Be sure to take pictures of the damage (pictures of the storm, are a huge plus!). Hail damage and other types of storm damage to roofs are legitimate insurance claims. Most of the time, this type of damage is not covered by your roof warranty, and in order to ensure your roof’s integrity and warranty are in place, you will need to file an insurance claim and get the roof repaired back to a warrantable point. Typically, this also extends the warranty on the roof.To the untrained eye it is difficult to know if you have had hail or storm damage, especially if you have not actually gone up and looked at your roof! If you are not sure whether or not you have had hail damage, give us a call at 623.516.2400 for a free inspection and repair quote.Also, it does not matter how old your roof is. If it has damage then you qualify for an insurance claim. Additionally, you can file a claim up to ONE year after the damage (in most situations).

In order to properly file an insurance claim on your roof, be sure to take the following steps:

1. Note the date of the storm or hail storm.
2. Avoid storm chasers (e.g. out of town roofers)!
3. Get an opinion from a local expert (i.e. call McBride Construction Roofing at 623.516.2400)
4. Check to make sure your roofing company or general contractor is licensed, bonded, and insured.
5. Have your roofer meet with your insurance adjuster to ensure that your insurance company will cover the full cost of repairing or replacing your roof.
6. If you don’t get the full amount needed to repair your property, ask your roofer or general contractor to get involved with your insurance adjuster to fight on your behalf for more money.

How do I get Paid on my Hail/Storm Damage Insurance Claim?
After the insurance adjuster has provided an “estimate” to fix your property, you will get a check for Actual Cash Value. This amount is Total Replacement (or Repair) Cost minus depreciation and your deductible. This is not the total they are willing to pay you. The Depreciation is actually called “Recoverable Depreciation”. You use the initial amount as a deposit to hire a roofing contractor or general contractor, then upon completion of the job you submit an invoice from your contractor to the insurance company for the remaining Recoverable Depreciation. Sometimes your insurance company will issue this check as a joint check between you and your contractor to ensure that they are paying for something that actually got done.

For example, let’s say you have a 10 Year Foam Roof System that is 5 years old and cost $20,000, and your deductible is $500. The insurance company will give you Actual Cash Value of $20,000 minus 50% Depreciation and your $500 deductible. So you will get a payment of $9,500.00. Use this as your down payment with your roofer of choice. Then upon completion of the job, the remaining $10,000 will be paid upon your insurance company receiving the final invoice from your roofing contractor.

My insurance company said I have to use their roofer or contractor?
This is not true. By law you are allowed to use any roofer or contractor you choose that is licensed in Arizona to do roofing or general contracting, and the insurance company has to honor that roofer’s pricing as long as it is reasonable (which is determined from industry standard price lists). So be sure to pick the best roofer or contractor, because all you have to do is pay your deductible, so why pick a cheap contractor, when you can pick the best and pay the same price (your deductible)!

The following is a list of keywords that you may find on your insurance claim.Line Item Total:
This is the total value of all line items in your insurance estimate plus adjustments for base service charges. Base Service Charges are additional charges that account for the cost the contractor or service provider incurs when mobilizing, scheduling, and transporting people and materials to the job site, and may be included in the line item portion of your insurance estimate.General Contractor’s Overhead and Profit:
General contractor’s charge for coordinating your repairs.

Replacement Cost Value (RCV):
Estimated cost to repair or replace damaged property.

Depreciation:
The decrease in the value of property over a period of time due to wear, tear, condition, and obsolescence. A portion or all of this amount may be eligible for replacement cost benefits.

Deductible:
The insurer will pay for losses, up to the policy limits, in excess of your applicable deductible.

Net Actual Cash Value Payment (ACV):
The repair or replacement cost of the damaged part of the property less depreciation and deductible.

Non Recoverable Depreciation:
Depreciation applied to items that are not eligible for replacement cost benefits. This is very rare, so be sure to ask why this item shows up on your insurance claim if it is there.

Total Maximum Additional Amount if Incurred:
Total amount of recoverable deprecation after actual repair or replacement of the property.

Total Amount of Claim if Incurred:
Total amount of the claim, including net actual cash value payment and total maximum additional amount available if incurred.

Your insurance policy, in most cases, will provide full replacement cost coverage for most of the loss or damage done to your home. Replacement cost coverage pays the actual and necessary cost of repair or replacement (not just the estimated), without a deduction for depreciation, but subject to the limits of liability in your particular policy. For example, if you are insured up to $100,000 and have a $110,000 roof repair the insurance company will only pay up to $100,000 and you are responsible for the remaining $10,000.To Receive replacement cost benefits (e.g. your recoverable depreciation), you must:

1. Complete the actual repair or replacement of the damaged parts of the property within the allotted amount of time (typically one year from the date of loss); and
2. Notify your insurance company within 30 days after the work has been completed; and
3. Confirm completion of the repair or replacement, by submitting invoices, receipts and any other documentation to your agent or claim office.

Until these requirements have been satisfied, the insurance company’s payment(s) to you will be for the actual cash value of the damaged part of the property, which will most likely include a deduction for depreciation.

Without waiving the above requirements, your insurance company may consider paying replacement cost benefits prior to actual repair or replacement if they determine repair or replacement costs will be incurred because repairs are substantially under way or you present to them a signed contract that is accepted by your insurance company. (e.g. you should get your insurance company’s approval prior to signing any contract with a roofing company or contractor to repair your property, by doing so your insurance company may put forth more funding up front).

Typically, your insurance company’s estimate is not enough to repair the damages, which is why it is important for you to get an experienced professional contractor to assist you in making sure you are getting covered for all your hail/storm related damages. Note, in this situation, you must submit your contractor’s repair/replacement cost proposal to your insurance company and authorize your insurance company to call your contractor in regards to your property. Then at this point your contractor can represent you with your claim and negotiate with your insurance company to make sure you get all the necessary repairs.

Note, there may also be building codes, ordinances, laws, or regulations that will affect the repairs of your property. These items may or may not be covered by your policy. This is also another good reason to hire a local, licensed, experienced professional contract who understands any issues that may arise.

If my policy provides full replacement cost coverage, why am I not being paid full replacement cost?
If your policy provides replacement cost coverage, the loss settlement conditions state the replacement cost is paid only after repairs are completed and that money has actually been spent towards the repairs. Your insurance company will initially issue you only a partial payment, which is the estimated replacement cost minus any deductible and recoverable depreciation. This is to allow you to secure a contractor and begin the repair process. When the repairs have been completed, submit copies of your paid repair receipts and then your insurance company will issue you payment for the recoverable depreciation.My insurance company wrote a check to me and my mortgagee. What do I do?
In most situations, under the terms of your insurance policy contract, any loss payable for damage to your building may be paid to both you and your mortgagee, as both have an insurable interest in the home. In most cases, your insurance company is unable to remove the mortgagee from your check without their written permission. To endorse the check, contact your mortgage company and they will guide you through their procedures to endorse insurance checks.How do I find a contractor to perform repairs?
You should select your own contractor that you are comfortable and confident with as a vendor who will be working on your home. Before signing any contract with a contractor, you should check references by talking with neighbors, friends, relatives, checking Google for Reviews, Kudzu, Professional Organizations they belong to, and other references. Remember to present a copy of your insurance estimate to your contractor. In most cases, your contractor will work off this particular estimate. This also ensures you are following the scope of your insurance company to make sure you qualify for the recoverable depreciation upon final billing. If there is any discrepancy between your insurance company’s recommended scope and your contractor’s recommended scope, be sure to get your insurance company approval to work with your contractor to negotiate and settle on a scope of work, prior to commencing any repairs.

My contractor has written an estimate which is more than what my insurance company has written. What do I do?
Your insurance company’s adjuster may have missed some items, or may not have the most current market pricing on items. Additional damages are often found in insurance claims. Most differences between estimates can be settled over the phone between your insurance company and your contractor. If this is your situation, you should call your insurance adjuster immediately and inform them to work with your contractor to resolve the differences and make the necessary adjustments within the terms of your policy.

My insurance company said I have to submit 3 bids to them. Why can’t I chose who I want to use?
You do not have to submit 3 bids. This is what we call “bogus”. It isn’t in your policy, and your insurance company may be trying to make you accept the lowest bid to do the work, instead of who you feel is the best contractor to do the work. You should mention to them that you have read through your policy and that it does not stipulate anywhere that you have to submit to them 3 bids. In actuality, you have the right to chose whichever contractor you are most comfortable with and who you believe will do the best work, and as long as they are licensed in the state of the work your insurance company should work with them. So use who you want to use!

If you have any questions or concerns with your insurance claim, feel free to call our office at 623.516.2400 and ask to speak to one of our estimators.

In the end, you get a new roof (and other repairs/replacements)
for the price of your deductible!
So what do you have to lose? Call McBride Construction Roofing now at 623.516.2400 for a free monsoon/hail/wind damage inspection!