential and commercial resource for unparalleled service, superior craftsmanship, and incomparable quality. And it’s all backed by an unprecedented lifetime labor and materials warranty! Give us a call today at 470-350-3024 for a NO-COST initial consultation and inspection, or fill out our online form for more information!