27 Aug 5 Misconceptions of the Roofing Industry
There are plenty of misconceptions when it comes to the roofing industry. Here are 5 myths and the truths they hide…
1. When you receive the first Statement of Work from your insurance company, that is the amount you have to agree to:
We hear this a lot. It is rare that the first amount is the final amount. In fact, there are several roofing contractors and roofing companies that have people that will supplement your claim. Reeves Construction is one of the companies that supplements and our goal is to get the most money owed to you from your policy in an ethical way. We are on the homeowners side, but also work fairly with the insurance companies.
2. I can spend some of the money from the claim:
This is not entirely false, but it really depends on what policy you have. For instance, if you have an RCV (Replacement Cost Value) policy, you will get the full amount to replace your roof. There is no reason to find a contractor who does it for less. There is no pocketing the difference or not having to pay a deductible. The only instance where you might “make” money is with an ACV (Actual Cash Value) policy where you are given a cash settlement on your claim. Then you would choose a roofing contractor that costs less. The challenge with this scenario is choosing a contractor who would do it for less may cost you more in the future. The saying goes, “You get what you pay for.”
3. I should wait until my roof is leaking or until there is obvious damage:
Waiting until your roof is leaking or shingles are falling off can cause issues with your sheathing, with moisture in your attic, and even with the drywall on the interior of your home. Reeves Construction offers free inspections so that it never has to get that far. Of course, there are some crazy storms that cause instant, horrible damage – and we are happy to help with that too. Insurance companies recommend that you have your home inspected at least every 2-3 years, and after bad storms to make sure your home is safe.
4. Everyone else is doing it:
While it is possible that your neighbors having damage means you have damage also, there are other factors that come into play. Different insurance companies look for different types, and amounts of damage. The age of your roof is another factor, as well as the materials that were used when it was last installed. How steep your roof is — the steeper the roof, the better chance your house could have avoided hail damage.
Each home is unique and even though your neighbors are getting new roofs, it won’t guarantee that you will. Reeves likes to be there when an insurance adjuster comes out, because we know what they should be looking for, and therefore – we can make sure they see everything we saw in the initial inspection.
5. All roofs and roofing companies are the same:
If you have ever dealt with a bad roofing contractor, then you know that we are not all the same. Choosing a reputable roofing company means four things. We will install your shingles correctly, bring or keep your home up to code, use only trusted shingle brands, and a we stand by our work. You want someone local, preferably a company that has been around for a long time — that way you know they will not just disappear one day and your warranty and roof will be safe.