In a city that never sleeps, roof replacement is a continual process. Roofs are constantly being repaired and replaced as they fall victim to weathering, hail storms, or other devastation. In fact, roof replacements in Manhattan have been on the rise due to Hurricane Sandy – but it doesn’t have to be this way!
If you live in Manhattan and need a roof repair or roof replacement services for your home or business then you may be eligible for financial assistance from your insurance company.
How to Get Insurance to Pay for Your NY Roof Replacement?
Many homeowners who have experienced the horror of dealing with a roofing job due to roof damage and trying to have their insurance claim accepted will agree that getting a claim paid may be pretty tricky at times. So, how can you persuade your insurance provider to cover the cost of a new roof? Information, preparation, paperwork, roofing labor cost, and engaging a professional roofer to work on your behalf are all part of the solution.
Understand Your Insurance Coverage
Knowledge is a powerful tool. Don’t rely on your insurance company to inform you what isn’t covered. Most of us don’t read the policy’s fine print until something goes wrong. Now is the perfect opportunity to do so. First, request a copy of the procedure from your agent if you don’t have one, which is a common problem. A physical copy or an electronic file should be supplied as soon as possible. There are two types of coverage in most states: repair coverage and roof replacement near me coverage.
Replacement insurance is more popular, but they come at a higher price. When an occurrence covered by the insurance policy occurs, the replacement coverage restores the roof to its original state.
The depreciation of the roof is frequently factored into the repair coverage. This implies you’ll earn a percentage of the cost of replacement depending on the roof’s material and age.
Find a Reputable Roofing Contractor
If you didn’t do it as part of the previous step, now is the time to do it. A licensed roofing contractor, not an attorney, will be your best ally in a struggle over roof repair (if it comes to that). Check to see if they have:
- A fantastic reputation
- Working knowledge of insurance claims
- Before repairing the roof, a competent roofer can assist with the following tasks.
Protect yourself from more harm. The majority of homeowner’s insurance policies require you to cover the damaged roof as soon as possible. What if I told you that When the essential precautions to safeguard the roof are not taken, claims for secondary damage are frequently dismissed. Storms can cause tens of thousands of homes to be damaged. Unfortunately, roofers are unable to conduct timely repairs due to this.
Instead, your roofing company will cover and secure the damaged areas to safeguard both your property and your roof replacement cost. The roof should be safe until repairs can be made once this is completed with the use of roofing material.
File a Claim with your Homeowner’s Insurance within 30 Days
In most states, homeowners must file a claim within 30-60 days. Claim denial occurs when a claim is not submitted on time. When there are a lot of claims, the sooner you file the documentation, the faster your lawsuit will be handled. An inspection by a roofing contractor for whom you are paying is crucial at this point. A roofer should document for you that the roofing materials on the entire area of the roof are installed correctly and are not defective – indicating that the problem isn’t with the installation or materials.
Anything else that goes against the above-mentioned common causes for denial of claims — the remainder of the roof is in good shape, and the attic is adequately vented, the damage is more than simply cosmetic, and so on.
Get a Detailed Report from an Independent Roofing Contractor
Request a written report from the roofing contractor that covers the issues stated above, including the degree and cause of the damage and the overall condition of the roof.
The inspection and report will set you back up to $500, but it will be money well spent if it helps you have your homeowner’s insurance claim settled. It will be an inspector’s word against a roofer if the case goes to arbitration or court. You’ll be fine if your roofing contractor’s report is trustworthy. This will require some explanation, but it should become evident in the end.
When insurance accepts a claim, it makes a financial offer to the homeowner. It should be sufficient to replace your roof with materials of comparable grade, as well as skilled installation.
Hire a Roofer that Will Fight for You
If the insurance company’s offer does not cover a replacement roof of comparable quality, a good contractor will be your advocate. They’ll contact your insurance company and demand additional money to finish the job correctly.
This happens all the time, and it’s usually successful. No insurance company wants local contractors to spread the word that they don’t care about their consumers.
Be Willing to Change Companies
It rarely comes to this, especially if you’ve followed the recommendations above. However, an insurance company may make an unjust settlement offer and refuse to budge.
This is the time to figure out how much you’ve spent on insurance premiums to the corporation throughout the years. Most homeowners have all of their insurance with the same company, including their home, vehicle, boat, liability, and other types of coverage. As a result, premiums might easily reach $7,500 or more per year.
Calculate how much you’ve paid throughout your relationship with the insurance vs. the cost of the claims you’ve filed. When it comes to premiums paid vs. claims, many homeowners have a 5 to 1 or higher ratio. Inform the agent of your findings!
Preparing for Future Claims
Has your roof been inspected at least once a year? Then, maintain it and make any necessary repairs.
You’ll have a strong case if you can show that you kept your roof in good shape, and then it suddenly becomes a disaster after a storm. Request that the inspector take images of your roof and write a written, signed appraisal of its condition. An inspection schedule is as follows:
- Asphalt shingles should be replaced every year once the roof is five years old.
- After ten years, replace wood shingles and shakes every 2-3 years.
- After ten years, replace clay and concrete tiles every 2-3 years.
- After 15 years, replace metal roofs and composite shingles every two years.
Has your roof evaluated if a tropical storm, hail, hurricane, or severe tornado season is predicted? First, it should be documented in its current state. Before and after photos are the most significant proof of roof insurance claims. If you don’t have time to hire a roofer, take pictures of the roof yourself if you can whether it is a metal roof, asphalt roof or metal shingles, or any existing shingles that need cost to replace.
Conclusion
Suppose you’ve had trouble getting your insurance company to offer you a fair settlement. In that case, these ideas may help you persuade your insurance company to pay for roof replacement in the future. You should have at least knowledge about this to have excellent work for your roof repair or replacement.
