RoofCrafters Blog

Part of being a roofer means providing hundreds of quotes every year, especially during the summer months when thunderstorms and hurricanes are prevalent in the southeast. While most homeowners are shopping for the best roof at the best price, most of them ask me the same question when I first meet them, “Will my homeowner’s insurance cover the cost of replacing my roof?” Invariably, my answer to each and every one of them is, “That depends.”   You see, there are a number of factors that need to be weighed to determine whether part or all the cost of a roof replacement can be covered by your insurer. At RoofCrafters, we want to make sure you get the best bang for your buck, however, when it comes to homeowner's insurance policies, there's only so much we can do on our end of things.   That being said, the least we can do is make sure you're educated on the broad aspects that your insurance will base your coverage on. In this article, I'll discuss:   The type of damage on your roof What a roofer can and cannot discuss How to help your insurance adjuster What affects roof coverage What causes claims to be denied What to do next Let's get started!  

The cost of having your roof replaced is a lot like planning a family vacation. There are many variables that will determine the final costs to cover all your expenses. For example, do you plan to travel by car or plane? Are you staying at a resort or renting an Airbnb? Will you be eating at restaurants or living off of Cheeto’s? Hey, this is a no-judgment zone.   All of that effort and money spent doesn’t go unnoticed. You and your family get to have a great vacation filled with memories that last a lifetime. Now, what if we told you that you could have a vacation every day when you invest time, effort, and money into installing a new roof?

Home improvement projects can be stressful, especially if you don’t have a knack for the specific part of your home that needs improvement. I mean, besides contractors, of course, does anyone really sit around and talk about how much they love roofing?

Let’s face it, no one wants to talk about prices with a salesman who sees you as one big dollar sign. You feel like they only care about their product, and not you or your needs. Sadly, It’s no different in the roofing industry. Homeowners will put off necessary repairs and roof replacements and risk further damage to their homes because they are very uncomfortable with the thought of being hassled.

Roof problems are like dominoes, only this game’s not quite as fun as when you were a kid. As soon as one problem occurs, you’re bound to see a downfall of negative effects. My roof is leaking? Okay, great. I have all the time in the world to deal with that, along with my cracked ceiling and rotted shingles.

It's summertime in the Southeast, and we all know what that means; the rainy season is officially among us. With downpours and windstorms often come roof damage, and generally speaking, there's just no way around it. Any weather-related damage to your home or property can bring with it the stress and added burden of putting it all back together. The cost needed for a roof repair may, in some cases, reach very high amounts, especially if the entire roof needs to be replaced due to severe storm damage.

If your roof is worn out and you are looking for the best asphalt shingle for your home, you have come to the right place.

Whether your roof has lived its total lifespan or faced severe, irreplaceable damage, it’s always best to replace the damaged roofing system with a new one. The most pressing question that homeowners have when it comes time to replace their roof is, “should I use insurance?”   RoofCrafters has been replacing roofs for over 29 years, and helping homeowners understand the insurance process along the way. We know that the short answer to this question is yes; you should always use insurance where and when you can. However, when it comes to roof replacements, you need to know many clauses and conditions before making a final decision.   When it comes to claiming insurance to replace a roof, there are several things that you can do. RoofCrafters has created a guide to help you on assessing damages, filing a claim, and getting your roof replaced. So, let’s jump right in!   Should I Use Insurance to Replace a Roof?   Before answering the question, “should I use insurance to replace a roof?” First, you should evaluate and assess the damages that have been caused. The damage will be highly affected by the type of material you previously used for the roofing system and the type of natural calamities that have occurred recently.     Let’s look at all the steps you should take to ensure your insurance claim will be supported.   1. Assessing the Damage   Usually, the assessment of damages is done by a trained professional who can specify each problem and the reasons for their cause. Each storm and natural disaster has different consequences, so it’s better to have a professional who has been trained to look for damage that could be caused by a severe storm take a look at your roof.   If you wish to evaluate the situation yourself, please do so from a distance and don’t attempt to climb the roof. Climbing the roof might cause further damage to an already weak roof structure and can also put you in danger.   Here are some signs you can look for without climbing the top of the roof:   Holes, dents, or cracks on the roof shingles Missing shingles or tile pieces Leakage from the roofs Piles of granules or loose shingles Missing adhesive or distorted flashing   These signs can easily be spotted from a distance by looking at the parameters of the roof and the fallen debris. If you think any structural damages have been caused to the roof, call a professional immediately to evaluate the situation and secure the property.   2. Collecting Proof   It would be best always to consider taking photos of the damage right after a natural disaster has occurred. This will help homeowner insurance providers in justifying your insurance claims. In addition, it would be beneficial if you have any photos of the property from when it was in its original state. This will help determine how much damage was caused and the original state of the roof before the disaster occurred. However, if you forget to take pictures, there’s nothing to worry about.     Usually, homeowner insurance providers send an individual to evaluate the property and take photos of the roof. If you need assistance with a thorough investigation of the property and someone to take the appropriate pictures, we can help. The RoofCrafters team will provide you with all the photographs detailing the damage and provide an estimate to make the repairs or roof replacement if needed.      3. Contacting the Insurance Company   Of course, the most important thing to do for an insurance claim is to contact the insurance company carrier. However, by contacting a professional roofer first, you could avoid filing an unnecessary claim with your insurance company which goes against you as filing a claim, yes, even if there is no damage.   Since the most common type of roof is an asphalt shingle roof that has a lifespan of 15-20 years, the insurance claim will likely be affected by the time of initial roof installment. Roofs that were fully depreciated before a natural calamity will not be eligible for insurance claims.   The insurance company will most likely send an adjuster to evaluate the damage and justify the claims. However, it’s always best to contact a professional roofer first to make sure it has damages that qualify for an insurance claim.   4. Contact a Roofing Professional Contacting the right roofer is extremely important. In addition to providing all the options for your roofing solutions, they will also provide you with assistance during the process of filing claims. A professional roofing company will have a team of experts who are trained to help you gather all the necessary documents and file the roof replacement insurance claim.   Should I See If My Insurance Will Replace My Roof?   Absolutely! There’s no harm in using your insurance to your advantage, that’s what it’s there for. In the end, the decision should only be influenced by the damage that is on the home. We also recommend always reading the fine print of a document to ensure everything is accounted for. When you’re ready to move forward with the process, make sure you look for a professional roofer, who demonstrates integrity and will provide a great experience.   When you get a new roof installed, you don’t want only the best quality materials, but the best quality of workmanship as well.  At RoofCrafters, we have an experienced team of professionals that would be happy to help you. So, if you’re looking for options, we can show you different material types, go over the different levels of warranty, or walk you through the insurance process.   If you have some more insurance questions, feel free to browse our resources in our learning center or drop us a line on our contact page. We’re always happy to help! Next, we suggest checking out our article, "insurance Roof Replacement Questions You Should Know" so that you can be better educated on how your homeowner's insurance can help you throughout your roof replacement.

There could be several reasons why you could need a professional roof inspection in Bluffton, South Carolina. 

When most people think about the southeast in the summertime, their minds go to palm trees, white sandy beaches, and most importantly, heat. Natives to Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, like myself, are accustomed to the rising temperatures. However, despite what most out-of-state people think, we still need insulation in our homes and businesses.