COLORADO ROOFING FAQ's

STOP!

Before you file a damaged roof claim in Northern Colorado, have us look at your roof. Just because your neighbors have filed a claim or had their roof replaced due to hail or wind does not mean that your roof has sustained the same damage. While having a claim denied is not bad in and of itself, it can negatively effect your policy in conjunction with other claim reports.

As a responsible roofing company in Loveland Colorado, we encourage you to have us assess the damage and speak with your insurance agent about filing a claim if necessary.

Remember, no matter how small or large your claim is, according to Colorado State Law, you will always be responsible for your deductible. If the value of the damage is less than your deductible why file a claim?

Don’t be shy about calling your agent and telling him/her that you may have roof damage — chances are the company will have adjusters in the area anyway.

After you make the call make a list of all the roof damage you have noticed. Some of the things to inspect and to look for are dents in gutter, bent fins on the air conditioner, dented roof vents and pipe caps, dents in window wraps and facia, damaged lawn furniture and flower pots. Roof damage in Colorado is about the only thing that can’t be assessed from the ground, just because the damage isn’t visible does not mean that it isn’t there, and extensive.

The one place to look is at the end of downspouts, look for small pieces of roofing and granules. Also inspect your vehicles, any storm that causes vehicle damage usually causes roof damage. After you have made your inspection make sure you are home when the adjuster comes and call his attention to the things you have noted.

If you feel more comfortable, have a roofing contractor there when the adjuster comes, chances are the whole process can be simplified, and repairs can begin sooner.

The duty of an roofing insurance adjuster is to give you an accurate accounting of everything that was damaged by the storm and a written estimate of what it will cost to put your property back to the condition it was in prior to the storm. Remember, this is only an estimate and actual costs may vary. This is easily resolved between the adjuster and the contractor. In any case you are going to be liable for the amount of your deductible and no more. The adjuster will either leave you a statement of loss or you will receive it in the mail in a few days. The statement of loss will itemize your losses, and the estimated cost of repair for each.

Most home owner policies are replacement cost and will pay that amount even though the actual cost may exceed the adjusters estimate. The loss statement will reflect the replacement cost value (RCV), the depreciation, and the actual cash value(ACV) of your loss. The (ACV) column of the statement will reflect the amount of your first check minus your deductible. The depreciation column should be called the deferred column as it reflects the money held back by the insurance company until the work is complete and an invoice is submitted by the contractor for payment. The insurance company will then issue another check to you for the exact amount between the final bill, and (ACV) portion of your first check relating to that particular repair.

The (ACV) and the depreciation columns of your statement will total up to the (RCV) column of the statement. Insurance companies hold back money to track whether or not repairs are made and to insure that they pay no more than the replacement cost of the damage. Most insurance companies send catastrophe teams into storm situations, and the adjusters come from all over the country to work the claims. Although most are well trained and experienced some are not. In any case, the adjusters are representing the insurance companies and it is the company’s interest they are hired to protect.

For that reason, they will tell you to get estimates to repair the damage, most will not tell you that you are spending your time shopping for the insurance company, as they have held out money as depreciation and will pay only the (RCV) for the repairs. As time goes on many home owners will realize that it is reputable companies like On Target Roofing that are actually looking after their interests in the repair process.

Anyone using a Colorado roofing contractor that is not insured to save a few bucks is foolish at best, and a way bigger gambler than they may have imagined. Roofing is a dangerous business and very hard work. One slip can result in a fall causing serious injury, and back injuries are common, which makes hiring a contractor without workman’s comp very risky.

Although most state laws exempt home owners from these suits, you can rest assured some attorney is going to name you personally in a law suit, forcing you to hire an attorney to get dismissed from the suit. Just as risky is the weather when it comes to roofing. 

Thunderstorms can blow up rapidly, and even the most experienced crews can get caught in the rain. An uncovered roof in a rain storm can cause significant damage to the interior of a home. Most roofing contractors without general public liability insurance are not financially secure enough to repair major damage to your home.

The option of not paying them does not work too well if they just don’t come back. Uninsured contractors can work much cheaper than properly insured ones, so weigh the risks before hiring the uninsured to save a few bucks for the insurance company.

On Target Roofing is fully licensed and insured roofing company in Loveland CO. We provide our roofing services all throughout Northern Colorado.

Allied: 800-282-1446

Allstate: 800-54-STORM

American Family: 800-374-1111

Amica: 800-24-AMICA

Auto Owners: 517-323-1200

Encompass: 800-588-7400

Farmers: 800-435-7764

Liberty Mutual: 800-2CLAIMS

Nationwide: 800-421-3535

Progressive: 800-776-4737

Safeco: 800-332-3226

Shelter: 800-SHELTER

State Farm: 800-SF-CLAIM

Travelers: 800-CLAIM33

USAA: 800-531-8222

When a severe hail storm hits an area, most if not all local roofing companies are ill equipped to handle the increased demand on their business. Most of them will be approached by “stormers or fly by night roofers” and offered a significant amount of money to lease their name and phone number and almost all of them will reach some kind of agreement with the stormer.

With bad weather, you can imagine there are a lot of these types of roofing companies. On Target Roofing in Loveland Colorado, has never and will never sell out to stormers! Home improvement contractors will instantly be in the roofing business, as well as anyone else with a phone number and yellow page listing for lease. This leaves you, the consumer, with no idea who you are hiring, where they are from, or what their real reputation is. The local contractor that doesn’t sell out is forced to supplement his labor force from wherever he can, once again leaving you in the dark as to who is repairing your home and how qualified they really are.

Use caution, choose a company that is actually what and who it says it is. On Target Roofing has been and always will be family owned and operated.