For property owners whose roofs have been hit by a damage-causing storm, timing is a crucial factor that is often overlooked.

“My insurance agent says I have a year to file my claim, what’s the rush?”

Most of the time, the longer you wait, the more difficult it is to prove that the damage you have is from the specific severe storm that hit your home. Insurance adjusters are trained to identify new damage versus pre-existing damage. For each claim that each adjuster is responsible for, they must verify with conclusive evidence that the damage is new. For instance, when it comes to hail damage specifically, the most widely used method to distinguish the difference between fresh and pre-existing damage on asphalt roofing material is the coloring of the exposed asphalt itself.  Adjusters are looking for asphalt that is dark black in color. From the date of the storm, as each day passes, asphalt fades in color making it more and more difficult to tie to the storm that caused the damage.

On the other hand, there are also circumstances where it takes time for damage to reveal itself. For instance, the most insidious hail damage knocks loose ceramic granules that are on the surface of every asphalt roof. Ceramic granules have two purposes: 1) ceramic granules provide the color of any given asphalt roof; and 2) the ceramic granules serve as the asphalt’s protection from ultraviolet rays. Without these granules, the asphalt is exposed to the sun, deteriorates at an accelerated rate, cracks and eventually loses its water shedding ability. If the hail knocks these granules loose, it may take months of rainstorms and wind for the damage to be apparent to an expert adjuster.

“How do I ensure that my roof has not been compromised and if it has, persuade my insurance adjuster that it is damaged?”

The best way to ensure a fair outcome is to take action and have an insurance restoration contractor, who has been trained in the same way insurance adjusters have been trained, inspect your roof immediately after the storm.  If the inspector finds damage, ask for pictures and file a claim through your insurance company as soon as possible. If, on the other hand, they do not find damage, have them back out in three months to confirm their initial findings. Again, if they find damage the second time around, file a claim immediately.

Time can work for or against you; the choice is yours.

No need to struggle deciding which repairs you will make to your Rowlett commercial roof. Your insurance will cover the cost of your Rowlett commercial roof repair. We are the Rowlett roof company that knows the complete ins and outs of what needs to be done to completely take care of your Rowlett commercial roof damage repair needs. At Go Go Green Roofing and Solar we will take care of the whole insurance process for you. All you will need to do is pick out your new shingle color! Call us today at (682) 325-2682 for your free evaluation.