7 Tips for Identifying Asphalt Shingle Damage
Depending on your policy, most Texas homeowners insurance plans will cover hail damage to your roof and other parts of your home. However, in areas of the state where hail is more frequent, insurance policies are more likely to include restrictions on coverage or higher deductibles.
Severe hailstorms can happen almost anywhere, and it can be difficult to determine how much damage has been done to your roof, siding, or home. Large baseball sized hail events are not the only threat. Not only during hurricane season but smaller storms can have an aggregate effect especially where occurrences are more frequent. The geographic spread of events has grown past “hail alley” in the Midwest and has shifted to include Texas which is now one of the most hail prone states in the USA.
Preparing your home for hail
What you need to know. Think a little hail is not a big deal? Think again! Hailstones can range in size from as small as a pea to as large as a Texas Rio Ruby Red Grapefruit, the latter of which can cause significant damage. Hail causes billions of dollars in damage to property, automobiles, fences and outdoor patio furniture. While a thunderstorm can be exciting to watch those frozen balls of ice pelting your homes exterior may be doing more damage than you think.
Even tiny ice pellets can cause significant damage to your roof, siding, skylights, and gutters. It is important to prepare early. The best time to safeguard your home from hail damage is before storm season begins late spring or early summer. The following recommendations can help you to reduce your home’s risk.
A quality newer roof in good condition can withstand the impact of a hailstorm better than 10 year, 20 year, or older. Have a professional identify areas where your roof may need repairs, examine your shingles for cracked, broken, missing, buckling, curling, or blistering.
When you have professional inspect your roof shingles and seams. Have them remove any debris that has collected on your roof and check for potential rot issues or insect infestation as this can weaken your shingles over time.
- Inspect and repair any wear and tear
- Check wood areas for rot or insect damage
- Check metal areas such as flushing and gutters for rust
- Have trees, shrubs and vegetation trimmed away from the house
An inspection may reveal it is time to repair or replace your roof. Because a roof replacement is a big investment, it is important to make an informed decision about materials. The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) tests shingles using scientifically replicated real-world conditions. Look for shingles labeled as impact resistant for hail-prone regions in Texas.
Does my location make me vulnerable to hail damage?
Traditionally most areas vulnerable to hail damage in the United States of America were located in “hail alley” stretching along the Texas panhandle and Midwest. Damaging hailstorms have become more frequent in other parts of the country in recent years. Verisk determined “When examining hail exposure, location matters, as storms that pass over densely populated areas can produce a higher volume of claims. With more than $14 billion in claims in 2020 insurers need to diligently monitor hail activity and the potential for damage before the next surge pushes the numbers even higher. Verisk identified the top 10 hail states for number of affected properties” Texas was number one on the list.
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Exclusions to hail coverage for cosmetic damage
In recent decades homeowner’s insurance policies, especially in Texas where most affected by severe storms, are excluding cosmetic damage from hail. This means you would not be covered for damage that affects the aesthetics, not the function, of the roof. Insurers want your home to be protected from storms and the roof to full do its intended job.
The definition of cosmetic and functional can be murky. For instance, what began as minor dents in your roof or siding could eventually develop into more critical structural damage. Also damage is labeled cosmetic can affect the resale value of the property, which may mean selling your house at a lower cost. Given the increasing frequency of these exclusions, it is important to check your policy for exclusions or limitations and be prepared as cosmetic exclusions are the new normal in Texas.
If there is a dispute between you and your insurance company over whether damage is cosmetic or functional first contact your local insurance agent. They are your advocates and work for you! Not the insurance company. Your independent broker agent will likely have you obtain estimates from two other roofers to compare results and work with you and the insurance company to find a solution. If you are and your independent agent are not able to negotiate with the insurance carrier. Lastly a public adjuster can be hired to investigate the claim. The public adjuster will help determine whether the exclusion should apply, but there are fees associated with this process.
What can you do to protect your home?
Take the quiz and get your custom plan to learn what you can do to protect your home against severe weather. Safeco Insurance will provide recommendations to make your home sustainable and prepared for a changing warming climate patterns. To build resilience, you should consider not only your home itself, but the environment around it.
Descriptions of insurance products and packages are meant to offer general ideas only, are necessarily brief, and are subject to policy provisions, limits, deductibles, exclusions, and conditions that can only be expressed in the policy itself. In the event of a conflict, the terms and conditions of your policy prevail. This information is provided solely as an insurance risk management tool. It is provided with the understanding that we are not providing advice or any other professional services. We shall have no liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage alleged to have been caused, by the use of this information.
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