Slogans and insurance companies are closely intertwined. We are all familiar with various slogans such as "Liberty Biberty," "Like a Good Neighbor," and "You are in Good Hands," which are widely used by insurance companies. These companies spend millions of dollars on advertising to promote their brands. It is difficult to watch any sporting event without encountering at least three different commercials from insurance companies. I have been involved in the residential roofing industry for over a decade and built my business through referrals from insurance agents. In 2021, significant changes began to occur within the roofing industry. The company known for its "Good Neighbor" slogan was once one of the most generous in Georgia when it came to roof replacements. Often, even if I informed homeowners that their roof damage did not warrant an insurance claim, they would proceed with filing one anyway, and the insurance company would frequently replace the roof. This practice of replacing roofs led to the current situation of a virtual halt in roof replacements in Georgia. The transition from being the best to being the worst in terms of roof replacements by the largest insurance company in Georgia has been notable. I have encountered their adjusters, some of whom could not differentiate between traditional three-tab shingles and architectural shingles. There are recorded instances of other roofing companies meeting with adjusters who were unfamiliar with roofing components saying the roof could be repaired but didn’t understand how to repair it. Currently, many insurance companies have adopted policies of denial or minimal repair. To be fair, it was not solely the fault of insurance companies. Due to the lack of regulations in Georgia, numerous companies employed door-to-door inspectors who often caused more harm than good. Consequently, insurance companies paid millions in unnecessary claims, leading them to cease coverage abruptly. Also, part of the problem is homeowners expect to have their roofs replaced by their insurance company when the roof starts to age and shows signs of wear and tear. Most of the time, the homeowner doesn’t know what their policy states and they look for the least expensive coverage. In most instances, insurance companies are liable for damage to the roof if it’s sudden in occurrence. That means if the damage to the roof is caused by a hail storm, wind storm or a tree falling through the roof then the insurance company should assume liability. It does not assume liability because the roof is 18 years old and needs to be replaced. Insurance companies now tend to deny coverage for roofs that are near 15 years of age. Additionally, homebuyers face difficulties obtaining insurance for roofs older than 10-12 years. One cost-cutting measure involves offering lower premiums for higher deductibles based on the value of the home. For instance, a 2% deductible on a $500,000 home means the homeowner is responsible for the first $10,000 in repairs. Another approach is to pay the Actual Cash Value (ACV) instead of the full replacement cost. The ACV is calculated based on the roof's age; for example, a 30-year shingle on a 15-year-old roof would be valued at 50% of the replacement cost minus the deductible. Where does this leave homeowners? Unfortunately, the current situation leaves limited options. Roof replacements are now typically covered only in cases of severe storms with documented wind or hail greater than an inch, or when a tree damages the roof due to such storms. The era of routinely replacing old roofs through insurance claims is over. What should you do if your insurance claim is denied or if you need a new roof? Contact Home Run Roofing at (770) 361-9471. We can assess your roof to determine the viability of challenging the insurance companies through a Public Adjuster or provide an estimate for roof replacement. Home Run Roofing has partnered with Acorn Financial to offer financing options for covering all or part of the costs.

Everyone has experienced it. The knock on the door in your peaceful neighborhood with the “No Soliciting” signs clearly posted. Standing outside the door, there are one or two young men about to pitch you a couple of well used opening lines. A couple of the most common phrases used are “We were doing work on your neighbor’s roof and saw that your roof might have damage as well” and “This whole area was hit with hail.” Now comes the most common scenario that I have seen in the 10+ years of being in the roofing industry. The roofers offer to inspect your roof “Free of Charge”. Since its free, you tell them to go ahead and you return to what you are doing. About an hour later, the roofers are showing you pictures of damage to your roof and telling you that they can get you a new roof through your insurance company. A claim is filed, and the insurance company sends out an adjuster to inspect the roof and see if it meets their criteria for replacement. Much to your dismay, the adjuster agrees to a repair and not a replacement. Now you have a claim on your policy, the insurance company has pictures of your roof and the “roofers” have moved on to the next property. You have been paying your premiums for years on time and never filed a claim so what happened? One of two things: The insurance company is unjustly denying a claim that it should cover or the roofers caused the damage to your roof. Wait…what? How can an insurance company deny a claim? It’s very easy actually. I have a couple of sayings from my experience in this industry. The first one is “It doesn’t matter what damage is on your roof, it matters which insurance company covers your roof.” However, we can save that one for another post. My other saying and one that I see quite often is “If you let unknown roofers on your roof and you didn’t have any damage, you will before they get off.” Why would they cause damage to your roof? Money. They only get paid if they replace the roof. Once they are on your roof, they can make it look like wind damage if you have a 3-tab roof or hail damage if the shingles are architectural. I have seen inexperienced roofers lift and crease architectural shingles. What is a crease? A crease happens naturally over time as 3-tab shingles lose their adhesiveness and a strong enough wind can lift it up and down. The crease is a result of the up and down motion on and older, less pliable shingle. Once it creases enough, the shingle will tear off leading to water intrusion through the roof. The insurance scope of work covers replacing a large number of shingles and not the whole roof. This is the tough part for the homeowner. New shingles rarely seal with old shingles. Not to mention, the color and size many times are different. To install one strip of shingles, you must disturb two more rows. Disturb is a nice way of saying “potentially damaging”. House property values decline when the roof appears to be damaged or mismatched. Imagine trying to sell your house with different shingles on your roof. So how can you protect yourself from unscrupulous roofers? 1. Be cautious. Get a business card so if there is any damage you think they cause you will have their contact information. 2. If you suspect roof damage, ask for a referral from a friend or call your insurance agent. They usually have a list of contractors that they trust. 3. If you decide to let someone on your roof, go outside with them and video what they are doing. 4. If they show up in an unmarked truck with no logo, are they really a professional? 5. Check the company out on the Better Business Bureau. Understand that every time someone walks on the roof, the shingles are being damaged by granular loss. This is why companies are turning to drones to do a preliminary inspection of the roof. Home Run Roofing has been using drones since 2017 to help inspect roofs in a safe manner. If you have been told there is damage to your roof and would like a drone inspection, please call (770) 361-9471 or contact us on the website.