Frequently Asked Questions

The cost of a roof depends on multiple factors making it impossible to give a rough estimate without a full inspection and analysis.

  Some of the factors that play into the cost of the roof are: 

• Pitch/slope
• Number of stories
• Type/style of shingle
• If there is damage to other parts of the roof system such as the decking
• How “complex” the roof is: multiple valleys, ridges, penetrations, skylights, cable wiring

There are other factors not listed above.

Yes, they can. However, it should be noted that there are many reasons that this is not recommended. Mainly, two layers of shingles can trap more heat, causing damages to the shingles thus shortening the lifespan of the new shingles. So any short-term savings of putting a second layer over the first will likely be lost by having to reroof earlier than if it was done properly in the first place.

If the boards are damaged or deteriorated they will require replacement.

If the boards are too thin ⅜” (the code minimum in most jurisdictions), they will need to be replaced. The code in some jurisdictions may require thicker boards than the minimum.

Each roof is different. Similar to 7.2 above, there are multiple factors involved in how complex a roof is, and how long it will take to replace or repair. Typically a project can take 1-2 days to complete, weather permitting.

We recommend that you are not home while we are working on your roof or siding for your safety. During your roof replacement, your home is considered an active job site. Per OSHA regulations, unauthorized personnel are not to be on the job site, meaning if you are home, you must stay inside your home for the duration of the project. Exiting the home during your roof replacement is dangerous as there are many risks of injury including falling shingles, nails on the ground, and the potential for tools falling from the roof. Lastly, a roof replacement is also extremely loud for anyone inside the home. The noise is often intolerable for people which is another reason we recommend that residents not be home during work.  

Yes. Refer to the warranty SOP document for information.

Wind damage: Evidence of wind damage is the easiest to spot. You may notice that your shingles are “lifting”, “folding-up”, or are missing completely. Since straight-line wind usually only travels in one direction, you will probably notice on certain sides of your home where the damages are much worse. These are the sides that directly faced the incoming wind. If this is happening, you can almost guarantee that the other sides will show the same result if and when the high wind hits them, as well.

Hail Damage: Evidence of hail damage on the roof is very difficult to spot from the ground. You may see evidence of hail damage to gutter downspouts, siding, AC units, or other external features of the home. However, the only way to know if the hail damage is significant enough to require repair or replacement is to have a professional inspect your roof.

Insurance companies are valuable in their promise to the homeowner to restore their home. Just like any business, their primary goal is to generate a profit. One way an insurance company can increase profits is to pay out less in claims. Our goal is similar to an insurance company in that our goal is to restore your home and generate a profit. If we inspect your roof in advance we are able to give you the information that you need if and when you file your claim to get your restoration done without cutting any corners. Our incentive is aligned with the homeowner and to fight on behalf of the homeowner to get everything necessary for a proper restoration.

In addition, we can prevent you from filing a claim unnecessarily which could potentially increase your premiums.

The best thing to do is to call a reputable contractor who can do an emergency tarping of the roof to prevent further damage.

The homeowner is responsible for calling in the claim. Only a public adjuster can call in a claim. If a homeowner needs assistance calling in a claim, we would be happy to assist a homeowner either by conference call or to help on the computer if filing a claim that way.

Yes, we will attend. It is important that you communicate with us if it is scheduled because often an insurance company will only schedule it with the homeowner and not notify us. This is sometimes because they can visit the home without someone knowledgeable who can advocate on your behalf.

Actual Cash Value (ACV): This is what the value of the roof is today. This accounts for the fact that your roof has aged and deteriorated (even by a small amount). Similar to a car, the minute your car is driven it undergoes “depreciation” where the value goes down once it has been used.

Replacement Cost Value (RCV): This is the amount it costs to replace the damaged, older roof with a new roof

After the roof has been determined to be damaged, the insurance company will send the ACV amount to the homeowner. After the project has been completed, the insurance company will then issue a second check covering the difference between the ACV and the RCV. The second check is equivalent to the depreciation.

Roofing contractors who say they will cover the deductible are committing insurance fraud. We pride ourselves in being honest and fair with all of our customers and therefore we do not compromise on our ethics.

Occasionally an insurance company will initially deny a claim. This can deter homeowners from pursuing the claim further. We would not recommend filing a claim unless we thought there was validity to the claim. We often have to provide evidence to substantiate the claim even after the insurance company initially denies the claim. Insurance adjusters are often also unfamiliar with local building codes and deny the claim based on being uninformed. So if you get an initial denial, please let us know and give us the opportunity to continue to fight for you.

Depreciation is a term describing the amount of money that is held back by the insurance company. Depreciation is calculated based on how old your roof is compared to its value brand new. This idea is similar to how an older car’s value is a lot less than what it would cost new. As a roof ages, the value of the roof depreciates. The value of the roof goes down over the years. If the roof were newly replaced today, its value may be $20,000. The “older roof/used roof” value right now may be $8,000. That would make the depreciation amount $12,000. Depending on the policy, the depreciation can be recovered once the work is completed and proper documentation is sent in.

Other quotes are not necessary because our payment is based on the insurance proceeds and not off of our quote. Our quote is based on industry-standard pricing that most insurance companies use to decide on how much to pay. Other contractors may give higher or lower quotes than we give but the ultimate payment for any contractor will come down to what the insurance pays. Our goal is to focus on getting your roof restored to the highest standard possible. So what is most important is that you have confidence in our ability to fight for you.

Please note that if a client has signed a cooperative agreement, this question is not relevant because the client cannot use another contractor for the work without paying a coop fee for violating the contract.

After you confirm that your property has been damaged, you will file a claim which is when you inform the insurance company that your property is damaged. Your insurance company will send out an insurance adjuster who will confirm the damage and will issue you a “Statement of Loss.” This is an itemized statement listing the damages with their proposed cost for how much it would cost to repair or replace the damaged property. We will compare that list to what it really will take to restore your property to its proper condition. Depending on the type of coverage you have, we will evaluate their Statement of Loss for discrepancies and missing items. Then we will work with your insurance company to ensure that all the necessary items are included while we keep you informed as to the status of your claim. Then the insurance company will send you the necessary funds to restore your property. After the work is complete, if there is damage that was not discovered during the first inspection, we will communicate with your insurance company in what is called the Supplementation Process.

The insurance claim process is different than if the homeowner were to pay out of pocket. As the homeowner is only responsible for the deductible, the initial estimate we send to the insurance company is more of a list than an actual quote. We list out on the estimate everything that is required to fully restore the home and although there are prices on the estimate, the prices are industry standard. Then the insurance company will return their estimate with what they believe needs to be done. Often the estimate that comes from the insurance company is different and most of the time is missing essential items. This is the value of having our team advocating for you because if we were to leave it to the insurance company, the home would often be under-restored. The insurance company benefits from doing less restorative work as it leads to higher profits for them. So any initial quote we would give a homeowner would be a poor representation of the actual costs of what will be completed in the job.

Industry-standard is one year from the storm date (date of loss). Policies may vary so it is important that you know exactly what your policy allows.

It is in your best interest to keep us in the loop at all times with every communication whether it be a phone call, email, or paperwork. That way we can advocate for you should there be a discrepancy between what they are saying and what you actually need. It can also speed the process as often we are waiting for information from the insurance company in order to get your home restored.

It is a document provided by the insurance company to itemize the damage on the property and what needs to be repaired or replaced.

Often times when we are restoring a property we come across obstacles that could not be foreseen. For example, there can be damages to areas of the roof under the shingles. Because these are only discovered after the work is completed, almost every job has to go through a “supplementation process” where we contact your insurance company and inform them of the additional work or materials that were needed to complete the project. This is another reason why an initial quote is often not the final cost.

If you have all the proper type of roof components such as ventilation, most roof shingles are designed to last decades. With that being said, an architectural shingle is longer lasting than a three-tab due to a higher wind rating.

Yes, there is a shingle called “Hail Impact” shingle called a Class 4 Impact Resistant (IR). There is an additional cost for the shingles and if you do not have those shingles pre-existing on your home, using those shingles will increase the out-of-pocket cost beyond the deductible.

The insurance is on the home and not the roof specifically. Thus the age of the roof matters less than the condition. Insurance will not cover damage due to normal wear and tear from aging.

If the roof is damaged due to a storm it likely will cover a repair or replacement. If the roof leak is caused because the roof is old or dilapidated then most likely it will not.

Depending on how much damage there is to a roof, the insurance will cover repair versus full replacement. Similar to a car crash there comes a point when insurance will consider the vehicle “totaled.” At that time they replace the whole car. The roof restoration process is similar.

A roof claim will not immediately raise your insurance. Homeowner’s insurance rates are determined by neighborhood. So if a particular neighborhood has multiple claims due to damage, the rates for the neighborhood may go up.

You can get “new roof” discounts on a new policy. It will not lower an existing policy’s rates.

Yes, it will not only increase because of the new roof but also by improving the home’s “curb appeal.”

When a roof is repaired the surrounding shingles and sometimes other protective components need to be removed. There can be a “domino effect” of damage with an extensive repair. There is no formula for how much damage is required. We would prefer to see you get a full roof replacement when it is in your best interest. Therefore if we feel that the damage is too extensive to repair, we will fight for you to try to get the insurance to agree to get your whole roof replaced.

Insurance claims are filed by phone or online. It is a simple process where you call the insurance company and describe the damages we found. The insurance company will document what you said and send an adjuster to look at the damages.