When a hail storm travels through Colorado, you may discover that your home or business has roof hail damage. What is the next step? Most homeowners will contact their insurance agent to ask what their homeowner’s insurance policy covers for hail damage on roofs. As a homeowner or business owner, you may have questions about filing an insurance claim for roof hail damage. The timeline to file is shorter than you think.
Concerns about filing a claim
Many homeowners have concerns about filing an insurance claim for hail damage to the roof. They are worried about how it will affect their insurance rates, they may not understand what their policy covers for roof hail damage, and they are confused about the entire claims process. When homeowners have these types of concerns, they may delay filing a claim because other issues take priority. However, as a homeowner, it is very important that you do not wait to file a claim with your insurance company. There are time limits about when claims can be filed.
Time limits to file a claim
Insurance companies are regulated by state laws, but insurance companies can set their own policy about the time limits for filing a claim. Some insurance companies set the limit as low as 30 days after a qualifying incident, although most companies grant up to one year to file a claim after the incident. The time limit set by your insurance company should be clearly stated in your policy. If you cannot find the information, contact your insurance agent for the details.
If a recent Colorado hail storm caused widespread damage, your insurance company may give an extension to the one-year time limit to give their appraisers more time to evaluate the roof hail damage on all their insured clients. However, this is not common and you should not wait to file a claim with the hopes that your insurance company will grant an extension.
Best time to file a claim
The best time to file an insurance claim is immediately after you notice any damages after a storm. If you notice any roof leaks or other damage to the exterior of your home, it is recommended that you begin the process of filing a claim right away. What if you are not certain if your home sustained any damage from the storm? That is the time to contact a qualified roof inspector or Denver roofing contractor to visit your property and investigate the damages. A hail damage roof inspection is required before most insurance companies will file a claim for roof hail damage.
What happens if you wait to file a claim
When you file a homeowner’s insurance claim for any damages, the most important date to know is the date of loss. If a widespread hail storm went through your town or the extreme wind blew shingles off roofs, took down street signs and trees in your neighborhood, it’s pretty easy to remember the date of loss because you remember the storm.
On the flip side, if you notice ceiling leaks in your home and there were no hail storms or windstorms in the recent past, the hail damage to the roof may have been caused by a prior storm. For example, let’s say a hail storm came through your town three years ago. You didn’t notice any roof hail damage or any other damages to your property, so you didn’t file a claim. Now you are seeing ceiling leaks inside your home, and you recall there was a hail storm a few years ago. You get a hail damage roof inspection from a Denver roofing contractor who explains that your roof did sustain some damage, and then you remember the last hail storm. If you file a claim with your insurance company, the insurance company may cover the cost of a roof replacement, but they may not cover the cost to repair the inside damage from the ceiling leaks.
Bottom Line
If your home receives any damages from a hail storm or wind storm, it is very important to get a Denver roofing contractor to evaluate the damages. If roof hail damage is found, the best thing to do is file a claim as soon as possible. Starting the claims process right away ensures that you remember the date of loss, and it’s easier to prove that the damage happened on that date. Another reason to file immediately is that you will know right away what your policy covers, and the repairs can begin so that further damage does not occur. Make sure that you file a claim within one year of the date of loss. Otherwise, your insurance company may deny your claim.
As a reminder, here are the steps to take after a hail storm or wind storm:
- 1. Look for damage immediately
- 2. Take photos to document the damage
- 3. Call your agent to find out what your policy covers
- 4. Get a qualified Denver roofing contractor
- 5. Remember to file a claim within one year
Peak to Peak Roofing is your qualified Denver roofing contractor. We provide quick and professional hail damage roof inspections to your home or business, and we work with you through the insurance claims process. We know how to deal with insurance companies, and we will help you navigate the claims process to ensure a successful outcome. Contact us today to schedule your free roof inspection.