Roofing Insurance Claims
Throughout the process, be sure to write down all conversations that you have, indicating the date at time each occurred and a short summary of the discussion.
Safety First
Be sure that your residence is livable and safe for your family. You don’t want to begin worry about insurance and all other things that will follow until you are sure that your home is inhabitable. If it isn’t, try and find a friend or family member to stay with until things are fixed and safe.
File a Claim
Begin with your insurance company. You can call your agent directly, or look for a number for the claims department. Provide all of the information requested to the best of your ability. It will be important to provide the date and time the roofing issue occurred and your best description of what happened. While it may be difficult, try to just explain the facts and leave out any unnecessary information. Your insurance agent or their claims department should walk you through each step of the questioning.
Schedule for an Adjustor
Now, the insurance company will want to send out an adjustor to take a look at the roofing damage and try to assess what needs to be done to repair or replace the roof. Schedule the appointment for a time that you can be available at the home. If you already know a roofing company you would like to work with, it would be a good idea to give them a call and see if they can send someone out during the time the adjustor is there.
Document the Damage
The adjustor will take pictures of the damage and also make notes as to what he finds, but it is always a good idea to keep record of your own observations. Take notes on all conversations that take place between you and the insurance company as well as between you and the roofing company.
If the area is safe, take pictures from different areas and angles of all of the damage. Begin at the front of the house is the damage is visible and work your ways around. If there is damage that can be seen from the inside of the home, take pictures of the problem areas that you see. Remember that before you go in, make sure the area is safe.
Call a Roofing Company
If you haven’t already selected a roofing company, now is the time to call. Let them know the situation and what stage of the process you are currently in. Providing information from the insurance company may be helpful. Schedule an appointment for them to take a look at the roof and begin to set up a time to begin repairs.
In Boston, roofing problems can strike at anytime. Its important to choose a reliable roofing company. For more information, visit http://angielist.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton
Three Roof Issues Commonly Found at Home Inspections
As a home inspector I climb on roofs quite often. As part of the whole house inspection I inspect the roof from the exterior and from within the attic. There are certain issues that are commonly found during my inspection of roofs.
One of the most common issues I find on a roof is missing or damaged shingles. Wind damage being the most common cause of missing or bent over and cracked shingles. Here in Ohio there are quite a few farm fields and the wind has little to block it. When I see shingles that have a crack running horizontally across it just under where is meets the shingle above I know it is wand damage. Unless of course someone is climbing up and folding up a few shingles just for fun, doubtful.
The other issue I see often is that the rubber boot flashing are damaged. The rubber boot flashing is the specially designed metal and rubber piece that is designed to fit around the plumbing vents that penetrate through the roof. Many times the rubber that creates the water proof seal around the plumbing pipe is cracked or damaged. These cracks and tears can be large allowing lots of rain to enter the interior portion of the home. They can also be large enough to let birds in to the attic to nest.
Lack of a gap between the shingles and siding is another issue that I find frequently. With the roof designs in which a roof butts up against an exterior wall there should be a gap between the siding and the shingles. The lack of a an inch or so makes it difficult to install an additional layer of shingles. This is because there is not enough space remaining between the siding and shingles to allow the thickness of additional shingles. If the siding is wood then it is a larger issue because the wooden siding will have an easier time wicking of water form the shingles that are in contact. This increases the chance for rot and deterioration.
There were the three of the most common issue I find as I conduct home inspections in the Columbus Ohio area. There are others issues of course, often with the quality of the work done especially with the chimney flashings. If you are need of having an unbiased and not a “motivated to sell you a new roof inspection” of your roof contact Habitation Investigation LLC for a roof inspection. If you know you need new roofing or repairs search for Columbus Ohio Roofing on the internet.
Jim Troth is a full time home inspector in Ohio and the Education Coordinator for InterNachi Ohio. He has grown his home inspection business during the downturn of real estate. He attributes the growth to excellent customer service and referrals from satisfied clients. He provides home inspections in the Columbus, Hilliard, Powell, Worthington, Dublin, Marysville and other cities surrounding Columbus, Ohio. His home inspection company is Habitation Investigation LLC. The website is: http://www.homeinspectionsinohio.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Troth
Hiring a Roofing Contractor
Finding the best roofing contractor for you roof repair needs can be hit and miss for some people. If your tiles have been blown off in a storm, it is easy to make a poor decision by selecting a roofing contractor too quickly without the necessary checks carried out first. Finding a roofer who knows exactly what products to use and has good practices is very important. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to save yourself time, money and the headache of picking a roofing company.
- Finding a Roofer – Don’t be afraid to search around and speak to the roofing companies before making your decision. Word of mouth is a great tool for finding a respected company who have had a good testimonial. Check if your friends, family or work colleagues have had roof repairs performed in the past and if they can recommend anyone.
- Evaluate the Roofer – A professional contractor will be happy to offer quotations and advice for free. Good personal skills shown from the company will mean good communication throughout the job. Make sure they have plentiful experience in the type of repair which is due and that they are fully licensed.
- Aftercare service – A great roofer will be happy to make a follow up call on the repaired roof. It the weather is inclement, it could dislodge the repair and having the roofer check back a few weeks later is a nice touch.
Whether it is a roof repair or you need roof covering products applied, having a good company who can offer a myriad of roofing practices such as tiling, asphalt, shingle is a very important aspect. When it’s time to fix a leaking roof or make the existing roof more durable, it’s time to start looking for a roofing contractor.
Roof Rocket is dedicated to providing the most extensive resource on the web for Roof Repair, Roof Contracting and Green Roofing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sam_Lowrey
Roof Replacement – 4 Steps to Take When Hiring a Roofing Contractor
As a home or business owner, you know that roof replacement is no laughing matter. Replacing your roof is a serious undertaking in terms of time and money– and should be treated as such. Sure you want the job done quickly, but if you make the mistake of hastily hiring an incompetent roofing contractor, it will likely cost you dearly.
If you are considering replacing the roof on your home or business facility, there are a few proven steps you should take before hiring a roofing contractor. Failure to follow these steps could result in lots of future headaches.
Step 1 – Don’t just pick the first guy you find in the phone book. Perform your search carefully. Find local consumer feedback on roof replacement contractors through trusted sources such as Angie’s List or the Better Business Bureau. These resources will inform you as to whether formal complaints have been lodged against a contractor. They will also let you know if they have a spotty service reputation with previous clients. Remember, if previous clients weren’t happy with the contractor’s service, odds are you won’t be either. And if the roof replacement contractor isn’t registered with the Better Business Bureau, don’t even give them another thought. Take your business elsewhere.
Step 2 – Once you have a list of 2 or 3 potential contractors that have passed the first test, it’s time to interview each of them. When interviewing, ask about:
• their area of specialty
• how many years they have been in business
• certifications
• guarantee of quality work
You’ll also want to get a detailed itemized estimate of the work to be done. Carefully analyze each estimate. Look at the prices based on comparable materials, warranty periods and such.
Remember, you always get what you pay for. Don’t get so hung up on price that you just search for the cheapest guy off the side of the road. Anyone can quote the cheapest prices. But few can provide quality work. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean the highest price offers the highest quality either. Be smart and carefully weigh all your options.
Step 3 – Regional weather and climate considerations should always come into play in roof replacement. These issues affect not only the materials used, but also state law regulating roofing contractors. For example, in the Texas Gulf Coast area, roof replacement must pass windstorm inspection in order to obtain a windstorm certificate. If a roof doesn’t pass this inspection, the home can’t be insured. Since Hurricane Ike, many home and business owners have had to obtain re-roofing jobs because they originally hired contractors whose work did not pass windstorm certification. Think of the time and money wasted!
Step 4 – Make sure that you schedule your roof replacement job with the contractor’s main office supervisor. This ensures that an agreed upon timeline is in place, which in turn guarantees that the job will be completed on time and as ordered. Both parties will be on the same page and you’ll be on your way to having a new roof.
Remember, roof replacement is a big deal. Your roof is your home’s first line of defense. When you hire a roofing contractor, be careful to do your homework.
Find Roofing Contractor Houston and Roof Replacement Houston at BayAreaRoofersInc.Com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathan_Riley
Things You Ought to Know About Roll Roofing and Installation
Roll roofing is a common and popular type of material that one can use for fixing quick jobs. To be precise, this type of roofing is ideal for sheds, or other small structures that one can personally work on. It is worth noting that this material is also known as “90 pound felt”, due to the very fact that it weighs 90 pounds, and each roll can cover up to 100 sq feet. The fact that this material is so affordable means that most people can afford to purchase some, for any of their construction projects.
However, one should note that this material is not the best, if one intends to do roofing that will last for long. In other words, Roll roofing is not ideal for long term roofing, since it has a lifespan of not more that 10 years. This is so, regardless of whether the installation was done by professionals, or whoever. Suffice it to note that this material is in a way identical to asphalt shingles, only that it has a surface that is covered with minerals. These minerals usually have a base that is coated in asphalt, so as to enhance protection.
One thing that one should always bear in mind when determining whether one’s roof can be suitable for this kind of roofing, is the pitch of the overall roof. One may need a contractor to help decide this, but basically if the pitch of a roof is steep, then chances are that roll roofing is not the way to go. Still, a roof that is too flat is also not ideal for roll roofing, as this may lead to water flooding, and leaking into the house, or structure. In such a scenario however, one can make things work by opting for double coverage selvage. One can therefore conclude that the most suitable roof for roll roofing is one that has a slight decline, in order to let water flow freely to the ground.
There are numerous contractors who have specialized in roll roofing. In Florida, one will get these contractors, and although their charges vary, the cost is basically affordable.
The following tips may help while installing roll roofs.
· Ensuring temperatures are around 50 degrees, so as to avoid any cracking
· Avoiding edges that are curled
· Making use of an underlayment, under the layer of the roll roofing.
These tips may help one get the best results in their roll roofing installation.
If you are looking for a professional company to provide you with commercial roofing, then hercules roofing, then all you need to do is click on the links. You will not be disappointed with them because they have been in this for quite some time now.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Jaikishan