End of Dec I had a tree fall on my house. Damage the back half of the roof, tore the gutters off. The roof is 14 years old. The house is worth in excess of $1m. My question up for input is the ins is offering to cover only the back half of the roof. The shingles probably won't match, so I questioned the ins as to whether it should be fair to not cover the entire roof so it matches. He said WA state is a "non matching" state. Am I out of line to want my house to look aesthetically correct or is the ins being cheap? Thx for any input.
Tree damage question
- Thread starter Stimson
- Start date
Second question first, yes your insurance company is being cheap and I say that because that's their business model. To get you to take whatever they offer for as little outlay on their part as possible. We had three trees fall on our house back in the 2006 windstorm (we were in a hotel that night riding out the storm) and PEMCO replaced the entire roof, repainted all interior ceilings and walls in the affected rooms.
I would maybe read your policy to see what it says about repairs being made to restore your house to it's pre-loss condition. The roof matched before, and should match after.
I would maybe read your policy to see what it says about repairs being made to restore your house to it's pre-loss condition. The roof matched before, and should match after.
jact55
Life of the Party
What is their reasoning for only replacing half the roof?
Even 3 tab shingles generally carry a minimum of a 15 year warranty. Sometimes more.
If they cite age of roof, I'd bring this up.
Good luck
Brian in OR.
Life of the Party
I just had my roof done and i had probably 10 shingles missing on the house from wind damage and they dont make that version anymore... Insurance bought me a whole new roof....
I just had my roof covered. Wind wiped out shingles in a valley. Water flooded my sons room and garage. Took almost 2 months of back and forth with insurance. First offer was to repair my roof and was very low. I focused on bringing my roof up to code and how that would be possible with a repair (it wasn't). My adjustor although pleasant in person didn't even get on the roof or look in my attic and made some odd comments throughout and had a helper who was a roofer but not my roofer get on the roof. I was going to argue this guy was acting as an adjustor but wasn't...
The reality though is that my claims representative Dan came through and was reasonable and pleasant throughout. Without him I think it would have been a battle.
All in all it was a exhausting confusing process...I'm just now starting the repairs.
The reality though is that my claims representative Dan came through and was reasonable and pleasant throughout. Without him I think it would have been a battle.
All in all it was a exhausting confusing process...I'm just now starting the repairs.
I few years ago I had a tree fall and do partial roof damage to my MIL unit. The adjuster checked it out, said he thinks $3200 would cover the damage. I said I won't speak another word if ya make it $4000.
He didn't say a word, paused for a long bit and then said OK. Deal done.
I fixed it myself. A few sheets of plywood, facia boards, 2x4's and I was reroofing it that summer anyways.
1st time I wasn't screwed by the Ins mafia.
He didn't say a word, paused for a long bit and then said OK. Deal done.
I fixed it myself. A few sheets of plywood, facia boards, 2x4's and I was reroofing it that summer anyways.
1st time I wasn't screwed by the Ins mafia.
Wayne Kohan
Life of the Party
My son recently had water damage from a washing machine overflow on his second story. The water damage affected just a few boards of his laminate wood flooring downstairs in two rooms. The contractors doing the work we’re going to replace just a couple of the boards but the insurance adjuster said the whole floor needed to be replaced to make it match and so the insurance company paid for the whole floor replacement. And that is in Washington. Not sure I believe your insurance company.
For future reference, if a tree is concerning you send a certified letter with signature required return receipt required to the property owner.
Saved my bacon and my insurance claim to be paid by my insurance policy. He said, no he did not, issues resolved.
Saved my bacon and my insurance claim to be paid by my insurance policy. He said, no he did not, issues resolved.
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Stimson, before assuming that the replacement shingles won't match, verify. I built a woodshed 8 years after my house. I went to the roofing supplier that provided the house roofing material and said I'd like something similar to match the house. They asked my name and looked me up in their database and said how would you like the exact same brand, style, and color we sold you before? I had assumed it would no longer be available, but it was. However, I'm not really sure my woodshed needs a 50-year roof, but, what the heck.
Banned user
Steelhead
And the moral of this story is: EVERYTHING can be negotiated.
Salmo- roofer has not confirmed whether original are still available. Outside of that I would think a total replacement would be warranted simply on age alone. I live around 100' tall fir and cedar trees. I get excessive amounts of wind blown trees debris constantly. Gutters need to be cleaned 6x/year. I just sent an email to the WA St ins commissioner. I'll post my findings when he replies.
I don't think you want to base your argument on age. That could imply your roof was simply old and it isn't insurances fault it's old and needs to be replaced.
I would focus more on the fact that your roof can't safety be repaired in a way that brings it up to code to make your home whole again.
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So for example do you currently have a drip edge and ice guard in all all the correct locations? My roof didn't. So I couldn't get it repaired in a way that would be up to code if that makes sense.
Roofers are also good at battling insurance on your behalf. I did it myself but had a lot of advice from roofers on what to say. Quotes are free and the roofer may be willing to call the adjustor for you.
Also I would strongly recommend staying as calm as possible, not saying too much and beating them with kindness.
Old406Kid
Legend
Agreed, but it's important that you get a roofing company that regularly deals with insurance claims.
My roofer has been awesome. He's been in direct contact with the ins. Ins guy is beating him up, causing him to spend alot of time rewriting bids. Roofer is basically being a general contractor as he is handling the gutter people's bid-rewrite bid, as well as the masonry guys(chimney needs improved flashing where chimney meets roof).
I admit I got a bit flustered when the ins guy said they'll only cover half the roof. Then I wised up and realized I needed to go online and gain more info so as to be better prepared.
I admit I got a bit flustered when the ins guy said they'll only cover half the roof. Then I wised up and realized I needed to go online and gain more info so as to be better prepared.