Steps For Filing An Insurance Claim For Roof Damage In Renton, WA
Steps For Filing An Insurance Claim
For Roof Damage In Renton, WA
What To Do When You
Need New Shingles
The weather in Renton, WA, can be brutal on your house, and nothing bears the brunt of it worse than your roof. Snow, ice, or freezing rain pounding your rooftop can take its toll over the years. Sometimes though, in just one night, vast amounts of damage could be done to your asphalt shingles, leaving you looking to file an insurance claim.
We here at RoofSmart want you to be informed on what to do when you need a residential roof replacement. Whether it’s due to severe weather or by any other means that leads you to file an insurance claim, being knowledgeable is key.
We’ve put together some information to help you navigate the insurance claim filing process for a damaged roof in the King County area.
About Insurance Claims For Damaged Roofs
There is one main thing to understand first as we begin to dive into filing insurance claims for roof damage in Renton, WA.
You should understand that the insurance claim process can be long. It can take quite a while to go through all the steps necessary to have your claim approved and covered by your insurance company.
Knowing this before you file your insurance claim can help you remain level-headed and knowledgeable of what’s happening with your residential asphalt roof repair.
Steps Of Filing An Insurance Claim For A Roof
Let’s walk through the steps of filing an insurance claim for roof damage in King County, from start to finish.
Assess & Document Your Roof Damage
The first step to take is to find out just how much damage has been done to your roof. You may find damage inside the home, like water spots on your ceilings or walls, or leaks in your attic.
Then, there’s the damage to your roof itself.
You’ll want to be on the lookout for signs of roof damage like missing or damaged shingles, most commonly asphalt shingles. Also, you’ll want to check for damage to your gutters and downspouts.
You can see and take note of some of the damage to your roof from the ground, but to know for sure, someone will need to go up on your roof.
It’s advisable to have a residential roofing company come out and assess the damage for you.
Ensure that you document the damage to your roof. Write everything down that you find damaged or missing. Recording a video of the damage to your roof is a good practice as well.
Review Your Homeowners Insurance &
Contact Your Insurance Company
Next, you’ll want to review your homeowners insurance policy and find out what is covered.
Your insurance policy will outline exactly what it covers, what it doesn’t cover, and how much coverage it will provide in the event of a claim.
When looking into your insurance policy, you’ll want to take note of whether you are insured for the actual cash value (ACV) or the replacement cost value (RCV).
Actual Cash Value
When it comes to the ACV, your insurance company factors in depreciation to the final amount they approve to pay you. They agree to pay you what they determine is the value of the property today versus when it was purchased.
Replacement Cost Value
With RCV, the insurance company will pay you the amount it would cost for you to replace your roof. A value would be set based on comparable roofs and roofing materials in the market.
After reviewing your insurance policy, you’ll need to contact your insurance company.
Your insurance company has 30 days to inspect the damage to your roof, but note that they are not required to physically send an adjuster to your home.
Your insurance company may also recommend roofing contractors for you to work with, but the decision on who you choose to replace or repair your damaged roof is yours alone.
Contact A Trusted Roofing Company
If you choose a trusted roofing company, like us here at RoofSmart, to assess the residential roof damage in the first step, you will also receive a written estimate for your insurance claim.
If you assess the damage to your roof yourself, you’ll need to have a roofing company give you an estimate. The estimate will include the roofing materials and the cost to repair or replace if necessary.
Also, ensure that if your roof needs to be replaced that it is clearly indicated in the written estimate.
File Your Insurance Claim For Roof Damage
Now it’s time to file your insurance claim. You’ll have aid from your insurance agent in this process, but you’ll want to add every bit of evidence you have in your claim, including the following:
- The written estimate
- Receipts from staying in a hotel if necessary
- Estimates for damage inside the home (include receipts if you have them)
Anything and everything you can prove will help in your claim being approved.
Meeting With Your Insurance Adjuster & Receiving Approval
When your adjuster comes to your home to assess the damage in person, you can choose to have your trusted roofing company send a contractor to attend the meeting.
This will allow them to discuss the situation with the adjuster and give their expert opinion on your roof’s damage.
Replacing Your Damaged Roof
After all these steps, you’ll find out if your claim is approved. If it is, you’ll receive the approved payout, sometimes done in more than one payment. Then, you can contact your trusted roofing company to schedule your roof replacement.
If you find yourself in need of a residential roof replacement in Renton, WA, call RoofSmart at (206) 487–4877. Contact us today for a free roof inspection.