Our AAA staff and contractors pledge to work as a team with you to complete your roofing project as quickly and precisely as possible and with the least inconvenience to you and your family.
Roof Insurance Claims Process
The most challenging aspect of replacing your roof can be dealing with your insurance. Our experienced LOCAL staff we will assist you with the confusing and sometimes adversarial roof replacement claim.
We will:
· Explain your particular homeowner insurance claims process to you
· Answer any questions you may have
· Coordinate inspections and meetings with your insurance adjuster
· Arrange an appointment with your adjuster and ensure they are present at the first evaluation or inspection of your roof
In advance of the adjustor visit, AAA will prepare a diagram of your roof, provide your insurance company with the details of your roofing replacement requirements, and issue a Scope of Work Statement on your behalf.
New Roof Insurance Claims
Our goal is to have your insurance deductible be the only out-of-pocket expense for the entire project. We guarantee there will be no surprises before, during or after completion of your project.
At AAA we use only the most recent technology to demonstrate the damage to your insurance company. This can include satellite imaging of your roof to verify what we have visually catalogued.
Most major homeowner insurance companies are familiar with our expertise and trust that AAA is providing them with reliable, well-documented evidence from our roof inspection. If your insurance carrier should have any doubt about your needs, our representatives will negotiate a reasonable settlement on your behalf to make sure that YOU receive the best possible outcome.
Below you will see the steps for a roofing insurance claim. Though these may seem overwhelming, remember that an experienced AAA staff member will be right beside you throughout the process.
Step 1
Meeting with the Insurance Adjuster:
AAA will call your insurance company and set an appointment to meet with the adjuster on your behalf. We provide the adjuster with an advance copy of our estimated scope of loss, and then meet with the adjuster at your home to investigate the damage.
The adjuster will inspect your roof and the exterior of your home for signs of damage.
If needed a 10′ x 10′ test area is marked on each slope of the roof where bruises, breaks, and dents are clearly marked. Each elevation of your siding is examined for dents, and damage to gutters and down spouts is pointed out. Other damage to your property is inspected and noted.
The damage caused by hail, wind, and other weather is often difficult to detect. You might not know that your roof was damaged. Normally, hail has to be the size of a golf ball before it can break through shingles on your roof. But your roof could be damaged by any size of hail if the hail is driven by high winds or if it hails for an extended period of time.
This damage will greatly reduce the life of your roof, and may not be visible from the ground. Siding, gutters, facia, and windows can also be damaged by storms. AAA will provide a no cost inspection and free assessment of the storm damage to your property. This assessment will help ensure that your insurance company completes your repairs properly and provides you with full compensation for your project.
What Causes Shingle Damage? Hail damages shingles when the granule layers are lost, which exposes the softer organic-based center to UV rays. This causes shingles to deteriorate much faster. Hail can also puncture and seriously damage your roofing material. This leads to structural damage when moisture accumulates underneath the shingles and causes the roof deck to decompose, possibly leading to interior leaks.
Winds over 50 miles per hour can lift shingles and cause the seals to break. These seals cannot be resealed, and the shingles will then flap in the breeze and eventually snap off. Improper or inadequate ventilation in your attic will cause the shingles to scorch and bubble up, which can lead to moisture accumulation and other structural damage
Step 2
Initiating an Insurance Claim:
First, call your insurance company claims department to initiate a claim for damage to your property. Tell the claim center you would like to make a claim based on storm damage. They will ask for the date that the damage occurred and what type of damage you have (roof, siding, gutters, etc.).
Your insurance company will assign a claim number to your case. Be sure to write down that claim number, it will be very important during the settlement of your claim.
Next, call AAA and give us your claim number so we can handle your claim from that point forward. We will complete an estimated scope of loss due to the storm damage and work with your insurance company to settle your claim in a satisfactory manner. Your personal account manager will work with you as needed to ensure that you fully understand the repair and insurance process.
Step 3
Funding the Project
Approximately one week after the insurance adjuster assesses the damage to your property, you will receive a check that represents the actual cost to repair or replace the damaged property, less depreciation and your deductible.
The insurance company takes the age and condition of the property into account when the depreciation is calculated. The property owner pays the deductible at the beginning of the project. After the project is complete, AAA sends an invoice to the insurance company who will issue a second check to cover the depreciation. An example of this payment schedule is shown below:
$21,000 Adjusted Property Loss
– 9,000 Recoverable Depreciation
12,000 Actual Cash Value (ACV)
-500 Deductible (this figure varies with policy)
$11,500 (amount of first check issued by insurance company)
The first check issued ($11,500 in the example) is presented by you to the contractor of your choice. This check enables the contractor to order materials, set a production and complete your project.
When the project is finished the property owner signs a certification of completion and satisfaction (supplied by the contractor). This certificate is sent to the insurance company who will issue a second check to the property owner for final payment. This check will include the recoverable depreciation ($9,000 in the example) and may also include additional monies for approved supplements and contractor’s overhead and profit if applicable. The property owner will receive confirmation from the insurance company and the contractor of any additionally approved items.
This process is an accepted industry standard and helps minimize paperwork and fusion for the property owner and the contractor
What Happens if Your Claim is Denied?
Occasionally an insurance company will deny a storm damage claim. You are always entitled to a re-inspection by a different adjuster within the same insurance company.
AAA will continue to work with you and your insurance company to resolve your claim and get the damage fixed. We have the years of experience needed to get claims settled with insurance companies.
Step 4
Working Together with Your Mortgage Company
If you have a mortgage on your home, the insurance company’s first check is issued to you AND your mortgage company. This check must be presented to your mortgage company with other documents in order to be released. Your personal account manager will assist you with this process
Step 5
Preparing for the Project
There are several preparations that will make your construction project progress smoothly and with less stress for you.
1. Be prepared for noise. Construction crews will generally begin working early in the morning. There will be constant hammering during roofing, siding, and other projects. You may want to plan a day away from your home while the project is in progress.
2. Remove all loose items from walls and shelves, such as pictures, plates, or other collectibles. The hammering may create vibrations that could shake items off of your shelves and walls. If we are working on skylights, debris has a tendency to fall into those areas of your home; move or cover any items that are below skylights. Also remove all items from around the exterior of your home where roofing or siding debris may fall.
3. Provide an electrical outlet for the contractor crews to use with power tools.
4. Move all cars, motorcycles, boats, bicycles, and any other vehicles away from the house and garage while the project is in progress. If you do not have a ceiling in your garage and can see the bottom side of the roof decking, move or cover all items that might get damaged by small pieces of felt or shingles falling through the spaces between the decking boards.
5. Clear the driveway to provide access to load shingles, siding or other materials.
6. Keep children and pets aware from the work area at all times. Trucks, power tools, ladders and other potential hazards will be present throughout the process.
Step 6
Choosing Materials
At AAA we purchase and work with only quality roofing materials. Examples are listed below.
The main suppliers for roofing materials are Elk and GAF. These companies are over 75 years old and offer awide variety of shingles and other roofing materials. Each of them has an outstanding reputation for quality and timeliness.
Siding:
The main siding supplier is Alcoa, Amcraft, Certain Teen, Mid-America, Wolverine, and Variform.
Step 7
Completing the Project and Warranty Information
After the project is finished and final payment has been received, AAA will issue a two-year Workmanship Warranty covering all work completed. Our workmanship meets all the National Association of Roofing Contractors guidelines.
Your personal account manager will also help you complete the manufacturers’ warranties for any materials used on your project.
Two additional notes of importance:
1. If rotted wood, deteriorated or deflected decking is found, we will not be held liable. This is your financial responsibility. We will replace rotted wood, deteriorated, or deflected decking on a time and material basis.
2. Nails that fall from the roof during the job will be picked up with a magnetic roller. We will make every effort to pick up all the nails, however, a few nails, often hidden in the grass, may remain.
