A roof is one of the most essential parts of a home. It’s more than just a fancy cover to keep you dry when it rains – it protects the home from damage to its framing and overall structure. So when your roof gets damaged after some sort of disaster, weather-related or otherwise, it is important to take the right steps to get your roof repaired quickly and correctly.
Dealing with roof damage can be stressful and confusing, so here are some important steps for taking care of your roof after a disaster:
1) Remain Calm
When any sort of damage is done to your home, you may be anxious to fix the issue as quickly as possible. Disasters can cause homeowners to make irrational decisions that can end up doing more long-term harm than good.
Getting your roof repaired is a big deal, and should be treated like any big investment. Do the research, don’t make any rash decisions or sign any contracts without first exploring all of your options. Otherwise, you might end up getting scammed, overpaying, or getting an inferior product that will only cost more to repair later on.
2) Assess the severity of the damage
Depending on how significant the damage is, you could be in need of an emergency roof repair. In most cases, however, the damage will be less severe and caused by heavy winds or hail.
After the storm, you should call a professional roofing contractor to assess the damage – while you can assess the damages yourself, climbing on a roof can be dangerous, and there are some issues that only a professional eye will be able to catch.
When getting your roof inspected, it is a good idea to take a lot of pictures of your roof before and after the inspection for documentation reasons. Make sure to get multiple angles of the roof so it gives a clear and accurate representation of its condition.
When getting an estimate on the damages, don’t sign a contingency contract. Some contractors will offer you a “free roof replacement estimate” contingent on you signing a contract and agreeing that they do the replacement work. These are not always scams, but will put you in a bad situation should they be less than reputable.
After you get your assessment, the inspector will give you an estimate to what needs to be repaired and the cost of the repair. Before signing anything, remember to read through and understand everything outlined in the contract.
3) Check with your insurance about your policy
Home insurance, in most cases, will cover the damages to a roof as long as the damage isn’t due to negligence. Still, it is important to call your insurance agent and let them walk you through the claims process.
It is also important to get your roof looked at and begin the claim process as soon as it is safe to do so. Insurance companies often have a specific time window to begin a claims process – if you wait too long, they may not cover the damages to your roof. By calling your agent as soon as you know there is damage, you can avoid missing this claim window.
Check with your home insurance agent and see what your policy covers. In many cases, the insurance company will send someone to assess the damages for you. It is also important to keep documentation of any repairs you had done throughout the whole process.
Don’t get any roofer’s work done before first getting in contact with your agent – your agent will tell you the necessary steps in getting your roof inspected and ultimately repaired.
4) Shop around
If the damage is covered under your insurance, they will give you funds to get the damage repaired. You should take the time to get multiple quotes to ensure that you get the best work without getting overcharged.
Some roofers travel across the country where big storms come through to prey on victims of roof damage; these people are called storm chasers. They will patch up your roof using minimal materials and effort in order to maximize their profit. It is important to do your research on all contractors you get estimates from.
The threat of storm chasers is part of the reason why you should try to hire from a local contractor in order to get feedback from their previous customers. It is important for you to get the work on your roof done right, and the best way to avoid getting overpriced or bad work is to explore all of your options and do your research.
5) Understand your contract
When you decide on which contractor to complete your roofing work, make sure you understand all aspects of the contract. There is a lot more involved in the roofing contract than just what repairs are getting done. Some of the things that should be included on the contract are:
The company name and all of their contact information – including address, name, phone number.
- List of materials and the type of materials that will be used in the repair, such as what color roofing material and all other materials used in the repairs.
- The work being done, including a clear outline of what work will entail from the removal of the old materials to the actual repair process.
- In approximate starting and ending date. It is important to know how long the work will take until completion and how long before the contractor will actually begin working on it.
- Clearly stated pricing. If the roofing company is hauling the material and old roofing away, make sure that the charge for that is stated in the contract as well.
- Warranty information. Make sure there is some sort of information in case something was installed incorrectly or the materials were faulty.
Dealing with any kind of damage to your home can be overwhelming. By using these steps after your roofing disaster, the process of getting your roof back to best condition can be one less thing you have to worry about.
