roof repair – Roofing Done Right!

How To File A Roof Damage Insurance Claim

Cecil Hoffman Main, roof repair, roof replacement

If you’ve experienced roofing damage, filing a claim with your insurance company can help cover the costs of repair or replacement. But before you start the process you need to understand your coverage. Homeowners insurance is a type of insurance policy that provides financial protection for your home and personal property in case of damage or loss. It’s important to understand what homeowners insurance covers and what it does not cover. The part of your policy we are concerned with here is dwelling coverage. It covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home if it’s damaged or destroyed by covered events, such as fire, wind, or hail. It typically covers the structure of your home, including the walls, roof, and foundation.

Most homeowner policies will not cover damage caused by earthquakes. You may need to purchase a separate earthquake insurance policy to protect against this type of damage. Also they won’t cover wear and tear on your home. It is not intended to cover the cost of normal wear and tear such as degraded shingles, rotted soffits, or sagging roofs due to age or poor construction. This type of damage is typically not covered by insurance. However, if your roof has been damaged by a storm, heavy wind or hail, then many policies will offer some or total coverage.

Here are the steps to follow when filing a roofing damage claim:

Assess The Roof Damage

Before filing a claim, it’s important to assess the damage to your roof. Look for signs of missing or damaged shingles, leaks, or other damage that may have been caused by wind, hail, or other weather events.

Review your policy

Also before filing a claim, review your insurance policy to understand what’s covered and what’s not. Some policies may have exclusions for certain types of damage or may require a higher deductible for roof damage.

Contact your insurance company

Call your insurance company and let them know that you need to file a claim for roofing damage. Be prepared to provide information about the damage, including when it occurred, and any pictures or video you may have.
Schedule an inspection: Your insurance company may send an adjuster to inspect the damage and determine the cost of repairs or replacement. Be sure to ask for a copy of the inspection report.

Get estimates

While you’re waiting for the adjuster to arrive, get estimates from at least three licensed and insured roofing contractors. Be sure to ask for detailed written estimates that include the cost of materials, labor, and any permits or fees.

File the claim

Once you have all the necessary information and estimates, file the claim with your insurance company. Be prepared to provide all the necessary documentation, including the inspection report and estimates from contractors.
Follow up: After filing the claim, follow up with your insurance company to ensure that the process is moving forward. Be sure to keep all documentation and communication in case you need to refer back to it.

Remember, you have been paying a sizable premium to the insurance company every year. When there is damage to any part of your home that is covered by the policy don’t hesitate to contact your insurance company. Filing a roofing damage claim can help cover the costs of repairs or replacement. Be sure to assess the damage, contact your insurance company, schedule an inspection, get estimates, review your policy, file the claim, and follow up to ensure the process is moving forward. By following these steps, you can help ensure that your roofing damage claim is handled smoothly and efficiently.

What You Should Know About Roof Repairs Before Buying A Previously Owned Home

Cecil Hoffman residential roofs, roof repair, roof replacement, shingle roofs emergency roof repair, residential roofing, roof leak

Whether a person is buying a home for the first or fifth time, the process is very exciting. It’s easy to be distracted by the excitement, overlooking certain issues (such as roof repair) that can be costly in the long term. Below are four things all homeowners should know about residential roof repair before they purchase a home.

Inspection Reports are Critical

The importance of a home inspection should not be underestimated. It’s a must-do that can help homeowners save money now and in the future. However, many buyers are so blinded by the excitement of buying a home that they gloss over problem areas. If there are issues with a home, regardless of its size, the buyer should hire a roofer for a complete examination and estimate for roof repair

More On Inspections

Inspectors are very good at inspecting the entire home. While they can spot some issues from the ground, their opinions on roofing issues should be re-evaluated. If there are no pressing issues in an initial inspection, the buyer should make an appointment with a roofer within the next six months. A roofer will climb onto the roof to offer a thorough inspection that a general inspector cannot match. Roofers are trained to spot problem areas, and homeowners should avoid trying to do the job alone.

Collect Documentation of Prior Replacement

Collecting proof of prior roofing installation is important, especially in decades-old homes. Ask the previous owner for the date of replacement, a list of materials used, and the available warranty. Find out which roofing contractor in that area worked on the project, which will make it easier to create a roof health file. These documents can be very helpful when planning and budgeting for roof replacement.

A New Roof Needn’t Be a Deal-Breaker

When a person is searching for a new home, they may overlook roof quality in favor of more superficial aspects. Buyers should know that roof repair does not mean they’ll have to give up their dream home. In fact, it can be a great bargaining tool. Depending on the style and size of the roof, a replacement can cost up to $30,000. If the home’s roof is nearing 20 years of age, the buyer should ask themselves if they can afford a replacement within the next few years.

Bottom Line: having the roof inspected by a professional roofer before you purchase the home can save you time and money in the long haul. If you want to learn more about roof repair, watch Bob Vila’s 4 Tips for Repairing A Leaky Roof.

Warning Signs That Indicate You May Need A New Roof

Cecil Hoffman flat roofs, metal roofs, roof repair, roof replacement, shingle roofs, tile roofs residential roofing, roof coverings, roof repair, roof replacement, roofing, roofing materials, roofing systems

Is it time to repair or replace your old roofing? Look out for these warning signals so that you know when it’s time to call a roofing contractor.

Many property owners figure they require a brand-new roofing system after they find even a small leak in their ceiling. This leakage could be as a result of various roof covering problems. But what factors truly identify whether roof repair work will resolve the trouble, or your house needs a roof replacement?

It’s important to remember to get quotes from at least 3 pros! You should always look for a roofer who has good reviews and some manufacturers certifications like this company in Lancaster Pa. You can see their GAF Certification right on their website like this lancaster pa roofing company: https://lancasterroofingmasters.com/

Below are some suggestions to help you figure out if you need a new roof.

Roofing age

Just how old is your existing asphalt shingle roof? Many specialists agree that a normal roof will certainly last between 20-25 years. You must also take into consideration on whether the old roofing system was eliminated and you only have one layer of shingles, and if it is properly aerated. If the roofing was installed over one layer or a number of layers and it is older than twenty years, chances are you require a brand-new roof covering.

Shingles curling and/or visibly distorting

Roof shingles that are curled or buckling are another sign that you may need a new roof. Check out the sides of your residence that get straight sunlight and look to see if the roof shingles are crinkling or losing granules as well. It could indicate that the shingles are past their life span. It could also mean that the roof covering is defective. In this case, contact a certified professional roofer to see if you could be eligible for reimbursement.

Contours (valleys and peaks) in your roof

If your roofing tiles are falling apart or missing in areas, it’s a certain sign you require a brand-new roofing system. Valley locations of your roofing system can cause rain and snow to circulate through valleys and into rain gutters. If the valley is endangered, you could be prone to roofing system leakages.

Missing shingles

These are an additional indicator your roof covering could be failing. Examine to see if all of the roof shingles “tabs” are intact.

Chimney flashing issues

This is an additional area to be worried about. If your chimney has an undercoat of tar or concrete as the seal between the roof and the brick or stone and morter, it may have to be replaced replaced with a long-term, water-tight metal flashing system.

Shingle granules in the gutters.

Look in your seamless gutters to see whether they are loaded up with shingle granules. Roofs often tend to lose more granules toward completion of their life process. Variation in color on some parts of the roof is another sign the granules have actually deteriorated.

Daylight showing through the roofing.

If you notice a squishy feeling or trampoline bounce when walking on the roofing system, this may imply the underlying outdoor decking is compromised from wetness. Inspect your attic room to see if there is any type of daylight coming through the roofing system boards. Also check for moisture in the insulation.

What To Do If Your Roof Leaks During A Storm

Cecil Hoffman flat roofs, metal roofs, roof repair, shingle roofs, tile roofs emergency roof repair, roof leak, roof repair, storm damage roof

Roof leaks are a big problem in any weather, but a roofing system that starts to leak during a severe rain storm can soon turn into a major emergency. Extreme stormy weather can leave you with an exposed roof and a major issue on your hands. A roof leak is most likely to show its ugly head during a heavy rain storm, especially when there are strong winds. Unfortunately, this is also when roofing contractors get swamped with phone calls from panicked home owners.

Whether triggered by hail storm, wind or rainfall, roof leaks need to be managed as soon as possible to limit water damage and preserve the integrity of your home.

First Things First

The first thing you should do if you spot a leak from an exposed roof covering after a significant storm is contain the leakage from the within so you can reduce interior damage. If your roofing has actually been damaged to the point where shingles and flashing around chimneys and other areas are missing or damaged, or if there’s an opening in the roofing outdoor decking, there’s bound to be an active water leak inside your home. You will need to go up into your attic, locate the water penetration source and do what you can to limit the spread of water by placing buckets or other large containers being certain to check them often and empty them when needed.

If you have time in advance, move any materials or furniture in the area that could be damaged by moisture. You may also want to put down drop cloths, garbage bags or tarps on the floor to make sure that carpeting and flooring stay dry.

Usually, a roof leak will form a tiny pool in the ceiling till it finds a way to escape. This will typically be something like a light in the ceiling, a heating register or just beneath a joist. Ceiling corners are also other spots where leaks will certainly often occur. In some cases they find outlets in numerous places but the original leak is from one source, making it look even worse than it usually is. If the ceiling is holding water or you see a lump in the drywall, jab a screw driver or other sharp object into the opening in order to drain the puddling water into a bucket that you will have placed beneath it. This will help minimize the damages to the ceiling and force the water to exit from a single location.

To accumulate the water, you can always make use of pails or large cooking pots, however the most effective concept is to utilize a garbage container that you use for your waste disposal company pickup. These containers are huge and usually have wheels, making them simpler to relocate even if they are full of water.

Since it would exceptionally unsafe to go up on your roof during a storm, containing the leak from inside you house ought to be your key objective.

What To Do Following The Storm

Only after the leak is controlled from inside and the rain has stopped and the storm has passed should you deal with stopping the leak at its source. Your very first and best move should be to call an expert roofing contractor to assess the damage and take care of the leak. If that is not possible and you have to take action to temporarily stop a leak from an exposed roof then safety should be your number one concern.

Here’s What You Can Do Temporarily

Walk the perimeter of your home to check for any type of indication of roof damage, including shingles that might have blown off or that look loose or broken, as well as any kind of displaced flashing around your chimney or damages to the chimney itself. If you find the leak in the roof from the outside you can make use of a tarp to temporarily secure it while you wait for roofing experts to make the final repair. Keep in mind that this is only an emergency procedure developed to limit roofing damage from fast-approaching storms when a roofer isn’t available to make the long-term repairs in time.

Safety On The Roof

Before going up on to your roof you should make a trip to a local rental store to rent a safety harness and roping so that you can work safely. Most rental places can instruct you how to use the equipment to best ensure your safety when working on your roof. There are also some helpful videos online if you search for roofing safety harnesses and equipment use.

You will need a heavy duty woven plastic tarpaulin that is large enough to cover the location of exposed or damaged roof plus an extra 3 to 4 feet on each side. You will also need numerous two-by-fours and screws long enough to go through the 2 X 4 plus an extra inch so they can penetrate into the roofing system to firmly connect the tarpaulin.

How To Secure The Tarp On Your Roof

Roll the end of the tarp around a two-by-four and then screw it firmly to the wood. Affix the two by four to the top of the roofing system over the damaged portion. Roll the remainder of the tarpaulin over the exposed roof leak area until it gets to a couple of feet past the damaged area. Roll the end around another two-by-four, then screw the wood two-by-four into position on the roof, roll-side down. If needed, utilize extra two-by-fours to secure the sides of the tarp.

Now it’s time to get back on the phone and make sure your roofing contractor prioritizes you and gets the repair done promptly and correctly.

Shingle Warranties – Are They Worth It?

Cecil Hoffman roof repair, roof replacement, shingle roofs residential roofing, roof repair

Most companies that make roofing shingles will offer warranties that range from about 20 years up to 50 years. They utilize impressive-sounding long-term warranties to persuade buyers that their roof shingles are the best available and also that they will last the longest. They will talk about the shingles algae resistance, wind tolerance, and also whether the guarantee can be transferred when you sell your home to a new person. This last item can add value to the home when you go to sell it. These guarantees are usually one of shingle producers’ main selling points.

You shouldn’t allow yourself to be swayed by a warranty that sounds way too good to be real. Also asphalt roof shingle manufacturing companies that offer decades-long warranties or lifetime guarantees don’t anticipate your roofing to last longer than about twenty years. According to many roofers, service warranties “aren’t worth a nickle” if the company that offers it isn’t around 10 years later when you need them.

When Your Roof Leaks

The majority of roofing systems that stop working throughout the service warranty period do so due to the fact that they were installed incorrectly. Roof shingle manufacturers like Certainteed and GAF often get phone calls from homeowners whose roof coverings (usually asphalt shingles) stopped working due to the fact that the installation was done with nails rather than the method advised by the manufacturer like using screws in a high-wind area. Given that the contractor is most likely to cause an issue rather than the shingle actually being the issue, you should make sure your roof is put on by a reputable local contractor who has been around long enough to establish a good reputation. .

Product Manufacturer Issues vs. Roofing Contractor Errors

Shingle manufacturers will only pay the homeowner when the roof shingles are found to have a defect that can be traced back to actual shingle issues as opposed to roof installation errors. Most roofers will never see a product defect that will require the manufacturer to pay out a warranty claim. Most products that are used today are of good quality and the chance of a defect that will cause the roofing system to fail is extremely rare. Shingle companies must compete against each other and that drives them to produce top-quality products that help ensure no warranty claims will ever need to be addressed. Even if you are among the rare home owners whose roofing system stops working due to malfunctioning shingles, obtaining reimbursement for the actual product won’t alleviate the cost of labor to repair your roofing system. The roof shingles are not the most expensive part of any type of roofing system or roof covering. Labor is by far the biggest cost of roofing and therefore it is more important that you choose a good roofing contractor. The actual shingles will only make up about fifteen to twenty percent of the cost of a repair. There are other materials such as nails, screws, underlayment, sheathing and possibly membrane materials, plumbing boots and flashing that will make up some of the costs. A warranty that covers replacement shingles, yet not labor, may represent only a few hundred dollars of the thousands required to repair or completely replace your roofing system.

Some Hurdles You May Have To Overcome

Although your shingles might be covered by a 30 or 40-year service warranty, the majority of these lasting service warranties are prorated after the first couple of years. They may cover one hundred percent of the replacement expense of malfunctioning shingles for 5 or 10 years. But afterwards, several warranties cover only a diminishing percentage of the cost. We have listened to numerous roofing contractors state that the warranty will cover less and less as the roof ages. This is something you should be aware of. They will not cover the full cost of repair or replacement in year 10!

The claims process itself can be another obstacle to a successful shingle guarantee claim. Each shingle manufacturing firm has a different system for assessing and handling warranty claims. Some companies, such as GAF will send a firm representative out to evaluate your roofing system. Even if the roofing system stopped working because of an installation error and also not because of a production defect, they will certainly help property owners work with their installers to deal with the scenario because they want the roofers who install their products to have some responsibility. If the roofing contractor is no longer in business, some manufacturers will be willing to share a portion of the cost to repair the roof with the homeowner.

Although some companies are very good about helping homeowners to resolve the issues with their roof, others may be less accommodating. One of the major manufacturers who is not a US based company, is not as customer-friendly. The homeowner can call the firm or file an insurance claim and hope that the insurance company will do battle with the shingle manufacturer. The insurance claims person may contact the manufacturer with a list of product complaints, including pictures of the faulty shingles, survey notes and possibly a physical sample of the damaged shingles.

How To Determine If Your Roof Shingles Are Actually Defective

So, since you’re now doubtful when it comes to roof shingle warranties, how do you figure out whether the issue of a leaking roof is brought on by faulty shingles? A lot of the most common production defects can be identified by an untrained eye. Despite typical wear-and-tear, your roofing system will not look like new for very long. This doesn’t mean you have actually been duped or that you’ve been sold an inferior shingle. Often you can identify issues that are abvious such as shingles that are blistering, splitting or fracturing. This may mean that they are defective but the issue could also be how they were installed. Small amounts of curling at the edges is often present even in regular, correctly made shingles. However considerable curling may be an indicator of trouble. Bald spots, where the granules outside of the shingle are exfoliating and exposing the asphalt is another tell-tale sign of a failing shingle. Discoloration might be triggered by algae development which will often occur on the north side of a roof where is doesn’t receive much sunlight. Not all roof shingles are ensured against algae growth damage so you should thoroughly read the fine print to find out if your shingles are supposed to be warranted against algae growth.

Different Shingles Carry Different Warranties

Also within one company, warranties can vary from one shingle to the next. For example, CertainTeed makes thirty-seven various roof shingles, each with a various guarantee. Some cover materials as well as labor, while a few of their limited warranties do not even cover substitute shingles. Unless the shingle service warranty covers labor as well as products, the cash you receive from the business might not also cover the cost of paying a person to climb up on your roofing to take images and also collect examples of your faulty roof shingles. CertainTeed supplies claimants $50 to defray the expense of submitting an insurance claim, whether the case is successful or not. But other companies do not reimburse homeowners for these costs.

Transferring the Guarantee to a New Owner When You Sell Your Home

If you were the homeowner who had a new shingled roof installed, check the details of the warranty. Many roofers will not allow the warranty to transfer to a new homeowner. Unless you have something in writing that guarantees and allows for a transfer of the warranty, you might be out of luck. Roof shingle guarantees are generally more likely to be transferable than contractor labor assurances. It is a rare roofer who will allow a labor warranty to transfer when you sell your home to a new buyer.

If you acquire a home after the roof installation took place you should inquire prior to closing require to identify whether the original warranty is transferable. Some manufactures of shingle and other roofing products such as Decra, will allow you to move the warranties to the buyers of your home. Companies like CertainTeed have “limited transfer-ability,” which implies it depends on which line of shingles were installed on your roof. Their expanded guarantees are not transferable.

At the minimum, when getting a home with a newer roofing system, you need to ask the seller for the name of the roofer who did the installment, the type of shingles utilized, as well as the date of installation. This is very important information to have and most home buyers fail to ask for this. But even if the previous owner is long gone, you may still be able to figure out what type of shingles you have. You can take an example shingle to a distributor of asphalt shingles who should be able to tell you what the actual shingle is including the name of the manufacturer. Most shingles likewise have codes on the back that tell individuals who work in the market which firm made the shingle, which plant the shingles came from, as well as the year of manufacture.

If you can not locate a supplier or wise roofer to aid you in finding the codes, some manufacturers will be able to help even if the shingle is not theirs. Certainteed has a service department who will certainly help identify a shingle. Their lab technicians make use of the codes to tell whether the roof shingles were made by them or another shingle manufacturer.

In Closing

Hopefully the information in this article will help you to understand roofing system warranties and what you should look for when assessing them. You be far better off knowing what may be worth paying extra for and what may be just a bunch of fluff to get you to pay more for the shingle and total roofing system. It may be worth paying more for a roofing professional who provides a good, long-term warranty including labor warranty that will cover any issues that may arise during the next 10 to 20 years. Having a roof warranty that is transferable may make your house extra eye-catching and more appealing to possible buyer making it easier to sell your home.

Welcome to Roofing Done Right!

Cecil Hoffman commercial roofs, flat roofs, metal roofs, roof repair, roof replacement, shingle roofs, tile roofs roofing

Welcome and thank you for taking the time to visit our blog. We have a network of roofing professionals who are willing to help you understand how your roofing system works, what you need to do to fix it and how to find the right contractor if you decide to hire one. Our focus is on helping homeowners but much of our content will benefit even the most seasoned pros as the industry continues to change and progress with new, more efficient tools and better, longer-lasting products.

Although we will concentrate on roofing, some of our contributors are experts in various home repair and construction projects. We will tap their knowledge to help you with how-to articles about everything from patching damaged drywall to fixing a leaking faucet. Please come back often as we will continue to post articles on a regular basis. Any one of them might be the solution your were looking for and it could save you thousands of dollars.