Hail – 1… Roof – 0... Now What?

Lately, the weather has been, well… just plain angry this storm season. Several storms have hit and devastated parts of Texas, leaving homes either wiped out or heavily damaged. We’ve all seen the pictures all over social media of broken windows and even complete holes in roofs from hail. It can be terrifying to be caught in one of these storms. What might also be terrifying is figuring out what to do to start the rebuilding process and how to avoid getting scammed. Because there’s not enough to be concerned about, right? Will your roof need to be replaced or not?

The first thing you want to do if you think your roof may be damaged is to contact a trusted roofer that has been in your area for several years. Do your research and ask for referrals. Once you’ve found a roofer, have them take a look at your roof. If there is damage, have them give you an estimate of what it is going to cost to repair the roof. You can also have another roofer come out for a second opinion. Estimates are typically free. After you’ve gotten the estimate, call your insurance company and they will help get a claim started for you.

The Better Business Bureau had great information regarding what to consider when you seek out roofers and what to be aware of. I have listed a few for you:

Before you call a roofer, look around your property before even climbing on the roof. If there isn’t any hail damage to vehicles, siding or shrubbery, then it’s not likely that you have damage to your roof.

Be careful of any company that comes door-to-door, using phrases such as, “insurance companies are compensating” or “insurance compensation for repairs”.  It is illegal for a roofing company to claim compensation of any kind from your insurance company. Also watch out for those companies that promise to “pay your deductible” or “discount your deductible”. Most of the time when they do that, documentation to the insurance company doesn’t always match what was done and depending on the amount, you could be the one facing criminal charges for fraud. Insurance companies pay up to the amount it costs to do the repairs, not always is a “cheaper” company going to save you money. For more information, visit http://www.tdi.texas.gov .

This might sound silly but when there is a hailstorm, make sure to know about how large the hailstones were.  If it was golf ball sized hail or large, there is a chance for damage. You can usually get this information from The National Weather Service.

There are great, reliable, trustworthy roofing services out there but unfortunately there are also some that are not. Do your research before calling to get an estimate on your roof. You don’t want to have someone come out and fabricate damage to your roof so they can ‘fix’ it for you.

The article provided information that a legitimate roofing company should be able to provide which is:

*             Local references and roofing testimonials

*             Business License

*             Roofing credentials

*             Workers compensation insurance

*             General liability insurance

*             Written manufacturer warranties

*             Written labor warranties

The Better Business Bureau article had very useful information regarding what to do before you get your roof inspected, phrases to be aware of, and to always make sure to do your research. You can always call us for guidance. We have a few roofers that we can refer as well. The Better Business Bureau is also a great place to start your research on roofers as well.

If you would like the complete article click here: Better Business Bureau - Roofing Scams.

The Texas Department of Insurance’s website is a great place to find more general insurance information, including information on insurance fraud.