Northern Atlanta Devasted by Tornadoes

Wednesday evening and night brought a storm system to Georgia and the Atlanta Metro area that was unprecedented for the Southeast. Typical in the Midwest, the supercells that rolled through bring multiple tornadoes to bear brought destruction and death. While the main Atlanta Metro Area was unaffected by the terror that struck northwest and southwest of the city, conditions still were high for storm damage to your homes roof.

Wind Damages Atlanta Roofs

The converging cool and warm air masses created the storm system that produced tornadoes but it also produced very strong gusting winds. Most three tab shingles are only designed to withstand gusts of 55 to 65 mph hour. Even most architectural shingles only have a wind rating of less than 80 mph.

Coupled with the driving and pounding rain, makes a recipe for roof damage. Loose shingles are caused when the tar strip holding the roof shingle down loses grip and the shingle flaps in the wind. The flapping allows rain to soak in underneath the shingles. Eventually the wind will rip the flapping roof shingle off.

Have Your Atlanta Roof Inspected by Roofing Contractor
Now, it is easy to spot a missing roof shingle but not so easy to spot a loose one. An Atlanta roofing contractor can inspect your homes roof any damage. A good Atlanta roofer will provide the inspection for no charge. Your roof is a system designed to protect your home from the elements. That complete roofing system has many pieces also need to be checked for Atlanta storm damage.

Small storm damage can become very costly and extensive storm damage if not found in a reasonable amount of time. Don't wait for the inside of your home to be damaged by Atlanta storms.

4 Steps to Insurance Roof Replacement or Repair

So you, the homeowner, find yourself having just endured a major storm system like the one that came through last night. Walls of monsoon like rain propelled by raging winds. Lightning blistering your eyes with momentary blindness. Thunder shaking the walls as if an earthquake was rumbling from below. Trees quivering, rocking, twisting, as if scared by the storm itself, perilously over the roof keeping the storm at bay. The roar of the pounding rain overcome by the bombardment of high velocity solid ice balls impacting your roof and walls as if shot from a Gatling gun.

If your roof is more than five years old, it is more likely that damaged has occurred. So what should you do? Call a roofer? Call your insurance company?

Step 1. First, find some damage. Whether you look yourself or have a local Atlanta roofing company come check it for you, it is better to know there is damage, small or large. 

Step 2. Before you call the insurance company, check your policy. Know what kind of deductible and coverage you have. Kinds? There are kinds of deductibles and coverage?  Yes and there are too many to go through. Simply know what your deductible amount is and what damage your insurance company will cover. If you don't know then call and ask before filing a claim.

Step 3. File a claim with your insurance company. It takes ten to fifteen minutes. The phone representative will walk you through it. However there is information you need to give them. Know the date and time the storm came through your area. File a storm damage claim.  A storm is an act of God and is not anyone's fault and your rates will not go up. It is the law in the state of Georgia and most other states. Insurance rates can't go up for an act of God unless they raise everyone's rates. Do not be talked into a different type of claim that could put the blame on you. 

What if the storm happened months ago? A year ago?

The parameters for filing a claim are as such. You have a year from when damaged was noticed to file a claim. Key word is noticed. It took take months or a year before major visible damage could be noticed.You could technically file  more than a year after the storm. However, the likely hood of a full roof replacement or repair work is unlikely. You, the homeowner should file a claim within six months of the storm. Don't think that you need to file a claim immediately but don't wait too long. Within that six months your insurance company will be more amenable to repairs or full replacement.

Step 4. Meeting with the insurance. After filing a claim, an adjuster will be sent to survey the damage. It is ok to have a Marietta roofing contractor present as well but not necessary. There are pros and cons to having a third party present but 9 times out 10 it doesn't make a difference. The adjuster should check the entire roof and mark out a "square" a count damaged spots within. The amount of damaged spots with the "square" varies from insurance company to insurance company.

Some or most of my neighbors have new roofs. That means mine should be replaced too? Right?

Unfortunately no. Some insurance companies require more damage or less damage. The further you get from the storm, the less likely a full replacement will get approved. I'm not saying the insurance won't fix the damage minus your deductible, just not a full roof replacement.

If the adjuster decides that repairs or replacement is needed, then a check will be issued out to you and possibly your mortgage company. Don't freak out if your mortgage company is on the check. The mortgage company can't keep the money of you are behind. Just find a location where someone from the mortgage company can endorse it. If the insurance company is replacing the whole roof, then the check will only be for half the amount needed to replace the roof. They will issue a check for the rest after the roof has been replaced.

It really isn't that difficult of a process. Now go find an Alpharetta roofing contractor who will put quality materials and use correct installation techniques.