We are currently working with a homeowner who had a tree fall on her roof, puncturing several large holes (pictured below). Her insurance company came out and has only offered to cover the back portion of her roof, where the holes are located. The homeowner was unhappy with this decision and called us to intervene.
Why You Should Not Replace Half a Roof
In this situation, our customer’s insurance company is just being flat out unfair. They want to pay for a little as possible, not what is actually damaged. If you find yourself in a similar situation, here are a few points to bring up when only a portion of your roof is being covered.
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- Differing ages between slopes: Shingles have a lifespan of either 25-years or 50-years depending on if they are 3-tab or architectural. Replacing only a portion of the roof means that one slope will have a different lifespan than the other. This will become problematic when one slope needs to be replaced before the other as most roofing companies will not do half a roof. This is because experienced roofers know tying both sections together at the ridge can be extremely difficult.
- Aesthetically, it won’t look right: Shingles look different as they age and therefore, the front and rear slope of your roof will not match. Think of it almost like wearing a brand new sneaker on one foot and one you’ve had for 10-years on the other. It doesn’t matter that they are the same sneakers, they will never match and you will look silly.
- Logistically, it can be difficult: Just because the insurance adjuster deemed only a portion of the roof the be replaced, does not mean it is logistically advisable or even possible. Some roofs are too old and brittle to withstand a partial replacement and you end up doing more harm than good. Sometimes, you find rotten plywood and you absolutely have to remove the entire roof to in order to replace with new plywood.
If you are left in a similar situation by your insurance company or just have doubts about what they have offered to cover, we encourage you to speak with an expert. We handle over 400 insurance claims a year and can give you a knowledgeable answer. Contact us today with any questions or for an inspection at no charge.
