You’ve likely seen the storm chasers that swarm neighborhoods after hail storms to take advantage of homeowners with roof damage. If your home is damaged, the last thing you need is a salesperson trying to talk you into a rushed job without having time to research the company. Even worse, some of these folks will claim you have damage when you don’t. How is a person supposed to know who to trust?
After a major storm, repairs need to be made quickly. The longer you wait, the more the cost increases. Damage may start out small, but can soon turn into a huge problem. As the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association (RMIIA) states, “Roof repair and/or replacement costs a lot less when you don’t have to add in the other expenses of repairing leaks and water damage.” However, you also don’t want to get sucked into a scam.
It can be difficult to navigate the roof repair industry when it isn’t your specialty. And that’s where we come in. Carlson Projects Inc., your Lincoln roof repair expert, cares about you and your roof. So, we’ve written down some tips to make sure that your hail damage is diagnosed and repaired by an upstanding company—like us!
Signs You May Have Hail Damage
According to PolicyAdvice.net, more than 7.1 million properties in the U.S. were battered by hail in 2019. With all that destruction, it’s important to have an idea of what hail damage looks like in order to get it taken care of ASAP.
It isn’t just the size of hail that determines whether your roof will sustain damage. It is a combination of “hail size, wind speed, wind direction, the material of the roof, age of materials and slope” that comes into play during a hail storm.
Superstorm Restoration, in their blog “What the Hail? How to Deal with Roof Damage Caused by Hail” suggests that you look out for-
- Severe damage like missing shingles and downed trees
- Dents on gutters and downspouts
- Black dots, impact marks, or tears on shingles
- Gutters clogged with granules from the roof
- Damage to your siding or deck
However, in the worst-case scenario, the damage could already be affecting the inside of your home. If that is the case, Weather Check advises keeping an eye out for-
- Recurring water leaks
- Water stains on walls or ceilings
- Mold and mildew
These indicators signal a call to a contractor to schedule an inspection may be warranted.
What to Look for in a Contractor
If you suspect that you need a roof inspection, you want someone local and experienced who you can trust and who will effectively communicate with you. There are a number of factors to incorporate in your search that will ensure that you find someone honest and reliable.
1. Research the company
Make sure that they are licensed and insured. Ask for their tax ID and license numbers, and feel free to call “your city or county building department [to ensure] that the license number was issued by them and is current.” Do the same with their insurance information: ask to see their certificate and confirm their coverage.
2. Check for affiliations
Inquire into any national or local trades associations or chambers of commerce. Do they have any awards, credentials, or special certifications? All of these lend to their dependability and expertise.
3. Get references
A terrific way to check to see if they are established within the community is to ask for references. And then check them! Perhaps they’ve done work for a neighbor who can give you the facts on what it is like to deal with the company.
4. Get more than one quote
Always, always, always get more than one estimate! Each contractor will have different preferences in materials, guarantees, warranties, and processes. Get a few and then decide on what works best for you.
5. Read Reviews
Of course, not all reviews are going to shed light on your choice, but it is invariably a good idea to see what kind of experiences other customers have had.
WARNING Signs!!
1. If they show up at your front door!
This is the very first sign that they could be swindlers. Most trustworthy contractors do not try to solicit business by going door to door.
2. If they try to push you into signing a contract
Never let a company coerce you into signing before you are ready. Even if they state that “this deal is only good for today.” If they are reputable, they will work according to your timeline.
3. If they pressure you to pay in full before the work is finished
A contract should never have any blank spaces when you sign it, and you should never be asked to pay in full until all work has been completed and inspected.
Time to make the call
Once you have collected all your information, it might be time to make that call! That’s where we come in. Carlson Projects Inc. is proud to call ourselves your trusted Lincoln and Omaha roofing contractors. We can come to examine your roof, draw up a quote, and help you work with insurance companies to get the most out of your hail-damaged roof.
We’re a local company that focuses on our customers and quality work. Need roof help? Contact us today to start the process!
For more info be sure to check out some of our other blogs on Why Should I Buy a New Roof? and Know Who You Are Hiring Before You Reroof Your Home.
Resources and References
https://policyadvice.net/insurance/insights/hail-damage-statistics/
