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How Insurance Claims Work For Roofing Contractors

May 17, 2021 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

Learning how insurance claims work will help you land more roofing jobs and grow your roofing company. Understanding the ins and outs of insurance will reduce unnecessary delays and get you paid much faster. Homeowners’ insurance can be difficult to navigate but understanding how a roofing claim works isn’t nearly as complicated. In this blog we will give you a better understanding of how you can better work with insurance companies, and get your customers to get the most for their roof replacements.

Once a customer recognizes that they have had damage done to their roof by a storm it is important that they file a claim as soon as possible. I have had customers call us at the office looking for an estimate before even calling their insurance company and I always advise them to file the claim first. The homeowner will schedule a time for an adjuster to assess the damage by inspecting the roof and will advise either a full replacement or repair.

If the homeowner has called your local roofing company to come out for an estimate you can also request to be there at the same time as the adjuster. This can help get the homeowner more from their insurance by answering questions and making sure they don’t miss damage. Once the adjuster has completed the roof inspection they will draw up an assessment of the damage and send it to the insurance company.

The next step would be to review the claim, this is also known as the damage assessment and is reviewed by the insurance company. Your insurance company will determine how much money you will receive and if they think your roof is in need of a repair or full replacement. Having your local roofing contractor present will help steer the adjuster in the appropriate direction needed to get you the most out of your claim. This process can take a few weeks so it is best to get your claim in as soon as possible. As your insurance company is reviewing your claim they may request more information from you in order to provide you with the best estimate. It is important to respond promptly so the claim can move along quickly. If you took pictures yourself or have other types of evidence then be prepared to submit that as well.

Once your claim has been reviewed the next step would be to process and finalize it. At this stage in the process your insurance company will now mail you a check to cover the damages that were assessed for your roof damage. The check is not mailed to the roofing company, so it is important to let your chosen local roofing company know when you receive the funds so they can schedule your job. Most roofing companies require a deposit of at least half down to get you on their build schedule. This is so they have the funds to order your roofing materials in order to start your roof replacement.

In order to make the most out of your claim process there are a few things you can do to ensure the best possible outcome. Having good communication with the insurance company and claims department will give a better understanding of the insurance related terms and concepts. Answering questions that come up are much easier when you as a business owner understand how the whole process works and is progressing. Once you have a good grasp on terms and conditions used by insurance adjusters reading and filling out paperwork correctly will come naturally. This will also help ensure that no major errors are taking place on your end.

Another key role you play as a preferred roofing contractor is advocating for the homeowner. Most homeowners don’t deal with their insurance company often so it is easy to feel in over their head. Especially when discrepancies between the insurance company and you the preferred roofing contractor arise. If you have recommended a full roof replacement but the insurance adjuster is only quoting damage for repairs, this can be very confusing for the homeowner. Guidance is an important part of your job when working with your customers and their insurance companies, they will look to you as someone with experience in navigating through their claim.

You would have already provided the insurance company with a copy of the estimate that your roofing company had come up with and you want to be sure that it is as accurate as possible so the homeowner can achieve the best outcome. This will not only help them in getting the best result for their roofing project but also for you as their preferred roofing contractor as growing your businesses reputation by providing excellent customer service.

Another piece of advice is to keep good records as a preferred roofing contractor and also for the homeowner. The more evidence you have for the roofing claim the better and keeping a good record of all paperwork will reduce delays and keep the process running smoothly. Also it is important that these records are easily accessible by everyone on your team so that a response can be given to the insurance company promptly.

How To Inspect a Roof

November 10, 2020 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

When it comes to doing maintenance around your home, the roof is easy to forget about. Doing a professional inspection once a year is recommended but you can easily inspect your roof on your own. Being aware of the condition of your roof will help you get the most out of it, by correcting any issues you see before more damage is done. The most common cause of water damage is from a leaky roof so it is important to be sure to properly inspect it at least once per year, and also after any major storms. We can easily help you identify things that may be problematic on your own, so you can then make a decision if a repair or full replacement is needed. Inspecting your roof has never been easier with these steps!

What happens during a roof inspection?

First step would be to walk around the exterior of your home, inspecting your roof from the ground to see what you can see at eye level. Inspecting your roof from the ground can still give you a good example of its condition if you don’t have a ladder or you’re afraid of heights. Look for signs of any damage, sagging, or ageing and take notes on what you think might be an issue to let your local roofing contractor know. While you are looking up at your roof, be sure to check out the flashing. Flashing is the main entry point for water and needs to be kept in good shape to work properly. Damaged flashing can cause immense damage under the surface of your roof. If you see damaged flashing a professional inspection may be necessary to be sure there are no underlying issues.

If your home has skylights examine the inside where the seams meet your ceiling and also on the exterior, where the shingles meet the skylight. If you see old shingles around your skylights you may have water damage. Looking closely at soil stacks, if your home has one. This is important to check for any cracks and issues with the “stack boot,” and not to opt for a cheap version that will not last you. Installing a soil stack that won’t last you as long as your roof will only cause you bigger problems down the road.

Inspecting your chimney is an area that you are able to check out without having to hop on top of your roof. Make sure to look around the perimeter of the chimney where water is directed away from your house, during heavy snow or rain, precipitation lands right at the chimney which can cause leaks or damage over time.

Look for moss, algae, or piles of leaves on your homes roof, these areas are notorious for costly leaks and water damage. Moss can severely damage the integrity of a roof because moss absorbs moisture and puts down roots causing degradation. These roots can lift shingles allowing constant moisture which can lead to mold and many other problems. Algae can adhere to the roof causing permanent stains and eventually damage underlying materials. If moisture seeps into the wood of your roof, it will cause rotting and compromise the strength of your roof.

As you are walking the perimeter of your home looking up at the roof, check to see if there are any curled or cracked shingles. Hot air from the attic often can cause shingles to curl away from the roof, putting you at risk for water damage and poor ventilation. Another important place to inspect is the attic, checking for rotted wood on the roof, and how well the insulation is holding up. If the insulation is poor there might be excess wear on the roof where heat can leak through. During cold winter months your homes heat leaking out can create serious issues causing ice dams to form. This happens when snow melts on the roof and runs down freezing along the way.

As you are looking at the condition of the shingles on your roof, also try to check for granule loss. Granules are the texture part of the shingles that feels slightly like sandpaper, these help deflect UV rays, make shingles fire resistant, and also makes packaging much easier. If you see loss of granules it may indicate your shingles have aged or been largely affected by severe weather. If you have a lot of granular loss then the shingles are no longer protecting your home from the elements, and you should consider calling your local roofing contractor for a professional inspection.

Another area commonly overlooked by homeowners is the gutters. Cleaning out your gutters is so important because that is why most water damage is caused by being clogged. A gutter system can accumulate up to 300 pounds of water and debris each year. The best time to clean out your gutters is in late spring, this is the prime opportunity to remove the buildup that accumulates from blooming and lingering winter. Along with maintenance for your gutters, pressure washing them out along with your roof at least once per year is suggested.

When should you inspect a roof?

Inspecting your roof should be a year routine maintenance, like we have said previously it is a great idea to get a professional roofing inspection once per year, usually in the spring, but you should inspect your roof and exterior of your home every few months. If you always have your eye out for potential problems it is much eraser to address the issues before they get too big and expensive.

You’ve completed inspecting your roof, now what?

After you have finished inspecting your roof with the help of these easy tips, review your findings. If you have found potential problems or concerns contact your local roofing contractor and make an appointment. Being proactive as a homeowner will save you a ton of money in the long run. As always when seeking out the best roofing company be sure to read reviews from their customers and look at pictures of their work.

New Year’s Roof Resolutions

January 1, 2020 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

The Infinite Roofing Team is reminding homeowners and business owners of the importance of the roof over their heads. Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home or business, both aesthetically and functionally, so it makes perfect sense to keep a close eye on it to keep it in good health. We’re recommending that you add your roof to this year’s list of important New Year’s Resolutions.

Scheduling A Professional Inspection

Most homeowners and business owners are unable to spot faults on their own in a roofing system until it’s too late or until water has penetrated the surface. Therefore, by scheduling an inspection with your local roofing contractor, they can help pinpoint any potential problems before it is too late. The point of having a roofing contractor is so that they can provide a complete and thorough inspection of your roofing system. As a homeowner possibly without very much roofing experience, it would be much harder for you to spot any problems than a trained and experienced professional. A professional roofing contractor could find any leaks, roof membrane damage, and membrane deterioration. Your local roofing contractor can also give you advice and recommendations on how you can improve the safety, longevity and durability of your roofing system.

Think of a roof inspection as a preventative measure that could save you thousands of dollars in per year. A professional roof inspection can reveal structural weaknesses in your roof, deficiencies, or damage that can lead to much more expensive roof repairs if left unchecked. A roof inspection also includes a thorough check-up of your home’s ceilings and interior walls for possible water infiltration such as ceiling tile stains, incorrect roof flashing, excessive debris, and curb or pipe penetrations. A comprehensive roof inspection can catch membrane deterioration early and have it fixed, if possible.

Make your new year’s goal, getting your roof checked at least twice per year! Some warranties won’t be completed without a thorough roofing inspection by a reputable local roofing contractor. Roof penetrations and incorrect flashing could potentially void the manufacturer’s roof warranty. Deterioration and damage can lead to premature roof leaks and cause serious emergency situations or disruption to your property. Preventative action always pays off! Therefore, we strongly recommend that you make scheduling a professional roof inspection a New Year’s Resolution.

Keep An Eye On Your Gutters

It’s critical to keep your gutters in working order to allow water overflow to drain from your roofing system. You want to ensure that water flows away from your roof without pooling in corners. You can also check your gutters to find out if you have significant and threatening shingle or tile breakage as well. The role of gutters is to route rainwater away from your home. It can be difficult for homeowners to identify minor gutter issues before they become full-blown failures. Neglect leads to clogs, which can cause leaks in the gutters. These leaks typically form at the joints, at the areas where gutters lengths and downspout meet. These areas are often sealed using a sealant, which can get worn out due to weather exposure. Gutters will also tend to overflow if clogged, so cleaning them regularly at least twice a year is important. Holes from rust spots are yet another source of leaks and can develop from the smallest exposed metal surfaces.

Water pooling around your home’s foundation is the biggest risk you would face when neglecting your gutters. This weakens the ground that the foundation sits on, which could cause the house to settle inappropriately. Also, your home’s foundation is made of concrete and concrete absorbs water. Water pooling around the foundation due to faulty gutters can weaken the foundation, causing irreparable damage. The fascia boards that hold the gutters in place could get damaged as well. The exposed wood will begin to rot if soaked in water. Gutter hangers could come loose, necessitating a complete gutter replacement.

Replace Missing Shingles Or Tiles

If your home or business has loose or missing shingles or tiles, you may wind up facing much more than an aesthetic problem. With missing or damaged shingles or tiles, your roof is much less likely to remain weatherproof.

When shingles from your roof fall from their adhesive backing or nails give out, they leave the insulating and adhesive layers open to the elements. This exposure can cause roof leaks, structural damage, weatherproofing damage and dry rot. Even if the open patch of a roof is small, average amounts of rainfall are enough to soak the layers between the exposed area of your roof and the inside of your home. Unwanted wetness in your home will cause roof damage as well as weaken floorboards, soak the insulation, and let moisture into your foundation.

Over time, the water from roof leakage can weaken your home’s structural beams and foundation, causing much larger, permanent problems. If your support beams fail to provide support for the weight of your house, you may experience foundation cracking, roof caving, and wall breakage.

Dry and hot as well as frequently changing weather conditions will stretch, condense, and water down the weatherproofing and adhesive layers beneath your roof tile. After these layers are exposed to dry air and direct sunlight due to missing shingles, they will lose their protective properties.

In hot weather areas, unprotected parts of your roof will experience dry, scorching air throughout the entire day. The air saps the moisture from places that need oil and moisture to function properly, causing them to expand without pliability. They will crack and weaken, leaving them vulnerable to breakage. These problems can also occur in combination. When they do, small problems with over-dryness or excessive moisture can cause much larger problems for the entirety of your house.

Since residential and commercial roofs in the region have to put with so much constantly changing weather, the cause of slipped, broken, and missing roof tiles or shingles can be one of a combination of the following:

Wind – Even if your roof is built with consideration for wind damage, strong, gusting winds can still pull shingles from their place if the come with enough force.
Trauma- Unusual weather events such as hail, rainstorms, or blizzards can pull tiles from their place. Tiles will slowly weaken and break from too much impact.
Dryness- Most types of roofing require moisture to stay weatherproof and secure. Droughts and severely hot weather will pull that necessary moisture from the tiles.
Weakening- Underlayment and sheathing underneath your tiles will start to give in to the elements over time. This allows your shingles to slip and opens them up to damage.

Consider Roof Cleaning

Cleaning your roof not only helps to please the eye, but it also helps in keeping it in efficient working order. Eliminating leaf and debris buildup can reduce the risk of mold and mildew that can seriously threaten the functionality of your roofing system.

Roof cleaning is commonly overlooked, however, when the siding of your home is dirty or the paint is peeling, it becomes an obvious sign that it is time for maintenance. However, the roof of your home tends to be a bit more out of the line of sight. As they say— “Out of sight, out of mind”. What many homeowners fail to consider is that a roof that is not properly cleaned and maintained can lead to damage which will shorten the lifespan of perhaps the most important protective feature of your home.

Your roof is exposed to the elements all day, every day. Dirt and debris will collect on it. Natural rainfall is typically enough to wash off the appearance of most superficial dirt. However, the dark stains and green areas that appear on your roof are caused by other natural elements. Some of these elements are algae, lichens, and moss.

If you have ever noticed any black stains on your roof, these stains are a growth called algae. Algae feed off both asphalt and limestone roofing in moist, cool and shaded areas of your roof. When there is minimal light, algae forms a blue-green color. The more shaded areas of the roof are more likely to have this algae, which can also harbor various types of molds. This explains why some roofs are stained only on one side. These algae spores are transported by wind or animals and can quickly spread from rooftop to rooftop in neighborhoods of single-family homes, townhomes, apartments and commercial complexes.

Lichens are essentially a combination of algae and fungus. Lichens are a fungus that grows along with algae. These plant-like organisms from a branching growth of root-like tentacles that penetrate deep into the shingle’s base for nourishment. Lichens are tough to remove from the roof and can reappear from humidity and rain.

Unlike algae and lichens, moss is an actual plant. Moss has a shallow root system and requires a lot of moisture to survive. Areas with less sunlight remain damp longer. Overhanging tree branches not only provide more shade, but they also drop debris that serves as a food source for moss. Like algae, moss spores are often transferred by wind or animals and can easily spread throughout neighborhoods.

The staining and growth patches caused by algae, fungi and moss can damage your roof through shingle deterioration and wood rot. Both lead to expensive repairs and can shorten the life of your roof. A thorough, professional roof cleaning can help minimize or reverse this damage.

Use these top roofing tips to get the year started right. Happy New Year from the Infinite Roofing team.