Filing an insurance claim

Being so close to the gulf, Houston Texas is plagued with storm after storm. More often than not these aren't your small rain storm events. When there is a storm approaching, it's more like a monsoon of rain that comes down in buckets. Within 20 minutes your entire street is flooded. And sometimes these heavy rain storm come with wind and hail that can seriously damage your home.

In 2022, there were 14 hail storms in and around Houston, Texas.

https://www.hailpoint.com/hail-maps

Most homeowners in Houston need or want to purchase a new roof because of the age or algae growth or maybe a hole in the roof. But all Houstonians say they're waiting for a wind or hail storm and insurance will take care of it.

Here is everything you need to know before you file or have a roofer file a claim with your insurance.

Be Aware of Storm Chasers!

Whether this is someone knocking on your door or someone cold calling you. Storm Chasers are looking to make a quick buck and move onto the next storm. This is their job.

BAD Roofer: If someone knocks on your door after a storm and they just give you a price. DO NOT HIRE THEM! You have NO IDEA what you're getting for that price. It's like buying a car but you have no idea what year it is.

GOOD Roofer: If a roofer is walking your neighborhood after a storm and explains to you why they are there. They schedule an appointment with you. They tell you where their office is located. They explain their process.

Know the Laws

Do not waive your deductible. Texas.gov explains: In Texas, it is illegal for a contractor to offer to waive, rebate, or absorb a property policyholder’s deductible. https://www.tdi.texas.gov/consumer/storms/roofing-and-insurance-know-the-law.html State law states:

• Requires contracts for $1,000 or more that involve an insurance settlement to include a notice that the policyholder must pay the deductible.

• Allows insurance companies to request proof from the policyholder that the deductible was paid."

DON'T SIGN ANYTHING before a claim is filed and approved.

Many roofers do not have your best interests in mind. After all this industry does have a high complaint rate.

Bad Roofer: A contractors pushes you into signing a contract prior to them helping you file a claim. They all sell this as you giving them permission to file the claim. But in reality they are locking you into their contract. If insurance approves the claim, you can only use that roofer.

Good Roofer: A contractor will explain to you the insurance claim process and not have you sign anything. That contractor will file the claim with you, but you still have the decision power whether or not you want to move forward with hiring them. If you decide to hire them, only then should you sign an insurance roofing contract.

It's not up to the roofing company.

If after a storm you suspect that your roof has been damaged, call your insurance to file a claim and an adjuster will be assigned to you. The Insurance Adjuster is the only person who can approve your claim. At Garvin Exteriors we say, "We cannot take a leap of faith that it will get approved. Seeing is believing with insurance adjusters." If an adjuster doesn't see damage it will not be approved. Period. Even if a hail storm was right over your home, they still have to see the damage done in order to cover the claim.

List of items Insurance Adjusters look for on a roof.

An insurance adjusters job to look for damage. Most of the time these are 3rd party individuals that work for the insurance company. This is done to protect the homeowner from bias and the right way to do business.

• Age of the roof

• Improper Install of shingles and Visible damage

Visible damage is a multitude of items that include:

• Granule Loss

• Hail spots

• Bend or curled shingles

• Holes in roof

• Fascia board rot

• Improperly fastened gutters

• Damaged pipe collars and boots

• Improper or damaged flashing, chimneys and skylights.

Getting approved isn't that easy.

As mentioned before, Hail is the number one type of damage that gives you the best shot at getting an insurance roofing claim approved. Even if you have hail damage, many insurance companies have specific requirements to be approved.

An insurance adjuster will create a 10'x10' grid (1 square) on each side of your roof. Within that grid there needs to be a specific amount of Hail spots to be approved. Again, each insurance company is different. Most require at least 8 hail spots in a 10'x10' for approval.

Once your claim is approved, it's now time to find a roofer if you haven't done so already. At this point you have no reason to get multiple estimates. Your insurance company has provided you with a replacement value amount and you only need to find the right company for you. Find a company that will provide the right professional services. To not only do things right but the Right Way. At Garvin Exteriors we pride ourselves on the service. This is 100% our focus. The price of the job isn't always at the top of the list. You can have the best roofing company in the world and the price could be perfect but if it's not installed right and the service was poor- you are not worried about how great the price was now. You're worried about your roof again.