What You Should Do If Your Roof Has Damage From a Storm
In South Florida, we experience both a rainy season from June to September and a hurricane season from June to November. With the overlap of these 2 weather conditions, your roof experiences a lot of changes from hot and cold temperatures, tons of rain, humidity, tropical storms, and hurricane winds. So let’s talk about what you should do after a storm and some common questions about insurance claims for roof storm damage.
What are the steps to take if your roof has storm damage?
Damages to a homeowner’s roof from a storm can range from missing shingles, cracked tiles, or a tree crashing onto the roof. But often homeowners don’t know they’ve suffered roof damage until they begin to see leaks inside their home.
So if you suspect you’ve suffered damage to your roof after a storm, you can either call:
A professional roofing company like M3 Roofing, or
Your homeowner’s insurance agent.
If you call a professional roofing company, they’ll be able to come out to complete a roofing inspection to identify the issues. The roofing company will then partner with a public adjuster to help file an insurance claim (the state of Florida requires a public adjuster for this process).
If you contact your homeowner’s insurance agent, they’ll be able to provide you with referrals to a professional roofing company and/or public adjuster to help you with identifying the damage to your roof and qualify it for a claim.
Jackie Cuni, a John Galt franchise owner insurance agent, says, “I always recommend [clients] speak with someone like [M3 Roofing] because you have way more knowledge than I do on roofs.”
What are common reasons roof damage claims are denied?
Ms. Cuni says, “The only time I really see [a claim] get denied is… the insured hasn’t maintained their roof properly.”
It’s important homeowners understand the difference between wear and tear and storm damage. As your roof ages, the roofing material goes through changes caused by rain, humidity, and hot/cold temperatures. These roofing materials become worn over time and will need normal maintenance and repairs, just like your car.
Does ongoing roof maintenance affect how you’re covered by insurance?
It is important to maintain your roof to find a carrier who will provide you with coverage for your roof.
“If you’re maintaining your roof, there’s no cracked tiles, and everything looks good, there’s a better chance of you finding coverage with other carriers,” Jackie Cuni says.
What can you do to make sure you’re covered or protected with insurance for your roof?
The best way to make sure your carrier doesn’t deny a storm damage claim or deny you coverage for your roof is to maintain your roof by having regular roof inspections and roof cleanings.
An annual roofing inspection can help identify any wear and tear problems that need repairing, as well as other common roofing problems. An annual inspection can also show your homeowner’s insurance you’ve been maintaining your roof and help lessen the chances your storm damages claim is denied.
At M3 Roofing, we recommend 2 roofing inspections a year – one before the start of the rainy season and one after the rainy/storm season.
This way you ensure any pre-existing issues caused by normal wear and tear are fixed before the first storm. By having a second inspection after the rainy season, you catch any storm damage and get it repaired before further damage to your roof or home can happen. Read How to Prepare Your Roof for Hurricane Season for more information.
Also check out our Instagram Live with Jackie Cuni to learn more about homeowner’s insurance, roof maintenance, and denied claims.
If you think your roof suffered storm or hurricane damage, give M3 Roofing a call today!
At M3 Roofing, we will inspect, evaluate, and repair your roof. We believe in integrity, honesty, and commitment, and that’s what we deliver every time to every customer.
Check out our completed projects to see the roofing work we can do for you.
Send M3 Roofing a message or call the office – (305) 265-5000 – to set up a roof inspection with one of our roofologists to check for any roofing problems you may be experiencing. We service homes throughout Miami-Dade and Broward County.