1. Q: I have a new(er) home/roof. How do I know if I have any damage? Or if I don’t have any damage?

A: Hail/Wind/Storm damage does not spare new(er) homes/roofs. Depending on hail if it is wind driven or if you have a bad batch of shingle with cohesive failure and the wind lifts the shingles just the tiniest bit you will have just as much risk for damage and leaks as anyone else. Shingles are not waterproof, they are water shedding. You also can not see it from the ground. So to be on the safe side always have a professional give you a free inspection.

 

     2. Q: If I think I have hail damage what should I do?

A: Call your insurance company and ask for an adjuster to come inspect your roof for hail damage. Call a reputable roofing company and ask for the same inspection. If there are any discrepancies between the adjuster’s findings and the roofer’s findings you may call for a “RE-INSPECTION” where your adjuster meets with the roofer to go over the roof together. Re-inspections are very common. The insurance company must determine two things when assessing the amount of your loss:

• Was there sufficient damage to the roof to declare it a total loss? (Usually determined by 10 verified hail hits per 100 square feet.)

• What is the size of the roof and how many shingles will be needed to replace the roof

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      3. Q: What does hail do to a roof?

A: Shingles are designed so that the granules block the UV of the sun and protect the asphalt underlayment. As the shingles age the granules fall off over time. As the asphalt is exposed the UV, it dries out and the shingle gets a “potato chip” appearance as the corners start to curl up. A shingle at the extreme end of its life is bubbled in appearance and is brittle to the touch. A 20-year shingle is warrantied by the manufacturer to have a useful life, under optimal ventilation conditions, of 20 years. Hail does several things:

• Accelerates granule loss.

• Accelerates shingle aging.

• Voids manufacturer’s warranties.

• Leads to other associated problems.

 

      4. Q: Do I need to get my roof replaced right away?

A: The insidious nature of hail damage is that it may pose no immediate threat to the structural integrity of the roof. However, many insurance companies have a “statute of limitations” of how long a hail claim is viable. If you have experienced a loss such as hail damage it is prudent to take care of the problem in a timely manner before it leads to other associated problems.

 

      5. Q: What does a hail hit look like?

A: A hail hit on a shingle looks like a “bruise” or a dark spot where the granules on the shingle have been knocked off and the asphalt underlayment and sometimes the fiberglass mat is exposed. New hail hits will have a shiny appearance because the asphalt has been freshly exposed and has not had time to weather to a dull color.

 

      6. Q: Why does the estimate read that there are more shingles to replace than there are to        remove?

A: The amount of shingles to remove from your roof is the actual amount of square feet that it takes to shingle your roof. However, when putting on shingles, some shingles have to be cut to fit dimensions, ridges, hips and valleys. The insurance company adds 10% to regular ridge roofs and 15% to hip and ridge roofs to account for the loss of shingles.

 

      7. Q: How long do I have to file a claim?

A: In most cases you have one year from the date of the storm to file a claim, However all policies are different and some state you have as little as six months. The best thing to do is call a roofing contractor soon after the storm to do an inspection.

 

     8. Q: Will my premiums go up if I file a claim?

A: Filing a single claim should not raise you premiums especially from an “act of God” However if a region is hit by a major storm the whole regions premiums could go up

 

     9. Q: What does ACV mean on my insurance paperwork?

A: ACV means “Actual Cash Value.” This is what the damage to the property is worth at the time of loss.

 

     10. Q: What does RCV mean on my insurance paperwork?

A: RCV means “Replacement Cost Value.” This is what the insurance company will pay after all the work in completed. The first ACV check will get work started and after the work is complete the contractor will file for depreciation and another check will be sent that equals the RCV.

 

     11. Q: My Insurance Company stated I needed 3 estimates is this true?

A: No this is false you as the homeowner can choose any contractor you want to do the repairs.

Legacy Roofing will work with you insurance company to determine the price and scope of work.

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     12. Q: Can I profit from my claim?

A: No, unfortunately a homeowner cannot profit from their claim. It is actually called insurance fraud witch is a class 3 felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to 5,000 dollars.