If your roof has been hit by a recent hail storm, has a roof leak, or you just have a feeling that something just isn’t quite right with your roof, you’re going to need a roof inspection. But, how do you know who to call, who to trust, and what happens during a roof inspection? You can’t trust your roof inspection to just anyone. Find out the most Frequently Asked Questions below.
Q: Who do I call to inspect my roof?
A: Doing a Google search for “roof inspections + your city” is a great place to start. Be sure to check their reviews, 4.5 + rating is best. Also, ask your neighbors either in person or on a local neighborhood app like Facebook or Nextdoor or go to your local BBB website for any complaints on potential roofers.
Q: Should I trust door knockers?
A: Generally speaking, No. Most door knocking roofers are from out-of-town or out-of-state. Many of them are scam artists and will take your money leaving you without a roof or without any warranties if they actually install your roof once they leave town. Stay and trust local roofing companies.
Q: Why are roof inspections required by my insurance company?
A: If your roof was hit by a hail storm most insurance companies want your roof inspected by a qualified roofing company to verify that there is in fact hail damage to your roof (not all hail causes damage). If there is, you can proceed with filing an insurance hail claim. If there is no hail damage, then it saves everyone on time and expense and you won’t get dinged for filing a claim with no hail damage.
Q: What does a roofer look for while inspecting my roof?
A: When inspecting a roof, roofers are generally looking for anything that is no longer working properly, damaged, missing or broken. They are minimally looking for:
- Hail damaged, cracked, defective, or missing shingles, hip and ridges
- Missing, dented or broken furnace caps, attic vents or pipe boots
- Cracked, dented or broken skylights, chimney brick/ stucco/ siding
- Damaged/ rotting decking and valley areas
- Drip edge and gutters dents
- Any damage from other items like tree branches, ice damming, or even roof penetrations from animals
Q: How do I know if the roofer inspecting my roof is being honest?
A: Since many homeowner don’t get on their roofs, you do have to have some trust in the roofer you’ve chosen to inspect. Many professional and honest roofers will take a picture of the front of your home and then take pictures of your roof after that. That way you know the pics are in order and of your roof.
Q: What do I do if the roofer finds damage after inspecting my roof?
A: They should provide you with pictures of proof of damage. You’ll need to file a claim with your insurance company to start the replacement process. If you decide to move forward with the roofing company that inspected your roof, make sure to sign a contract that closely matches the insurance estimate and numbers. Never pay for the entire job upfront. 50% is normal with the balance due upon completion and your satisfaction.
Q: What if there is not enough hail damage on my roof after a roof inspection to file a claim?
A: If you called a reliable and honest roofing contractor to inspect your roof and they truly do not find enough hail damage to warrant full roof replacement, you still may need roof repairs. Many times the repair cost is still lower than your deductible for your homeowners insurance. This way you can pay for the repairs out of pocket and not file a claim, which sometimes counts against you if you have too many property claims.
If you are looking for a trustworthy A+ rand 5 star rated roofing company in Colorado Springs, CO that provides professional roof inspections, roof replacements, roof certifications and roof repairs, call 719-748-6364 or visit us Klaus Roofing.
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