Understanding the Roof Insurance Claim Process: A Homeowner’s Guide
American Roofing Company has been Utah’s go-to local roofing contractor for over 60 years. If your roof has recently suffered damage from severe weather or an accident, we know the costs of repairs could be expensive or beyond your means. Fortunately, your roof insurance policy can help you cover the repair costs or even a total replacement. However, the process is not always straightforward and can present some challenges for homeowners.
This guide outlines the steps in the roof insurance claim process so you can restore your home’s roof quickly and easily.
What Is a Roof Insurance Claim?
Let’s imagine that your once dependable roof gets damaged—you’re missing shingles, your gutters are sagging, or maybe your roof has a leak. In such instances, if you’ve been diligently paying for homeowners’ insurance, you have a potential financial safety net.
To get financial help for roof repairs or replacement, you need to notify your insurance provider of the damages. Your claim must specify the nature and extent of the damage.
The insurance company will then assess the claim and decide how much money your policy will cover for repairs or replacement. The assessment process may also include a roof inspection.
What You Should Know if Your Roof Gets Damaged
Many homeowners may not realize that roof age can affect the coverage amount in their roof insurance claim process. Older roofs might only be insured for their actual cash value, meaning depreciation is considered rather than the total replacement cost.
Some policies also have exclusions, where specific causes of damage, like mold or neglect, aren’t covered. Another essential consideration is the time frame: there’s often a limited window to file a claim after damage occurs. Homeowners might also require preventive maintenance to keep the policy valid.
How Do You Start a Roof Insurance Claim?
Starting the roof insurance claim process can seem daunting, but with the proper steps, it’s entirely manageable.
- Inspect the Damage: If you notice damage to your roof, document it thoroughly with photographs and notes. When presenting your case to the insurance company, these records will serve as evidence.
- Review Your Policy: Take time to read and understand your coverages, limitations, and deductibles.
- Contact Your Insurance: Report the damages to your insurance provider and tell them you plan to file a claim.
- Gather Estimates: Seek independent quotes from roofing professionals to determine repair or replacement costs.
- Meet the Adjuster: The insurance company will send an adjuster to assess the damage firsthand.
- Submit Documentation: Provide all photos, notes, and estimates to support your claim.
- Await Response: The insurer will review the claim and decide on compensation.
- Schedule Repairs: Once approved, coordinate with a roofing contractor to begin repairs or replacement.
How Are Warranties Different from Insurance?
Warranties and insurance, while both offering protection, function differently, especially when considering roof damages.
Warranties
Warranties are guarantees made by manufacturers or installers about the quality and reliability of a product, in this case, a roof. If your roof has damages due to mistakes made during manufacturing or installation, the warranty may cover the repair or replacement costs so long as the claim is filed within the specified time frame. However, warranties have conditions that might not cover all types of damages.
Insurance
An insurance policy protects homeowners from unforeseen damage to their roofs, like damage caused by storms, fires, or other external factors. Instead of focusing on product quality, it’s about mitigating risks from external events. You pay premiums to an insurance company, and in return, they promise to cover certain damages, should they occur, based on the terms of the policy.
In a nutshell, warranties address product defects, while insurance handles unpredictable external damages.
What Our Clients Are Saying
As a REALTOR here in Salt Lake and the Secretary of the HOA for a local condo complex I can give my professional recommendation for American Roofing. I have used them with several of my clients with their single family residences as well as much larger projects with the 50 building complex that I am in charge of maintaining. They have been great to work with! The jobs are always done to satisfaction and if there ever is an issue they are quick to respond. I am careful about the companies I will work with and recommend to my clients because it is also my reputation on the line. I have no fear in giving them the contact info for American Roofing.
Outstanding doesn’t even begin to describe the experience I had with American Roofing. I just recently bought a house and seems like as soon as I signed the papers the flat portion of my roof started to leak….in the middle of winter. I mainly rely on reviews of companies when deciding who to call. I called several companies and three showed up to give me an estimate. Jon Stott was absolutely amazing from the start and he explained the process to me and answered all my questions. Jon was the only one to do this out of the 3 companies that showed up and it’s because of him that I chose American Roofing. When looking at my flat roof for the estimate he informed me that the rest of my roofing shingles showed some wear and to keep an eye on it and probably within the next year or so it would need to be redone. He did not try to sell me on doing my WHOLE roof. The estimate I received was very reasonable and below the other bids I got. Jon was able to get me on the schedule and his guys were extremely fast and efficient. Once the job was completed, Seth (I think he was the project manager) called and made sure I was happy with the work and came and inspected it himself. I am definitely going to have American Roofing do the rest of my roof this year. Nothing beats the peace of mind and relief you feel when your roof no longer leaks. I would recommend them to anyone wanting that same peace of mind. THANK YOU JON!
I have been using American Roofing for several years now. I’ve used them for repairs and now they have replaced two flat roofs in the condo complex that I manage.
Their crew just finished replacing a flat roof in our complex. It’s a big job and we spent a lot of time getting bids and working with contractors to get what we wanted. American worked with us from start to finish of the bidding process and we ultimately selected them. This is now the second of our flat roofs that they have replaced and they have done a great job both times. Couldn’t ask for much more.
Their repair guys are also very knowledgeable and get the job done in pretty much any weather conditions. On one occasion they even had to shovel snow off the roof and use a heat gun to dry things out in order to make the repair.
I would recommend American Roofing for new/replacement roofs, as well as for repairs. Either way you’ll get quality work from knowledgeable crews.
I am on the HOA board for my condo association. Over the last three years I have had American Roofing work personally with me on three different jobs. They have been courteous and prompt on urgent matters. I have appreciated all the associates whether it be estimators, office staff or the ones doing the fix. I would recommend them to prospects looking for a good roofing contractor.
…Your cooperation with our roofing consultant, Mr. Kraig Clawson, was outstanding. You completely read and understood the roofing specifications that were established as part of our project. Not only did you comply “to the letter” with these specifications you also provided us with insight on areas we missed to improve with the quality of our project.
Your staff that did the day-to-day work was also outstanding. We didn’t have one complaint about the way they went about their daily business. Any problems that came up were immediately addressed. I didn’t have any phone calls from any homeowners regarding how the job was being completed. Contrary, I had a lot of compliments on the way your staff was going about the business of putting on the new roofs at Essex Court.
Bottom line: American Roofing had done an excellent job for the Essex Court HOA. I would recommend (and have recommended) your services to anyone making an inquiry. I wish you all the success in the future.
We were very satisfied with our experience. The gentleman, Pedro that did our roof was very polite, very dependable, and a dedicated worker. Our roof looks fantastic. We have received many compliments from our neighbors. American Roofing was very polite and professional, and knowledgeable.
Need to File a Roof Claim? American Roofing Can Assess the Damage!
Don’t risk leaving money on the table when filing a claim for your roof. Trust American Roofing to give you a thorough, unbiased assessment of your roof damage before beginning your roof insurance claim process. Our years of expertise and attention to detail help to maximize your claim’s potential. Partner with American Roofing and get the most out of your insurance benefits.
Contact us today to schedule a roof inspection and request a free repair quote.
