Replace or Repair Your Damaged Roof? In the Eyes of Your Insurance Company

4/9/2018 (Permalink)

Wind Damage to a roof

Roof damage can be a huge headache after a storm rolls through your area.  Roof damage is the most common storm claim in the insurance industry.  The wind from hurricanes and tropical storms can cause extensive damage to the roof of your home.  The worst part of roof damage, is the secondary damage that can occur to your home from rain entering and causing water damage to the interior of your home.

It is crucial to fix your roof as soon as possible to avoid further damage to the interior of your home.  Mold can develop very quickly, and depending on how much water is entering your home, can develop very quickly. 

So how do insurance companies decide whether you are lucky enough to get a new roof?  Well, there are a few tests that they will perform in order to get an idea of what they are going to pay out. 

The 25% Rule:  This is kind of an easy way to determine whether insurance companies will replace your roof.  Now, every state is different, and every insurance company is different, but this is a rule of thumb.  If more than 25% of the roof is damaged, they will most likely replace the roof.  If less than 25% of the total roof is damaged, they will typically pay to patch a certain section up. 

Other tests include the Brittle Shingle Test, which measures the strength of the individual shingles.  The person performing this test will take a shingle, and try to bend it to a 90 degree angle.  If the shingle breaks, then they should be replaced. 

So why do insurance companies perform these tests?  BECAUSE ROOFS ARE EXPENSIVE!  Be careful when filing roof claims, there are plenty of scammers out there that go door to door claiming that you have hail damage to your roof and that they will help you with the insurance company to get your roof replaced.  There are plenty of ways to determine if you need a new roof, get plenty of opinions and do the research!