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.
