Once disaster strikes, most people tend to call their insurance company right away, hoping that they’ll get full coverage for the roof damage. However, this may not be the best idea. 

Instead, we suggest that you contact your local roofers first, as they can make the whole process not only much easier but also less stressful. Here are some of the benefits of calling a roofing company before filing an insurance claim.

Why You Should Get a Roof Inspection First

Expert Opinion

Sometimes, the problem is not that easy to identify. For instance, the roof damage may not be noticeable at first glance. What’s more, once you inspect the roof thoroughly, you might discover plenty of other, less evident problems. If the damage doesn’t appear too bad, the insurance company may try to downplay it and offer you less money. 

In contrast, when you get a roofing expert to assess the damage, they will give you an accurate estimate and make sure that you get what you deserve. It’s always better to get an expert’s opinion before making any sudden decisions.

Saves You Time and Effort

Anyone who has ever had to deal with insurance claims knows what a hassle they can be. For instance, there’s a bunch of paperwork that you need to fill out. Also, you always have to “haggle” with the insurance agent to get what essentially belongs to you. 

If you call a roofing contractor first, however, you may be able to avoid all of that confusion. 

Fortunately, many roofers have already teamed up with insurance companies. So, when you hire a roofing contractor, they might be able to help you file an insurance claim and negotiate too, saving you plenty of time and effort along the way.

Helps You Avoid Traps

In addition to always trying to lower your payout, insurance companies will also investigate every possible cause for the reported damage. For example, in case of a disastrous storm, they’ll need to make sure that the storm was the actual cause of the damage and not some other underlying issue. 

On top of that, they’ll try to find any reason to invalidate your claim. If they find traces of damage that wasn’t directly caused by the storm, they might decide that improper maintenance was the main problem.

However, if you call an independent roofing contractor before the insurance company, you can get a firsthand damage assessment. That way, you’ll know if calling the insurance agent is a good idea or not. In addition, you’ll get an accurate repair estimate, which should help you when negotiating a payout with the insurance company.

Call M&M Home Remodeling Services 

If your roof was damaged recently, feel free to contact M&M Home Remodeling Services for an independent assessment. Our experts will perform a detailed inspection of the roof, including the flashing and gutters, and provide you with an estimate. In addition, we’ll go over your insurance plan and advise you on what to do next. 

Want to get an idea of what a roof replacement will cost? Check out our most recent article: How Much does  Roof Replacement Cost?

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Depending on its size and velocity, hail can certainly do a lot of damage to a roof. It can crack shingles, dent metal flashing, or even puncture the roof, causing permanent damage and thousands of dollars in repairs.

That being said, you need to check up on your roof after every hailstorm. If you notice any of the signs that we listed below, make sure you get in touch with M&M Home Remodelling as soon as possible. The sooner you attend to the damage, the better. 

And if you don’t do anything about it, the problem will only worsen with time. Eventually, you’ll notice leaks on your ceiling and walls.

Long story short — in case of a hailstorm, be observant and prepared to act quickly if necessary.

How to Tell If There’s Any Roof Damage

As we mentioned, the damage depends on the size of the hail. Small, pea-sized hail most likely won’t cause any noticeable changes. On the other hand, larger hail might break tiles and shingles. 

Whatever the extent of hail damage, make sure you take “before and after” pictures of your house to help back up your insurance claim. 

In General 

Before climbing up to check on the roof, make sure you do a ground check first. Obviously, if you notice parts of your roof scattered around your yard, that probably means that it’s damaged.

Also, make sure you inspect the surrounding objects — fences, gutters, vents, air conditioners, etc. If they’re compromised, the roof is most likely compromised too.

Finally, check the metal components of your roof (such as vents and flashing) and see if there are any scratches and dents.

Asphalt Roofs

First of all, you should check the gutters. If you notice roof granules in there, it’s time to move on to the roof itself. Look for scratches, round dents, and exposed felt, as they’re telltale signs that your roof was damaged by hail.

Slate Roofs

Ceramic or stone barriers of a slate roof should be able to endure a few punches here and there. However, this roof is far from safe when it comes to hailstorms.

Outright holes in the tiles indicate that the hail has managed to break through the roof. On the other hand, scratches and cracks mean that the hail has only grazed the roof. Still, that might have caused the tiles to loosen up, which also requires repairs. Additionally, you might want to check if the corners of the roof have been chipped or cracked.

Call M&M Home Remodelling Today and Get a Free Estimate 

As soon as you notice any of these signs, contact M&M Home Remodelling Services and get a free estimate. We’ve been in the business for over 40 years, so there’s no roofing problem that’s too big for us. 

If you submit your request before 11 am, you can get a same-day appointment. That way, you don’t have to wait a whole day, you can attend to the issue immediately. As we already know, time is precious when it comes to hail damage.

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