If you’ve sustained damage to your roof from a hail storm or any other severe weather event in Colorado, you want to take care of it as soon as possible. However, knowing where to start to get your roof damage taken care of can be difficult. 

For example, should you contact your roofer or your insurance company first? What kind of information does each need to be able to take care of your storm damage? What can you do to speed up the process? 

While you should take time to familiarize yourself with what your insurance covers since every homeowner’s insurance policy is different —there are some general best practices from our premier partner, J&K Roofing, that you can follow to ensure your roof gets back in good shape. 

Don’t Delay Your Roofing Project 

You typically have one year from the date of damage to file a homeowner’s insurance claim to take care of the hail storm damage to your roof. If you fail to act in time, your claim will most likely be denied, and you’ll have to cover the repair costs yourself. 

But more than that: waiting too long to repair storm damage can lead to other serious damage like leaks, mold, rotting wood, and damage to your home’s roof system.  

Verify Damage and Document Damage 

After a storm, do a thorough walk-around of your home and property and see if you notice any issues. As soon as you’re aware of any damage, document it with photos and notes on any issues that you are seeing. Take note of when the storm occurred as this is required if you plan on filing an insurance claim.  

Remember, there’s no need to get on top of your roof to get this damage! Roofing is a notoriously dangerous job, and getting on your roof introduces an added risk. Any photos or videos you can take from the ground or in your attic (if it’s safe to get in your attic) will be sufficient.  

Contact a local roofing company to schedule a professional roof inspection. This is the best way to verify the type of damage and determine if there is damage and the extent of the damage. Your roofing company will provide an estimate and discuss solutions based on your situation. 

Contact Your Roofing Company 

You can reach out to your insurance company before contacting a trusted, local roofer, but in most cases, it’s best to get in touch with a roofing company first. 

This is for a few reasons: 

1. Roofing companies get very busy after storms, and you need your repairs taken care of ASAP. 

2. Your roofer will perform a thorough inspection to confirm any damage and provide a detailed estimate. You never know what kind of damage is hidden from plain sight! 

3. You’ll want to select the roofer that you want to work with to schedule a professional inspection and provide an estimate. This will provide an accurate scope of work that can be provided to your insurance company. Most insurance companies require an estimate before they’ll review a claim and send out an adjuster, so reaching out to your roofer will save time. 

File Your Homeowner’s Insurance Claim 

After you’ve had a roofing professional perform an inspection and list the necessary repairs, it’s time to file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance company. Depending on your insurance company, you may be able to complete the claim online. Your roofing professional can help you navigate the insurance claim process to make sure that you have all of the information you need to file your claim. 

Your roofing contractor is your partner in getting your home back in good shape. Your insurance company will most likely send out an adjuster to verify the damage. Have your roofing contractor meet with your adjuster. Adjusters aren’t roofers, and they usually don’t have the experience necessary to identify all damage and provide an accurate claim estimate. Once your claim is submitted and approved, work can begin and you’ll have a new roof in no time (hopefully)! 

We’re Ready to Take on Your Roofing Project 

No matter where you are in the Denver Metro, Front Range, Colorado Springs, or Northern Colorado area, we can help make your roofing insurance claim painless and efficient. J&K Roofing is a full-service roofing company, and we work with insurance companies on insurance claims every day. We understand how to navigate this process and are always available to answer any questions. 

Call J&K Roofing today at (720) 336-2206 to schedule your free inspection and get your project started.