Whether powerful wind bursts, inundating rain, crushing snow, or a barrage of golf ball-sized hailstones, damaging storms hit homes in the Twin Cities Metro area season after season, year after year. As important as it is to prepare your home for destructive weather, it’s also important to be prepared on what to do following storm damage—the process of storm damage restoration.
Yet, again and again, we at Younger Exteriors come across many situations where homeowners were prepared for storms but not prepared for storm damage restoration. That’s understandable. After all, a lot of attention is given to storm preparation, such as having your home inspected annually and making timely roof repairs, but not as much attention is given to the process—and it is a process—of storm damage restoration.
Considering that, we have compiled this step-by-step guide to storm damage restoration to help our families, friends, neighbors, and fellow Minnesotans through the stressful and trying times that storm damage can certainly bring.
STEP #1: HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH TRUSTED HOME CONTRACTOR
The essence of this blog article is summed up in this step. Part of preparing for storm damage is being prepared for the storm damage restoration that follows. So, this first step should actually precede the storm. Having a good working relationship with a trusted home contractor should give you priority service following storm damage, the very time when it’s most difficult to find a good contractor!
STEP #2: YOUR HOME CONTRACTOR DOCUMENTS STORM DAMAGE
Before hammers swing for storm damage restoration, the storm damage your home sustained must be documented. Your home contractor should inspect your home exterior and the roof using images and video for complete and irrefutable documentation to present to your insurance company. If damage isn’t so apparent following a powerful storm, look for these more subtle signs your home sustained storm damage:
- Damaged or missing shingles
- Shingle granules in downspouts
- Light peeking through in the attic
- Water stains on interior ceilings and walls
- Water stains on exterior siding
STEP #3: FILE STORM DAMAGE CLAIM WITH INSURANCE COMPANY
Following the home inspection, documentation, and estimate, your home contractor helps you file your home’s storm damage claim with your insurance company. You could be talking about several thousand dollars or even tens of thousands in damage to your home to be compensated at actual cost or at replacement cost value. Claim approval could take only days, or it could take weeks or months. Stay in close contact with your contractor and claims adjuster to make sure the ball is rolling, and rolling in your favor!
STEP #4: VERIFY MEETING BETWEEN HOME CONTRACTOR AND INSURANCE ADJUSTER
Your insurance company will assign an adjuster to inspect your home and property for damage. A good home contractor will be there during the adjuster’s inspection acting on your behalf. Your home contractor will voice his or her concerns along with any concerns you may have with the adjuster’s inspection and findings.
STEP #5: HOME CONTRACTOR CONFIRMS FAIR SETTLEMENT AMOUNT
Before the insurance adjuster arrived for his or her inspection, repairs may have already begun, such as covering up roof damage or removing debris, for example. Your contractor will be able to show video documentation of the original state of storm damage. So, if you and your contractor feel that the first settlement offer from the insurance company is too low, you are not obligated in most cases to accept the first offer. A good contractor will have working experience with hundreds of insurance adjusters and irrefutable video proof of damage to maximize your settlement amount!
STEP #6: VERIFY ALL STORM DAMAGE IS ADDRESSED (AND PAID FOR!)
This is where working with a good home contractor before storm damage occurs helps you out. For example, your home contractor takes video of your roof and home exterior as it is before storm damage occurs. Following storm damage and subsequent video footage, you can compare the two and show exactly where storm damage did occur. All damage is accounted for and paid for!
STEP #7: STORM DAMAGE RESTORATION WITH GUARANTEED WORKMANSHIP
Lastly, your home contractor should offer vast experience with roof replacement, siding replacement, and replacing gutters, windows, and doors. You also want a contractor that believes in their own work so much as to offer a substantial workmanship guarantee.
In a nutshell, being prepared for storm damage and subsequent storm damage restoration means working with a trusted roofing contractor today. That’s Younger Exteriors. We bring vast knowledge and experience along with a 10-Year Workmanship Guarantee with every roof replacement we do. Call us today at (612) 360-0320 when you need storm damage restoration or, better yet, before the storm hits!
