OT: house got hit by storm; anything to look out for on repairs?

[Volant]

Our house took some damage the other night (tennis ball sized hail). It looks like we'll need a new roof, siding, anything made of aluminum (gutters, flashing, etc.) and pvc (sills, trim) and 13 windows need to be replaced. Forunately, our cars were in the garage (our neighbor with kids old enough to drive, and the new neighbors who just moved in, weren't so lucky).
Anything to be aware of when making a claim and hiring people for the repairs? I've been paying insurance for all these years, but I've never filed a claim before (for home or auto) so I don't know the process.
If the roof leaks, does that mean the wood under it needs to be replaced?
I'm sure I'll find out the answers to my questions as I go through the process, but any insight would be appreciated.

[drewski]

Trust no one. Get really good references. People who insurance work
are usually on the shady side. People with integrity are worth their weight
in gold in these situations.

Take lots of photos.
About 1.5 ago we had a flood in our home and had to live in a hotel for 3-4 months.

[biker72]

Check for water damage in the attic. Wood in the attic is OK if it gets a little wet. If there is enough water the ceiling sheet rock may be damaged. Check the decking under the shingles to make sure it's OK.

Any composition/wood siding probably took a beating. It's next to impossible to get the big dings out of siding. Insist on replacement.

Don't cash the insurance check until you're sure ALL of your hail related problems are covered.

[AngryScientist]

you'll likely be working with an adjuster to assess the damage. if you dont feel comfortable with the technical damage done to the house, try and get someone who is to be there when you meet with the adjuster so they will not try and sell you short. the insurance company is ultimately going to pay for what the adjuster writes up as the reimbursable damage to your home. make sure you take your time with him/her and get things done right and fairly.

lots and lots of pictures are a good thing.

[buck-50]

Find a good contractor now. Figure a couple thousand people have the exact same damage as you, so good contractors are going to back up quick.

If you can get the contractor and the adjuster there at the same time, that might help.

A couple years ago we had the same thing- hail in april, waited a bit to get an estimate and it was november before they could get to us.

Your insurance will try and low-ball you and there's stuff you'll want that they won't pay for (insurance covers a single width of ice and water shield- most houses need a double width). They'll adjust and negotiate, but having a really good contractor helps.

[biker72]

Find a good contractor now.
Find a good established contractor now. When there is a wide area of damage from hailstorms/tornados...etc. all sorts of contractors will show up that started their business yesterday.

I was in the roofing business for a few years. There are dozens of ways for a contractor to save money by using sub-standard materials/seconds. The established guys will give you a first rate job or they wouldn't be in existence.

[oldfatslow]

Find a good established contractor now. When there is a wide area of damage from hailstorms/tornados...etc. all sorts of contractors will show up that started their business yesterday.


Great point. Watch out for carpet baggers of completely unqualifed folks seeking quick money. They will be a dime a dozen and only slightly better than the fraud perpetrators who will take your deposit money with no intention of ever showing up to do any work.

Funny story from hurricane Andrew. My mom's roof made it through the storm with only a little damage (it was relatively new at the time). She came home to the house a few days after the storm and there was a roofing crew at work who had already torn off her perfectly good roof. She told the knuckleheads to get off her roof and called the cops and called her insurance agent. The guys said "sorry, wrong house". Her agent said don't worry about it, they'd cover it, and arranged for some "emergency" folks to come out and tarp the roof to prevent further damage while she got in the queue to get her roof fixed. Amazing.

Sorry to hear of your losses. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by these terrible storms.

[daker13]

With the roof, you should be okay as long as wood is able to dry out adequately. If you get a lot of water in there, you may have to deal with mold, say, if water gets down into your walls. A lot of the 'mold specialists' up here in new England seem to be short on science/credentials and long on hysteria (like after the flooding a year ago), but it's still something to watch out for.

My best piece of advice, though, is to spend a little time learning about any repairs you need to have done--for ex., read up on roofing for an hour or two. Ask questions of the contractor and, if you're able, show an interest in what they're doing as they're doing it. I think the guys who do this kind of stuff tend to appreciate your interest, and they go out of their way to explain to you how things work. I definitely think it leads to them doing a better job, and it just doesn't make sense (to me) to pay someone a lot of money--even if it is just insurance money--without paying attention to the job itself. I don't know much about roofs, but I do think the thicker storm shield is a worthwhile investment over the regular, thin asphalt sheeting. Good luck with your repairs!

[Jangles13]

I happen to be a residential general contractor. I don't live in an area that experiences hail damage like you've experienced, so I can't comment much on what the extent of damage might be. However, if you have specific questions feel free to ask and I'll do my best to help, and in the meantime I'll offer the following basic thoughts:

Make sure to check any contractor's business liability policy. Depending on the state some trades require licensing, but many do not; all require insurance. Get detailed, written contracts. Have the specific products and quantities they will use outlined (within reason, we don't need to count how many nails). If they're going to put 30sq of Certainteed Landmark in driftwood down - have it in the contract. Not only does this allow you to accurately compare quotes (apples to apples) but also protects against miss-communications later.

Thus far what you've outlined seems relatively straightforward. There are a few factors concerning water damage. The actual roof structure isn't going to be an issue but rather everything it was protecting. If you have insulation, what kind, where, and has it had substantial exposure to water. What are your interior walls/ceilings finished with (drywall, plaster, wood, paneling...) and do you have any visible signs of damage (water stains, popped screws). With out inspecting the home myself it's hard to outline everything.

The windows, if it's just glass that's blown out, are simple - remove the sashes and send them out for repair. If the frames are damaged, that becomes a much larger job.

Siding and other exterior trim is a fairly simple process, just ensure that your replacement is of the same quality grade as what's being removed - they are not created equal. Product prices for vinyl siding range from $60 a square to over $400.

The extent of the repair depending on the size of the home could be anywhere from $15k to in excess of $100k. Without more detail of the size and design of the home, along with original product lists, it's very difficult to say.

Edit to add: How old is the home? If before 1978 you may run into another field of issues because of EPA's new RRP (lead) rule. Also, is your insurance company offering replacement costs, or are they prorating?

[firerescuefin]

Had a friend who dealt with almost the exact same situation last year. The adjuster (from one of the big insurers) low-balled everyone in the area. Most took the low-ball. He fought it and they sent out another adjuster that agreed to 95% of what he was asking for.

[Mr Cabletwitch]

Just don't go with a Storm damage type of guy, there is a guy in my area coming around offering people free roofs because of hail damage a year ago, he takes whatever the insurance offers and puts up a horrible roof in a couple hours and then takes off, so far he has been back twice under two different names, I've called the cops and he just comes back anyway. Some people are stupid :crap:

[Lifecycle]

I happen to be a residential general contractor. I don't live in an area that experiences hail damage like you've experienced, so I can't comment much on what the extent of damage might be. However, if you have specific questions feel free to ask and I'll do my best to help, and in the meantime I'll offer the following basic thoughts:

Make sure to check any contractor's business liability policy. Depending on the state some trades require licensing, but many do not; all require insurance. Get detailed, written contracts. Have the specific products and quantities they will use outlined (within reason, we don't need to count how many nails). If they're going to put 30sq of Certainteed Landmark in driftwood down - have it in the contract. Not only does this allow you to accurately compare quotes (apples to apples) but also protects against miss-communications later.

Thus far what you've outlined seems relatively straightforward. There are a few factors concerning water damage. The actual roof structure isn't going to be an issue but rather everything it was protecting. If you have insulation, what kind, where, and has it had substantial exposure to water. What are your interior walls/ceilings finished with (drywall, plaster, wood, paneling...) and do you have any visible signs of damage (water stains, popped screws). With out inspecting the home myself it's hard to outline everything.

The windows, if it's just glass that's blown out, are simple - remove the sashes and send them out for repair. If the frames are damaged, that becomes a much larger job.

Siding and other exterior trim is a fairly simple process, just ensure that your replacement is of the same quality grade as what's being removed - they are not created equal. Product prices for vinyl siding range from $60 a square to over $400.

The extent of the repair depending on the size of the home could be anywhere from $15k to in excess of $100k. Without more detail of the size and design of the home, along with original product lists, it's very difficult to say.

Edit to add: How old is the home? If before 1978 you may run into another field of issues because of EPA's new RRP (lead) rule. Also, is your insurance company offering replacement costs, or are they prorating?


I am a contractor as well and the above mentioned has some good points - especially - ( Compare apples to apples ), Keep in mind when comparing these Estimates ,look for the company that has been around with a good reputation , use them even if there quote is peanuts higher. Remember this is your House and what better place to sink your money than that - it's a win win situation, and the last coment on the EPA's new RRP(Lead) rule, you should really look into that (if it aplies to your situation)

Good Luck and pay attention to what people are saying and what you are signing (read it through) don't just sign it.

Again best of Luck