HAIL DAMAGE REPAIR TYLER TEXAS
Weather can be unpredictable, and turbulent weather—especially hail—can damage shingles.
Is damage immediately noticeable? Not always. Hail impact may cause latent damage that can, over time, result in premature aging of the shingles. Without obvious visual damage, there is no real way to be sure how much, if any, damage shingles have encountered. Latent damage caused by hail or severe weather may not be apparent until months or years later and may cause the shingles to age prematurely.
How can I tell if the roof was damaged? Generally, damage can be seen as indentations and/or fractures on the shingle’s surface. Hailstones vary in size, shape, and hardness and can create a random pattern of dents or depressions. If this is not evident, look for indentations on metal flashings, siding, chimney caps, or even skylight flashings. After some time, clusters of granules may come off (at the point of impact) in a random pattern and expose the asphalt.
NOW THAT YOUR ROOF HAS BEEN HIT BY HAIL, WHAT DO YOU DO?
1. Don’t get in a hurry.
If you have a leak act quickly to get it repaired, but if your roof, siding or windows are not leaking there is no reason to make hasty decisions. Most hail damage does not present an immediate emergency and most insurance companies allow their clients one year to make necessary repairs or replacements.
Estes Roofing can make emergency repairs if needed – and will provide you with a thorough inspection and proposal to get your home or business back in top shape. We can get the process started even before an insurance adjuster gets to you!
2. Turn in a roof claim to your insurance company immediately.
Your insurance company will be getting a lot of calls so be patient with them, but do get your name on the list so that you can file your insurance claim. In large hail storms, it is not uncommon for it to take an adjuster two weeks or longer to get out to your roof due to their call volume. Waiting too long, however, can sometimes cause the roof to deteriorate and cover up signs of hail damage. This, in turn, could cause your damaged roof to be turned down by your insurance carrier.
3. Get an estimate that feels right to you—and look at more than price.
While insurance companies may suggest two or three estimates, one may be enough in storm emergencies. Just be sure that you don’t pay more than your deductible plus any extras or upgrades (i.e. new skylights, added ventilation, higher grade roofing)—and that your estimate is from a reputable Tyler Roofing Company. Insurance companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars on storm claims; they know what roofing and structure repairs and replacements cost to do properly. If you’re tempted, but uneasy about accepting a low bid or a “too good to be true” discount, look closer. Hail storms bring out people and companies that run the gamut from inexperienced and uninsured, to those that are outright deceptive or unscrupulous. Estes Roofing and Construction is very reasonably priced, and you will find that we are the most thorough. We don’t believe in taking shortcuts that diminish the look or quality of your home or business’ roof or exterior, and we will help you negotiate your settlement.
4. Use a reputable and local roofing company.
Check out the company you are considering very carefully. Numbers of years in business, not just their employees’ combined years of experience, is extremely important. For the most part, companies that have managed to stay in business for more than 10 years are doing something right! Unfortunately, too often people communicate their track record in less than credible ways—and industry statistics tell us that the average roofing company is in business for 2 ½ or fewer years. New companies and “storm chasers” from out of the area may offer a wonderful warranty, but what good is a warranty without a company to back it?
5. If needed, call Estes Roofing and Construction for a second opinion.
While hail can be crazy stuff, if you have been denied a claim and all your neighbors are getting new roofs or exterior repairs, it might be a situation where the adjuster has made an error. Adjusters are only human and they do occasionally make a mistake. Sometimes the way the light hits a roof makes it difficult to see the damage, and sometimes it takes additional rainstorms to expose the actual damage. If you need a second opinion, don’t hesitate to call us.
6. Be patient with your roofing contractor.
In large hail storms, reputable roofing contractors get a long list of repairs. Because most hail damage is not an emergency, it is worth waiting for the right company. Get your work done right, and make sure you have a company that will be there to make good on its warranties if problems do arise. If you are leaking be sure to tell us and make that clear so that your job is attended to as quickly as possible.
