Hail Damage and Your Roof
As the weather gets colder and summer gives way to fall, the chance of getting hail instead of just rain during a storm greatly increases. The larger the falling hail chunks, the more damage they’ll do to your car and, more importantly, your roof. After a hailstorm that you think might have damaged your roof, there are several steps you need to take before hiring respectable roofing contractors in Traverse City, MI.
Inspect your home
When the storm is over, take a look around the inside of your house to make sure nothing is leaking. If you have considerable damage that caused leaks, you’ll need to contact a roofing contractor ASAP to get the damages repaired before the leaks get any worse. The last thing you want is a damaged roof AND inside water damage that could eventually lead to mold.
Take pictures!
After the hailstorm stops, it’s a good idea to take plenty of pictures of the hailstones surrounding your property. Take pictures noting the amount of hail on your property, as well as pictures of hailstones next to a tape measure. These images, along with the date and time of the storm, will help your insurance agent in determining how much money you will receive for damages. If there are any noticeable signs of damage to your roof (fallen shingles, etc.), be sure to take pictures of those, too. If there is any damage to the inside of your home, quickly take pictures before you start cleaning up.
Get an inspection
Once you’ve assessed and taken pictures of the damage, it’s time to call a roofing contractor for an inspection. This is where you need to be extremely careful. There are plenty of con artists out there who pretend to be qualified roofing contractors, but only take your money and run. Look up roofing contractors in Traverse City, MI online and make sure they have a good rating from the Better Business Bureau. A roof inspection should be free—don’t trust any company that tries to charge you at this point in time.
During the inspection, make sure no fishy business is going on. Con artists have been known to get on your roof and use hammers to create “hail damage” that they’ll then recommend you have them repair. It’s a good idea to stand outside and watch them do the inspection. Make sure no repairs are going on, either, as this is only supposed to be an inspection.
After the inspection, the contractor will give you an opinion regarding the damage and the likelihood of an insurance claim being approved.
File a claim
If the contractor believes you have significant damage that could be covered by your insurance policy, it’s obviously necessary to file a claim and have your roof repaired before more damage (like leakage) occurs. Before filing a claim with your insurance agent, be sure to have all relevant documents handy. You’ll need to know your policy number and deductible (found on your homeowner’s insurance policy), and also the date of the hailstorm, along with the pictures you took of the hail and damage to your home (if applicable). You’ll be given a claim number and be contacted by a claims adjuster for further roof inspection.
When the adjuster inspects your roof and determines that there is significant damage that warrants repair, it’s time to hire a contractor.
Hire a contractor
Look no further than Qualified Roofing to repair your roof. We’re fully licensed and insured roofing contractors in Traverse City, MI, and will give you a fair quote to repair your roof after a hailstorm.
Categorised in: Roofing Contractors