Florida is subject to high winds and with hurricane season quickly approaching, Jacksonville is one of the most at-risk cities for storm-surge damage. Take these tips to ensure that your family and property stay safe and covered when Mother Nature strikes.
Types of Roofs can affect the strength of your roof
Gable Roofs are the most popular residential roofs in the U.S. and are easily recognized by their triangular shape. In hurricane-prone areas, gable roofs can be problematic if the frames are not properly constructed. Nonetheless, they do offer the benefit of easily shedding water and providing higher vaulted ceilings and ventilation.
Hip roofs have slopes on all four sides and are more stable in a hurricane than gable roofs making them more expensive and complex to construct. Each side of the roof is equal in both length and height. Proper construction and regular roof system maintenance are a must to prevent minor issues from turning into major problems.
How can basic upkeep help you minimize the impact during a storm?
The first line of preventative maintenance is to make sure your gutters are clear. During a rainstorm, gutters route the water from your roof to drain away from the house and also protect the siding, windows, doors, and the foundation.
If you have missing or have damaged shingles, you are allowing a gap of wind to get under and cause more damage. Wind only needs a small opening to rip off a shingle or siding. Preparing for potential disasters long before a storm hits is essential.
Protect your roof and windows by regularly trimming the tress. Before a storm, walk around your property and check items that could become projectiles.
After a storm, Floridians are left with a lot of uncertainty. Contact SPC Roofers to walk your property’s exterior. SPC will document and take photos of any damage, including fallen tree limbs, debris, missing or damaged roof shingles, gutters, missing siding, air conditioning units, fences, and any other exterior damage. This process will support you when filing an insurance claim. Once the inspection is complete, it is important to make your insurance company aware of any damage. Your insurance company will send an adjuster to assess the damage. A good adjuster will inspect the roof, gutters, fence, outdoor furniture, window screens, air conditioning units, pool equipment, and walk around the whole exterior of your home.
Your SPC specialist will help mediate your claim by working with you and the adjuster throughout the whole process. As your contractor, SPC Roofers has your best interest in mind and understands the importance of getting reimbursed for all covered damaged. SPC Roofers can provide proper documentation and other information to process your claim.
To help speed the process you will need:
- Written estimate for repair or replacement
- Call your insurance company with the following
1. Policyholder name
2. Date, time, and cause of incident
3. Age of roof
4. Obtain a claim number
5. Insurance company will assign an adjuster. Be sure to get the name and number of the adjuster
6. Tell insurance company, you will have your roofing contractor present when the adjuster arrives for inspection - The adjuster will call to schedule a time to visit your property
How much do you have to pay and how do insurance companies pay claims?
The best way to know if your insurance covers roof damage is to contact your insurance provider. Your insurance company makes the final decision on how much you will be reimbursed. If you have full replacement policy, the total cost will be the amount of your deductible. Most insurance companies have ACV policy “actual cash value” and under this policy the company subtracts your deductible from the total cost and then deducts a portion to account depreciation. The bottom line is, the age of the roof depends on how much they pay you.
If the insurance company approves your claim, you will typically receive a check in 7-10 business days after the adjuster has estimated your ACV property value. When the repair work is complete, your insurance company will usually issue a second check for some of the amount of depreciation (the portion that is recoverable if the total expenses are equal to or greater than the total settlement, minus your deductible). Insurance companies do this to prevent insurance fraud.
The storm restoration process can be nerve racking if you allow it. However, knowing what to expect and having a licensed contractor who understands the claims process like SPC Roofers will make a difference. SPC specializes in helping home and business owners recover from the unexpected.