How to Claim insurance for Emergency Roofing
When your roof has been damaged by storms and you’ve had to call an emergency roofer, it’s time to call your insurer to cover the costs you’ve incurred. But many customers find that their insurance won’t pay up for emergency roofing, so here are some of the facts you should know, so that you can call your insurer armed with the right information.
Your insurance policy will cover events such as flooding or storms, so there shouldn’t really be a problem when it comes to forking out for an emergency roofer. But it may not be as straightforward as it seems…
Maintain Your Property
Claims can be dismissed if your insurer finds that your home was already in a state of disrepair before the storm struck. Your insurance policy will state that if your property is not in a good condition in the first place, then the damage that the storm did could have been prevented – and so your insurer will not pay out. If your roof has been leaking for years, then it will cause your roof to be more vulnerable in extreme weather conditions – so to ensure that you can claim on your insurance for emergency roofing, it’s essential that you keep your property in good condition in the first place.
Keep your property well maintained by performing regular checks to ensure that there are no roof tiles missing or gaps where water can leak through. Wear and tear to your property could prevent your insurer from paying up when you need it most.
What is an Emergency?
Read your insurance policy properly. It’s all too easy to skip the small print, but spending some time to become acquainted with your insurance policy can pay dividends. If you’re unsure of any of the terms of your policy, give your insurers a call and ask them to clarify it for you – this could save you from being seriously out of pocket in the long-run.
The first rule is to use an emergency roofer only when you really have to, so you need to know what constitutes an emergency. An emergency situation is when damage to your roof threatens the structural integrity of your property and its contents. If you’re sure that by not calling an emergency roofer, further damage will result – that’s usually when you need an emergency roofing firm to come and fix the damage. For example, if your roof is in danger of collapsing then you should call an emergency roofer without delay. Don’t go through the unnecessary step of getting an estimate, this is too urgent. Just get the repairs done as any delay could make the problem worse.
What is a Storm?
You have to differentiate between a proper storm and just heavy winds to claim on your insurance. Insurers often classify a storm as violent winds accompanied by hail, rain or sleet. There are one or two exceptions – just be sensible about it and make sure you don’t call out an emergency roof without just cause.
Insurance firms use a tool called the Beaufort Scale to measure wind force and tell them whether your property really was hit by a storm. The Beaufort Scale has been in use since the 19th century and measures wind on a scale from 0 to 12. If the wind level rose above a certain rate on this scale when the damage was done, then you’ll stand a good chance of claiming if you take into account all the other criteria outlined above. They will also take in to account your proximity to local weather stations and the reliability of these stations.
G&A Roofing and Building has a reliable emergency roofing team that will attend your property promptly and provide emergency roof repairs when your property has been damaged by stormy weather.
Established over 25 years ago, we have a reputation for providing quality care for our customers. Call us for advice and practical solutions when you need emergency roofing for your property. Contact the team for help on 0800 626430.
