Colorado Springs is no stranger to strong hailstorms, but what do you when hail hits your Colorado Springs home? The first few hours and days after a hailstorm make a big difference on what happens next so let’s review what to do when hail hits your Colorado Springs home and how to tackle the roof replacement process. Replacing your roof is nobody’s favorite activity but it can go smoothly if you do the right thing.
First Steps After Hail Hits Your Colorado Springs Home
Check Your Surroundings
Never underestimate the power of hail. Small to moderate hail can dislodge loose branches and create hazards while large hail can litter your lawn with broken glass. Always do a cautious walk-through of your property to check for hazards before performing a full inspection.
Safe Visual Inspection
Not everyone can see what’s going on over top of their house, but most homes come with a decent view of the roof from the ground or through a window. There is absolutely no need to pull the ladder out and check for hail damage. Considering a professional roofer will inspect much more thoroughly than you can (often for free,) let them climb the ladder.
Your goal with a visual inspection is to check for obvious damage or issues that could cause problems right away. During your inspection check for:
- Large black spots on shingles where granules are blown away (these are hail hits.)
- Torn, missing, or otherwise damaged shingles.
- Damaged, bent, or missing flashing.
- Excessive amounts of granules in your gutters.
Get Your Roof Inspected
If you spot damage you might be inclined to call your insurance agent to report a loss but not so fast! Before calling your insurance company you should always have a local roofing company out to check the damage first – why?
No matter what type of damage your insurance adjuster finds and no matter what type of claim is filed your policy will be charged a claim and your premiums will go up. Even if your adjuster finds no damage and fulfills no claim – you still pay more.
A roofer can act as a third-party expert and recommend if the damage warrants an insurance claim, what they’re likely to pay out, or if you’re better off scheduling a cash repair. If a roofer recommends you contact your insurance carrier after their inspection, you’ll know the call is warranted. Considering most roofing companies offer complimentary hail checks, you have nothing to lose by calling a roofer first.
Hire a Roofer
If your roofer finds damage you should begin the hiring process. While you don’t have to hire the company who inspected the roof to replace it, you should use your inspection and meeting with the company to vet them for eventual replacement. When hiring a roofer, you need them to:
- Offer a free inspection and estimate.
- Be locally licensed and insured.
- Have great reviews across several platforms.
- Offer referrals for you to call.
- Be able to work with your insurance company (for free.)
The last recommendation is a big one if you’re replacing your roof as part of an insurance claim. Insurance claims can be tedious and confusing but many local roofers including Roofcorp offer complimentary claims assistance to take as much off your plate as you need.
Call Your Insurance Company
If a roofer believes your damage warrants a claim your next step is to call your insurance carrier to schedule a field inspection or adjustment. Ideally, you’ve already hired a roofing company and can schedule them to meet with your adjuster.
Scheduling an adjuster and roofer together puts everyone on the same page and could help you secure more insurance dollars since the roofer answers to you and not insurance bosses.
Your insurance agent will craft a claim for your roof depending on the damage they find, the age of your roof, your policy, and more. Once the claim is done you can get moving to last major hurdle – getting a new roof.
Sit Back and Get a New Roof
After you’ve inspected the roof, hired a roofer, and filed with your insurance company the bulk of the work is over. Now you only need to keep up communication with your roofing company about delivery and install dates, so you’re prepared for your roof repair or replacement. Most residential roof replacements in Colorado Springs take 1 to 3 days.
Finishing Up Your New Roof
Once the roof is installed you can work with your roofer to finish any necessary insurance paperwork and get right on owed payments to your insurer and your roofer.
And that’s it. Your insurance claim is completed, and your new roof is installed. It can take a lot of work to get to this point but if you act quickly in contacting a roofer after a storm and keep open communication with your roofer and insurance company it doesn’t have to be a tough experience. Be ready, hire a roofer that works with your insurance, and you’ll come out of the claims process with as little stress as possible.
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