Tornado Alley Roofing Company

Frisco Roofing Contractor J. D. Dunphy, President of Tornado Alley Roofing outlines the importance of filing a Hail Damage Report with your insurance company.

Over the past year and a half there have been several hailstorms in the Metroplex.  Areas affected include McKinney, Frisco, Plano, Allen, Lewisville, Keller and Southlake.

It’s difficult to imagine, as a roofing contractor, that many homeowners in these areas have not yet filed a hail damage claim with their insurance company.  Over the years I’ve come to realize that there are four primary reasons that homeowners have not done so:

1. They don’t believe they have any damage since their roof didn’t leak and it looks okay from the ground. 
2. They believe their insurance premiums will increase if they file a claim
3. They feel that since their deductible is so high they just can’t afford to get it done during these tough times and
4. They think it is too late to file.

I will address each of these concerns with the hope of shedding light on each concern and dispelling the myths surrounding them.

1. Hail causes damage to a roof that in almost all cases is not visible from the ground.  It makes indentations in the shingles, causes granular loss, breaches the seals beneath the shingles and when combined with severe winds, lifts the shingles and often severs the neck of the shingle and it becomes dislodged.  All this, except the missing shingles is not readily apparent to the homeowner.  More importantly however, is the fact that once the damage is done leaks are inevitable.  A leak often does not become visible on the interior until weeks or months later. 
2. Insurance premiums will not increase when damage occurs to a roof as an Act of God.  Whether the homeowner’s insurance adjuster reports that damage or no damage has occurred, the premiums of an individual’s homeowner policy will not increase, although a slight increase may be experienced by everyone in the affected area whether they file a claim or not.  
3. The majority of policyholders in Texas have a 1% deductible on their homeowners policy.  If a home is valued at $200,000 for example, the homeowner is faced with a $2,000 deductible.  We frequently counsel people not to be discouraged by this since there are discounts and rebates that are available to assist with a homeowner’s out of pocket expenses.
4. Most insurance companies provide a 365-day period during which a homeowner is expected to file a claim and have their roof replaced.  Beyond that time frame the insurance company is not obligated to pay for a new roof installation, unless an extension is granted.  State Farm offers a two-year deadline.

If you are a homeowner in one of the above mentioned areas, we encourage you to call us as Tornado Alley Roofing and let us visit with you to discuss the process and file a claim extension and let your insurance company pay for your roof so you don’t have to after the deadline has long passed.

For more information on hail damaged shingles go to our website: tornadoalleyroofing.com, then:

1. Click on the Roof Health Check icon. 
2. Enter your street address. 
3. Type your password (HAIL). 
4. Enjoy the videos and
5. Call (888) TORNADO to schedule your appointment.

Frisco Roofing Contractor J. D. Dunphy, President of Tornado Alley Roofing, has been providing quality roofing installation, roofing repair, and roof replacement services to residents in Plano, McKinney, Allen, Frisco, and the surrounding North Texas communities since 1983.  Tornado Alley Roofing is proud of the fact that most of our business comes from referrals. If you have a roof repair or replacement issue please give Tornado Alley Roofing a call at (888) TORNADO.