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Lesson #1
Beware of out-of-town roofing contractors. Do not be fooled by
companies that claim to be "nationwide" providers. These types of
outfits go from hail storm to hail storm often leaving homeowners
holding the bag. Make sure before you contract with any roofer that
they are a full-time roofer (year round) and an established company
with long roots in the greater Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
Unfortunately, you as homeowners will need to verify this information
on your own. Do not rely on a salesman to be truthful about the origin
of himself or his company. Also, make sure you share this information
with friends, neighbors, fellow church members, and most importantly
our senior citizens. All you have to do is visit the Better Business
Bureau of Dallas or Fort Worth, log on to the Internet and see if the
company has an office (or not), demand a two page reference sheet, call
several references, call a local roofing supply house and ask about the
company's history, or look at the license plates on their trucks.
Lesson #2
Never give a roofer a down payment or "draw" to purchase materials. If
the contractor cannot finance the job 100% on his own, he has no
business working on your home. All payments to the contractor should be
made upon completion of the work.
Lesson #3
Will my insurance company cancel or raise my premium payments if I turn
in a roof claim? No, insurance companies may not punish a homeowner for
Acts of God/Mother Nature. Homeowners do not have the option of moving
their home out of the path of a hail storm, tornado, or hurricane.
Insurance premiums in the State of Texas are regulated by the State
Board of Insurance in Austin, Texas. Insurance premiums fluctuate
regularly. So, even if you do not turn in a claim your premiums may go
up anyway.
Lesson #4
How do I know if I have hail damage? Hail damaged shingles cannot be
identified from the ground. However, here are some indicators that
insurance adjusters and roofing contractors use to help determine if an
area has damaged roofs: inspect cedar fences for impact marks, check
wind turbines, power turbines, other roof vents for dents, automobile
wind shields, hoods, roofs, trunk lids, and the loss of tree branches
and leaves. If you have any of these issues you may have sustained hail
damage. However, adjusters and roofers must inspect the shingles on the
roof to know for sure how much damage is present. In order to qualify
for a total loss/roof replacement, the roof must show the following:
the protective granuals must be knocked off the shingle exposing the
fiberglass mat. The mat will show a bruise and be soft to the touch and
may even be torn or ripped from the hail stone impact. If your roof has
multiple "impact marks" on 2-3 slopes (north, south, east, west) your
insurance company should pay to have it replaced. Why? The fiberglass
mat is not supposed to be in direct contact with UV rays/ Sunlight. If
the mat is exposed for long periods of time a leak will occur.
Lesson #5
Are you buying or selling a home? If so, please remember that licensed
home inspectors are not qualified to assess hail damage on roof tops. I
have witnessed many instances where a buyer or seller has had to shell
out thousands of dollars out of their own pockets because an inspector
made a mistake. The solution is simply to hire a good roofer to give
you a detailed inspection of the roof.
Lesson #6
Ask questions!
Summary
Tell the out of town STORM CHASERS to "hit
the road"
Make payment terms 100% upon completion of
the job and look out for others
Do not be afraid to turn in a legitimate
hail claim to your insurance company and know your homeowner's
bill of rights.
Learn how to spot hail damage indicators
Demand professionalism and quality work
from your contractor. YOU DESERVE IT!!!
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