At Ethos, our contractors are intimately familiar with the roof insurance claim process. We're here to leverage our experience to provide educational insights for you and answer your most frequently asked questions about the claims process.
Answering Your Top FAQs About Roofing Insurance Claims In Greeley, CO
Our roofing experts at Ethos understand the ins-and-outs of storm damage insurance claims in Greeley, CO. If you don't see the answer to your FAQ here, reach out to us directly and we'll happily share our expert educational advice with you.
What Kind Of Roof Damage Is Covered By Insurance?
Your homeowner's insurance policy is in place to provide financial relief for covered events of damage to your property or personal belongings. Every policy is different and yours may cover roof damage, but it depends on what caused the damage.
Your policy likely offers protection for some "covered perils", including fire, wind, and hail damage. However, homeowner's insurance generally does not cover damage resulting from lack of maintenance or wear-n-tear.
So, unless your roof damage is the result of a storm or recent hectic weather, your policy likely won't cover the damage.
How Do Roofing Insurance Claims Work?
If your roofer determines that your roof has suffered damage from a recent storm, you'll need to submit a claim. You'll want to make sure you provide thorough documentation for everything in your claim (e.g., photos, videos, written descriptions, etc.). Your roofer may be able to help provide some of that key documentation. From there, you simply submit your claim!
Your insurance provider will then reach out to schedule a time to have an adjuster visit your property to verify the accuracy of your claim. Based on their findings, your adjuster will then either approve or deny your claim.
Most carriers will issue damages in at least 2 payments (one before the repairs and one after). If you have a mortgage company, you'll need to send your check to them to have it endorsed. Once the repairs are finished and you receive your final check, make sure you close the job with your contractor and receive your final warranty paperwork.
How Do I Get My Insurance To Pay For A New Roof?
There's really only one answer to this question: submit a thoroughly detailed claim. The more accurate documentation you can provide for your claim, the stronger it will become, and the more likely it will be approved.
To help strengthen your claim in advance, be sure to document your property's condition often. Get in a regular habit of taking photos (and videos) of your roof and your property. Those timestamped materials will help establish the condition of your property before submitting any roofing insurance claims in Greeley, CO.
Should A Roofing Contractor Be Present When The Insurance Adjuster Arrives?
Absolutely! We highly recommend that you have your contractor present for your adjuster's visit because then you'll have a roofing expert on-site to advocate on your behalf. Your contractor will be there to voice any concerns you may have with the adjuster's findings.
Should I Call My Insurance Provider Or A Roofer First?
It's completely up to you! But, it may be wiser to contact a roofing professional first. Since they are the roofing expert, they'll be able to accurately assess the total extent of your roof's damage during an initial inspection. Then your roofer will be able to make recommendations on the most appropriate next steps, and whether or not you should submit a claim.
Your roofer can also provide extensive documentation of the damage to help strengthen and support your claim.
How Do Insurance Adjusters Evaluate Roof Damage?
Your adjuster will look for all the common signs of storm damage that roofing professionals look for. These include things like:
- Missing, broken, or damaged roof shingles
- Visible granule loss
- Instances of hail-damage (e.g., dented shingles, dented flashing, etc.)
- Visible water infiltration
- Damage to the internal roof support system
Your adjuster will then calculate the costs of your home repairs using a pricing software called Xactimate. The pricing models of this software system change monthly based on supply and demand in the market.
Does The Age Of My Roof Impact My Claim?
Unfortunately, the age of your roof has some influence over your coverage. If your roof is over 20 years old, it likely has limited coverage (if any). Those older roofs may only be insured for their actual cash value, not for their current replacement cost. That means your insurer will take depreciation into account when calculating your estimate.
Will My Insurance Rates Go Up If I Submit A Claim?
You can expect your insurance premium to increase after filing a claim. That increase will depend on several factors such as the severity and frequency of your claims. Losses caused by fire, hail, lightning, and wind often lead to the highest rate increases.
What Can I Do If My Claim Is Denied?
Storm damage insurance claims in Greeley, CO can get denied for a wide range of reasons. Your claim could be denied if:
- The inspection showed you have been negligent with roof maintenance
- The damage is due to a non-covered peril
- The damage was only cosmetic
- And for a wealth of other reasons
Fortunately, a claim denial is not the end of the road! You can actually appeal the decision and ask for a resolution date, by writing an appeal letter to your insurance provider. Remember to be polite in the letter and as descriptive as possible about the damage. Include details like the date of denial, why you feel the decision was wrong, and what solution you would like.
Your provider may then send out a second claims adjuster to assess the damage. As we stated earlier, remember to have your roofing contractor there to meet with your adjuster at the time of their inspection.
If your appeal is unsuccessful, you may need to hire a lawyer to help with the claims processing. While this can end up being a more expensive route to take, it could be your best bet.
You may also consider contacting the Colorado Division of Insurance to file a complaint against your insurer. While they may investigate your claim, they'll likely suggest that you hire an attorney.
Navigate Roofing Insurance Claims In Greeley, CO With Ethos
Has your roof recently suffered some storm damage? If so, you've come to the right place! At Ethos, our roofing contractors have been repairing, replacing, and restoring roofs all across the Front Range since 2006. We aim to deliver exceptional craftsmanship and top-tier customer service with every roofing project. And we'll gladly share our educational insights with you as you navigate the insurance claims process.
Contact Ethos Roofing & Restoration today to get the educational support you need for your storm damage insurance claims in Greeley, CO.