Your roof serves as your home’s first line of defense against extreme weather elements. Unfortunately, it’s hard to predict when a violent storm will hit your home. It’s essential to know beforehand what course of action to take when such unfortunate events occur. Overall, here are the steps to take when you have storm damage on your roof.
1. Call Your Insurance Provider
The first person to call after storm damage is your homeowner’s insurance provider. Your agent will advise you on what your policy covers. Depending on your policy deductible, evaluate if the damage is substantial enough to file a claim.
Overall, your standard homeowner’s insurance should cover damages caused by sudden and accidental weather events such as high winds, heavy storms, and hail. Other elements such as earthquakes and floods are often excluded, and you should get a separate policy to cover such.
2. Call Your Roofing Contractor to Inspect the Damage
After the insurance company, the next person to contact is a reliable, local roofing contractor. Your roofer will be able to inspect the damage and issue a detailed estimate of what it takes to restore your roof to its original functionality and aesthetics. Roofing contractors often estimate the general square foot area damaged to determine the overall cost of replacement.
More importantly, your roofer will help you document the extent of damage and gather all the critical information you need to file a successful claim. After your claim is approved, your roofing contractor should begin the restoration process as soon as possible to prevent further water damage to your home.
3. Stay Off Storm Chasers
Avoid traveling contractors who come to your area because of a natural disaster. Roofers who follow storms have no reputation to uphold in your community and may provide substandard workmanship. Out-of-town Storm Chasers may also lack knowledge of the local area in terms of laws and building codes. Besides, they may not offer warranties, and even if they do, the warranty won’t be backed up since they leave the area as soon as they complete the work.
Whenever you experience storm damage to your roof, be sure to hire an established qualified local roofer who knows the trade and will take care of you long after the storm has gone. A good roofer will also provide warranty support for years to come. Pinnacle Roofing is your roofing contractor of choice in the Capital Region of New York and Southern Vermont. Contact us today to schedule your roofing inspection!
