OffTopic roof repairs and contractors and insurance

Hello,

I really try not to post OT things but the knowledge based on this website is great and this is kinda a big deal.

Had hail damage on the house roof and needs to be fixed. The insurance adjuster didn't include a few things like Ice guard (Indiana law adjuster was from southern Texas where they probably don't need it lol) and gutter damage and damage to the shed even though he was up there and marked damages.

Of course the roofing companies are crawling out from under every rock and want your business. lots of roofing company signs around the neighbors yards from these guys. I know the roof will be at least $15000 to have someone else do it. insurance came back with only $11,000 but as noted above no ice guard, gutters and shed.

one of these roofing companies i talked to (local) won't give me an estimate but wants to have an assignment of benefits to our insurance company so they can be our advocate with them. I'm naturally leery of this which seems to be common practice. Unfortunately our house has other issues with no facia board behind the aluminum (very unique design from the late 60s) and of course the ends of the rafters are punky and hardly hold the gutters (good condition) on the house.

between myself and my son-in-law we are more than experienced and capable enough of doing the roof (1 story fairly easy) and fascia and gutters but I don't know how to deal with the insurance to take care of the missed things and don't necessarily have time either.

these guys claim they can get the insurance to cover all that fascia/gutter repair as it would be a necessary repair to install new. Which makes some sense but... - I did ask him what happens to repairs that the insurance deems as not necessary and of course he said we would have to pay for it ourselves > to me that equals giving them a blank check if i sign over insurance benefits rights.

So has anyone dealt with this before? we have USAA for insurance and this is our 1st home owners claim ever in 31 years so i've never been in these waters and really don't know.

THANKS!!!

I think I would start with arguing with the insurance company. They will try to pay as little as they can and if these items are covered you have grounds to fight the settlement. If they still won't budge you might have a lawyer send them a letter.

My neighbor had the wind test some shingles clear off inside of the house. Shingles are pretty old. His insurance company only wants to shingle that side of the house. They won't match.

INCase,

Ice guard is a given anymore code or not. At that price it should be done anyhow. Also all the protruding pipes and vents should get the same treatment with new covers for the pipes.

I would do it myself, and see how much you get get out of the insurance company. I think you will come out ahead at any price the insurance company gives you. Good Luck,

Guido.

Let USAA know that the settlement is not enough. Contractor that advocated for our church after hail damage got much more for the church than a direct settlement would have netted. the insurance is supposed to, make you whole, which I believe means to return you to the point previous to the hail storm. Your state probably has a state insurance commissioner, might be your next threat. gobble

Had some roof damage to house and garage. Kind of needed the insurance claim money to get the roofing work done. Insurance adjuster came out. Came up with a figure. He likewise didn't include a couple things, although we don't have iceguard here, whatever that is.

I kind of just figured I would have to pay the difference between the insurance claim and the actual cost of the roofing job. Anyways, the roofing guy came out to give me an estimate. The estimate was reasonable and in the ballpark. But it was over the insurance settlement figure. No shock there. The roofing guy asked to see the settlement sheet. Since his estimate was over the insurance settlement price, I figured there would be no harm done in letting him see it. He noticed the things that were missing in the settlement also. He said he runs into this all the time. Said most of the time, he can take the settlement sheet and his estimate (or bill) to the local insurance agent and get more money for ya out of the insurance company.
Since the insurance company was coming up short, I gave them a call explaining this. Bringing up the things that were missing on the settlement sheet. Told them what the roofing guy said. Told them the roofing guy would like to talk to them. They said, well..., just send him by. We might be able to do something about the stuff not included on the settlement sheet.
Anyways, the roofing guy got more money out of them than I (the policy holder) did. A seperate check for the additional amount, made out to me and mailed directly to me for the roofing job.

It use to be that the insurance company might pay you a generous settlement that might exceed what you could get the actual work done for. And it was in your best interest to keep settlement information a secrete from the contractor. But those days are OVER!!! Insurance companies are now intentionally under paying on roofing claims so they don't run into policy holders pocketing the extra money from the claims.

Let your contractor go to bat for you. It's become a normal practice with the insurance companies. About the only way to beat insurance companies out of roofing dollars these days, is to collect the roofing claim money, and then not re-roof the structure.

Of course, if you do the work yourself, you will have to deal with the insurance company yourself and won't have a contractor to use as a tool to get the missing funding. That might just be an incentive to get a contractor to do it, rather than doing the work yourself. I'm glad I did. The contractor done all the work in a day and half. Hard to say how long it would of took me. A heck of a lot longer than that, I know for sure.

Find A local roofer/contractor that has a good local reputation and get an opinion that is not based on an insurance potential claim. See how well they compare to the ones involved ow. My 91yo neighbor was scammed for 12,000 by a shyster. Jim

Where I am gutter coverge is a separate rider you have to add on and pay for. Same for fascia. Vents and flashing are covered.
Here, your roofer can and will deal with the insurance company to get extras not known at the time of the origianal estimate such as rotten sheeting discovered after roof tear off etc. But you have to assign the payment to them first of course. In exchange for that many, if not most, local roofers will eat your deductable.

Most areas near me now require class 5 roofing now as well. When I bought my home 4 years ago the seller spent nearly $16,000 to put a class 5 shingle roof on this 2,000 sq ft house. Of course that was before the huge increases of the last two years.

I have been out of the game for a number of years. If things are still similarly handled, the insurance carriers create an initial estimate and issue a payment, usually expecting identification of additional damage. Upon verification of the damage, supplemental payments can be made.

I make disclaimers similar to John Ts.

thanks for the feedback

I have mentioned it and they kinda gave me a run around at least on the ice guard (basically special underlayment for the eaves) even sent them the Indiana code for it. the appraiser estimate didn't have it listed and its way way more $ than regular tar paper underlayment.

They replied that we would need to get photos of the ice guard (its under the roof) or have the roofer give us an estimate.

Have talked to USAA about some small wind damage a couple years ago and wasn't real pleased with their reply then either. For the cars they've always been good and easy to work with.

Thanks

Two things you hear a lot from our state officials after a major storm.

Never use a contractor that is not licensed in your state no matter how backed up the local guys are.

And never never sign an assignment of benefits without first talking to an attorney.

Since you are new to the game you might call the state insurance commissioner and let them tell you how the process works.

1998 hail storm required all my roofs replaced and some siding damage.
Indiana farmers did it right.
All I pay is my $1500 deductible. Shingles are not depreciated.

All my shingles had to be removed.
No way will I do the roofing.
I have a shingle guy that gets it done and is good.

Why should I work when I have to pay just the deductible.

No way, would we assign a contractor the benefits.

If you want the coverage of the other items, I would NOT cash the check from the inurance company... but would contact them via email or letter - not by phone, and tell them the coverage is not acceptable because the estimate did not even list items that are needed to meet building code.

Fight for yourself... you are the ONLY one who has your best interests at heart.

I don't know about buildings but on cars they will look to find one of compair but instead of some that was good road worthy before some one decides to run a stop sign and totals your vehical they will yse a junk yard value and say that is all your good car was worth and not budge to pay even half the replacement value. Fought this 3 times in one year and lost thousands. After ice storm said had coverage on outside wiring an get it taken care of, got it taken down, not even replaced, no coverage. lost big money there. And truck with full coverage with top slightly caved down would not fix it. Still driving with the roof caved in. Cannot deal with insurance will lire every time.

10 years ago, a hail storm damaged all the roofs in our neighborhood. I called my insurance company (State Farm) and an adjuster was there 2 days later. Up on the roof, he verified hail damage (number of impacts per 100 sq ft). He surveyed the roof (which had 2 layers). Said the repair would involve tear off, replacement, ice shield, new ridge vent, 30 year shingles. First class repair. Said based on my area and size of roof, I would be allowed up to a certain figure. Said to get 3 quotes, chose the one I felt most comfortable with, and submit that one. Very respectable and professional way to respond to a claim, I thought. Other neighbors had more battles with different insurance companies.

Still carrying State Farm here.

We had a tree fall on our house during a snowstorm. Ins.company adjuster was not very helpful. We got a private,licensed adjuster who came out and looked it over and it was well worth it.
He got us way more, whole new roof and reside 1 whole side not patch jobs, plus allowances for furniture and a t.v. and was well worth his fee. He dealt with the insurance company directly. I would recommend that you look for one in your area. HTH Jf

Some contractors building new construction are using ice guard instead of felt to cover the entire roof..

Cashing the check does not close the case and has no bearing on future payments for other covered repairs.

OK, I thought it might.

We have only ever had one claim in 30+ years, when our barn blew down. Unfortunately, we are in the midst of our second claim now.