If you own a home, then you know how critical it is for the roof above your head to be reliable, but do you know what to do if insurance denied a roof claim citing “preexisting damage” or “improper installation?”
If your roof is damaged in a storm, you would think that your homeowner’s insurance policy will be happy to cover the cost of repairs or replacement if it’s necessary. However, your insurance company may end up denying your claim for any number of reasons. Luckily for you, there are several different strategies for overcoming their unfair denials and getting the coverage that you deserve.
What to Do if Insurance Denied Roof Claim Stating “Preexisting Damage”
If your insurance provider believes that your roof was already damaged before a storm, it will be incredibly difficult to convince them to pay to have your roof repaired, and it will be even harder to get them to replace it. Do you know what to do if insurance denied a roof claim citing preexisting damage?
First, you’ll need to start the process of filing an appeal. To file the appeal necessary to get your denial overturned, you will first need to provide the insurance company with sufficient evidence to prove that the damage to your roof was caused by the storm and wasn’t pre-existing damage. You may also want to provide evidence that your roof was properly maintained. If they believe the damage caused to your roof was out of negligence, they’ll never pay for a replacement.
To gather this evidence, you’ll want to get every scrap of proof you can possibly assemble. Pictures of your roof before and after the storm would be ideal. Homeowners who follow our advice of getting a free roof inspection every year (even if you weren’t hit by a storm) can submit their inspection report as evidence of the roof’s condition before the storm.
You should also save any invoices or receipts that you received for repairs or replacements done to your roof. The insurance company will have a hard time fighting you if you have adequate documentation. Using a reputable roofing company is also a good idea. They have experience dealing with insurance agencies, know what they are looking for and are evidence, in and of themselves, that your roof repairs were legitimate.
If they end up rejecting your appeal, you can attempt to broker some kind of deal with your insurance agent. An experienced lawyer is the best way to make the insurance company pay if nothing else works.
What to Do if Insurance Denied Roof Claim Stating “Improper Installation”
If instead of pre-existing damage, the insurance provider claims that your roof was improperly installed and that, therefore, they don’t have to cover it, you’ll have a harder time than if they just believed the damage was pre-existing. Do you know what to do if insurance denied roof claim citing improper installation?
As with any sort of insurance denial, first you’ll need to file an appeal with your insurance provider. You’ll need to find evidence that your roof wasn’t improperly installed. That information can be difficult to find depending on when your roof was installed and how recently you moved into your home.
If you were already living in your home when the roof was installed, then you should have a somewhat easy time resolving this issue. Firstly, you’ll need to find a reputable roofing company to perform an inspection of your roof. Ideally, do not use the roofing company that installed your roof to get the most accurate answers out of your roof inspector. If the roof was correctly installed, you can inform your insurance provider of the inspector’s assessment, and the issue should resolve itself from there. If the roof was incorrectly installed, it may be better for you to resolve this matter in court with the roofing company that installed your roof.
If you were not living in your home when the roof was installed, you may need to contact your realtor, landlord, or the previous occupant in order to learn who installed your roof. Once you find that information, you should then follow the instructions stated in the previous paragraph.
In either scenario, you’re most likely to get your insurance provider to pay for your roof if you can prove that your roof was in fact correctly installed. That’s why you need to make sure that you only hire the services of a reputable roofing company, as they won’t mess up your roof’s installation.
What to Do if Insurance Denied Roof Claim: Find a Reputable Roofing Company for Help
That’s why you should hire New View Roofing for all your roofing needs in the Greater Dallas and Fort Worth areas. We’re a reliable and reputable roofing company that employs experts who pride themselves on their roofing knowledge, high standards, and exceptional customer care. We show up on time, repair or replace your roof in record time, and leave you hassle-free. We can also inspect your roof in advance or assess damage to help your claim. Contact us today!
