Since your roofing system is your home’s first line of defense against the elements, you can expect it to sustain damage every now and then whenever a strong storm passes by your area. When your roof sustains damage, it’s understandable if you want to restore the damage immediately and by yourself if needed. However, when your roof suffers from storm damage, storm damage roof restoration experts say that it’s important that you aren’t hasty. In fact, there are a few steps that you should follow, such as:
Step #1: Check for Signs of Storm Damage
Once the storm has passed, one of the first things you can do is assess the extent of the damage that your roof has sustained. Luckily, you don’t have to go up your roof as you can easily spot most of the damage from the ground level. When you’re checking for signs of storm damage on your roof, look for any dented or missing shingles, damaged flashing and water and granule buildup on your home’s gutter system.
Step #2: Document the Damage
After checking for signs of storm damage, experts strongly recommend that you document the damage that your roof sustained. You can do this by taking photos or videos of your roof from the ground level while taking detailed notes at the same time. By doing so, you can submit these documents to your insurance adjuster and justify any claims that you intend to make.
Step #3: Submit Your Claim and Meet With Your Adjuster
According to hail damage roof restoration experts, replacing a roof after a storm can cost a significant amount and unfortunately, not everyone has the funds to get this done immediately. Luckily, this is where insurance claims come in. After you’ve documented the damage that your roof sustained, it’s best that you submit your claim to your insurance provider immediately. This is because submitting an insurance claim is a time-sensitive issue as most insurance companies have a limit when it comes to filing claims. As such, if you want to get as much as you can from your insurance claim, it’s best that you do this step as soon as you can. After a few days or weeks, your insurance company will send an adjuster to your home to negotiate the settlement with you.
Step #4: Mitigate the Damages
Sometimes, if you don’t mitigate the damage that your roof sustained, your insurance provider can use that to reduce the settlement that you’re seeking. With that in mind, if you want to get a fair settlement from your insurance company, consider mitigating the damages your roof sustained by putting a tarp on the affected areas of your roof before the adjuster arrives. That way, your roofing system won’t suffer from further issues until a professional can fix the damage it sustained.
Step #5: Get in Touch With an Expert Roofer
Once you’ve mitigated the damages on your roof, enlist the services of an expert roofing contractor to have your roof inspected. That way, they can determine the true extent of your roofing damage and they can provide you with an accurate estimate on how much it’ll cost to get your roof restored or replaced. This can help you further justify your claims with your insurance company and if needed, you can also ask your roofer to help negotiate with your adjuster so you can get a fair settlement.
Need someone who can help you rectify any roofing damage you’re facing? Don’t hesitate to turn to The Pinnacle Group, Inc. When it comes to insurance claims and wind damage roof restoration services, we are the leading experts to approach and we won’t let you down! Give us a call at (804) 368-8798 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free inspection.