Roofing – Page 11

Unlike a water loss where damage is evident, wind damage doesn’t always appear to be a big deal. Most homeowners that call us expect to pay out-of-pocket for their repairs because it is only a few shingles that came off or one piece of siding. We almost always encourage those homeowners to file an insurance claim for wind damage and here is why…

Your premium won’t go up

Just like hail damage or if a tree hit your roof, wind damage is not only covered by your insurance company but it will not cause your premiums to rise. This is due to the fact that these types of claims are considered to be an “Act of God,” meaning the homeowner is not at fault. If your son accidentally left the sink running and it floods the upstairs bathroom, that is a preventable claim. With wind damage, there is nothing a homeowner could have done to be more proactive or prevent damage from occurring. Why pay out-of-pocket when you already pay for your insurance?

Think the repair cost will be less than your deductible? Think again…

Wind damage often looks unassuming. After all, how hard can it be to nail back one or two shingles or refasten a piece of siding? The truth is, the cost of even a minor repair can be expensive, typically costing anywhere from $800-$2k depending. You want to be sure to use a properly licensed, insured and experienced contractor and you always get what you pay for. You could cost yourself more in the long run by cutting corners or working with the wrong contractor just to save a few bucks.

Why repair when you can replace?

Even more to consider, roofs most susceptible to wind damage are older ones with 3-tab shingles. These roofs do not hold repairs and patches well as they are just older and weaker. The money you spend on repairs every year will far outweigh the cost of your deductible, which you would only pay once and have peace of mind for the next 25-years (50-years if you upgrade to an HD shingle).

It seems silly to keep repairing something when for the same amount of money you could completely replace your roof. This is the most economical option long-term and truly the smartest. Wind damage is not something to underestimate. Unsure if you have damage? Considering filing an insurance claim? Contact us or give us a call at 410-569-1732. We are happy to explain the insurance process or give you our professional opinion!

When it comes to such a large investment like a new roof or siding, warranties and what they really cover can be the swing vote in which company or materials you use. There are two main types of warranties you will encounter; the manufacturer’s warranty and the labor warranty. A manufacturer’s warranty is exactly what it sounds like and comes directly from the manufacturer of your roof or siding. A labor warranty is the warranty you receive from the company installing your roof or siding. The two are completely separate and typically, will cover different issues.

Manufacturer’s Warranty:

When we reference your manufacturer’s warranty, we mean the baseline limited liability warranty. Most manufacturer’s offer an upgraded warranty that provides more coverage but of course, it comes at a higher price where as the baseline warranty is free and comes with the purchase of materials. The limited liability warranty typically only covers manufacturer defects. For example, you noticed a hole or crack in your shingle that was not from installation or from anything else like storm damage. It truly covers just the bare minimum.

Like mentioned, you can always purchase an upgraded warranty most of the time and manufacturer’s will offer varying levels of coverage. GAF, one of the most reputable shingle supplies, offers one of the most comprehensive warranties in the industry; The Golden Pledge. This warranty covers so much, only Master Elite roofers like Modern Remodeling can offer it to their customers. This is because GAF’s Golden Pledge® Ltd. Warranty covers both manufacturing defects and the contractor’s workmanship. Whether or not your contractor remains in business, GAF will stand behind his workmanship for 25 years!

Labor Warranty:

In our experience, unless you have an upgraded manufacturer’s warranty, most of your issues will fall within your labor warranty. The length of labor warranties vary from contractor to contractor but they typically cover the same things; installation defects. Common mistakes include improper mailing of shingles, insufficient flashing or improper installation of flashing, etc. Hopefully, you do not encounter these problems and you should not if you go with an experience roofer like Modern Remodeling.

There are some grey areas, though, that your labor warranty may not cover. A common call we receive is regarding shingles blowing off. I always ask our customer if this happened after a severe storm or not and 9 out of 10 times it did. In this situation, this is not technically an installation issue but rather, storm damage. Since, it is not covered under a labor warranty, there could be a small fee associated which is why it is important to talk to your contractor about what is and is not covered, and what happens when something is not covered.

In all situations, we always recommend calling your contractor first. They can help you decipher it is it a manufacturer, installation or some other type of issue. Here at Modern Remodeling, we are able to assist our customers in their repairs in any situation, whether we work with the manufacturer, the insurance company or fix it ourselves. For more information about warranties or if you have a concern, feel free to contact us!

Is Wind Damage Really Covered by Insurance?

What Does Your Warranty Really Cover?