I had an appraisal show up from insurance to check on my roof for hail damage. He said that my roof does not have much hail damage and only some loose shingles. I had a conctractor checked on my roof today and he said that my roof should be replaced because of wind damage itself. You can lift most shingles with your hand with minimum effort, so I’m guessing when there are heavy rain and strong wind… it could blow my shingles off from the roof again or damage the roof under the loose shingles.

Should the insurance replace my roof for wind damage even though there are no visible hail damage?

My roof is only 5 years old.

Hail damage is little dents, or big holes, depending on the size of the hail. Think, really heavy golf balls hitting the roof.

How old is your roof? It’s pretty unusual to be able to lift shingles with your hand – usually after one summer the tar kinda sticks ‘em together, regardless of the rain. Sounds more like it wasn’t fastened down right in the first place. Either that, or the roofing contractor is pulling a fast one. If your roof is old, and wearing out, though, the shingles will be buckling & pulling up . . I’m wondering if this is the case? But it wouldn’t be individual shingles.

Wind and hail are two seperate events. Usually when there’s a storm big enough to give wind damage to your house, the insurance company gets multiple wind claims. Did any of your neighbors have any wind damage?

Something else to ask about . . .do you have replacement windows cost on your house, or actual cash value, and how old is the roof? The normal lifespan of an asphalt shingle roof, depending on the part of the country you are in, is 15 – 20 years. If your roof is at the older end of that range, it’s possible you’re just due to replace it, from wearing out.

If I were you, I’d get at LEAST two more Cincinnati roofing contractors out there and get their opinion and estimates. Something to watch out for, is the contractor that goes in and says, oh, yes, your homeowners policy will pay for this. Then they fix your roof . . . your claim is denied for whatever reason (usually because it’s just an old roof, and wore out, in my experience) then the contractor demands payment anyway . . .slaps a mechanic’s lein on your house, or offers you “financing” at 25% interest or something horrendous like that. . .

via What is considered a roof damage? | Roof Damage Help .com.

Customer Service – Returned phone calls, being treated with respect and courteous interactions are a must. You would quick banking at an institution that treated you poorly, so why would you tolerate it from someone working on your home? Expect your house to be treated the same way they treat you.

Free Estimates – You shouldn’t have to pay for something that will give a contractor business. If he wants the job he will come to you, do the measurements, ask the questions and give you a free and competitive estimate. It’s okay to get several estimates from different companies to select the best contractor for you.

Landscaping – To some people, the yard, trees and plantings are the reason they wake up in the morning. Make sure your contractor will only take the time to work on the roof and not the flower beds. If you have shingles and ladders destroying your shrubs then it is time for the contractor to leave.

Insurance – When your adjuster comes to your house he is the middle man between you and the company, with the goal of saving the company money. Do not let him skimp. The best way to insure you will get the money you need to repair you home is to have your contractor there, working with the adjuster to point out the necessary repairs. The interaction needs to be positive to insure a good outcome.

Research before you hire. It is how you guarantee a positive experience. The internet will help – showing you portfolios, testimonials, local licensed and insured contractors. Also ask co-workers, friends and family. The more you know, the less you will regret.

via Residential Roof Repair – What Good Contractors offer | Lionel Trains and Hobbies Blog.

As a result of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (H.R.1424), homeowners who install an Energy Star® labeled metal roof in 2009 may be eligible for a tax credit up to $500.

Specifically, the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, which was attached to H.R. 1424, provided extensions to The Energy Policy Act of 2005. This allows for a tax credit for homeowners who install qualified energy-efficient improvements to an existing home in 2009.

The tax incentive pertains to “qualified energy efficient improvements” which are, as defined by the new law: “any energy efficient building envelope component which meets the prescriptive criteria for such component established by the 2000 IECC (or in the case of a metal roof with appropriate pigmented coatings which meet the Energy Star® program requirements. An Energy Star-labeled metal roofing system has at least 65% solar reflectance for low-slope roofing and 25% solar reflectance for steep-slope roofing.

What is truly great about this news is that a $500 tax credit is truly an extra $500 in your wallet. Tax credits are subtracted directly from a consumer’s total tax liability. Therefore, a credit has a higher value than a deduction. For example, if a homeowner is in the 28% tax bracket and earns a $500 credit on his new, energy-efficient metal roof, the result is equal to a tax deduction of approximately $1,785.50.

via 2009 Energy Tax Credits for Metal Roofing Purchases – A Greener Indiana.

When you are in the process of constructing or remodeling your home, you will need to find quality roofing materials to serve as the crowning glory of your dwelling. The most suitable type of roofing materials should not only enhance the attractiveness of any home, they should provide comfort and energy-efficiency to the interior, as well. The roof is one of the first things that draw attention to your house, and poor choice of roofing materials will render your dwelling extremely unattractive, or give the exterior of your home a mismatched look. To prevent this from happening, your choice of roofing materials should be given much time and importance before you finally make a decision.

Start by taking a look at the houses in your community. What type of roofs do your neighbors have? You can also look at the kinds of roofing materials in house construction magazines, or on the Internet to evaluate the pros and cons of each as they relate to the architectural style of your home and your insulation requirements. You can also consult your building contractor and ask for his or her opinion about which kind of roofing materials are suitable for your dwelling.

You may be surprised that concrete roof tiles are all the rage when it comes to roofing materials. This is because they are more durable, more weather-proof, more energy-efficient, as well as aesthetic enough to add to the attractiveness of your home. Concrete roofing materials are versatile in design as they can be made to look like slate, shake, or terra cotta tiles. They also come in a wide range of colours.

Taking time and effort in finding the best type of roofing materials for your home will save you considerable cost and worry later in the future.

via Careful Consideration In Your Choice Of Roofing Materials | Amazing Grace Blog.

A. In addition to the usual factors of contractor experience, reputation and licensing (if required in your state), you should give special attention to:

Insurance. Make sure the contractor is fully insured for liability and has workers’ compensation covering all employees. Don’t take the contractor’s word for this; ask to see copies of the actual policies.

Description of work. Will the old shingles be removed or left in place? New shingles can generally be installed over one layer of old shingles. If old shingles will be removed, what charges will be made if repairs to the roof deck are needed?

Cleanup. Removing old shingles creates an incredible mess, and you should make sure there are provisions covering a thorough cleanup. I recall one job where the owner found his rain gutters full of shingle bits and nails months after the job was done.

Type of shingles and warranty. Roofing shingles have varying quality, with warranties ranging from 20 years to 40 years or more. It pays to pick top-quality shingles, and always ask for a written copy of the warranty covering the shingles.

Snow and ice protection. If you live in a region where there is heavy snow, have a waterproof membrane installed at the eave edges of the roof to prevent leaks from water backing up under the shingles.

Work and payment schedules. Ask for a written schedule of when work will be started and completed. It is best to choose a contractor who, once the job is started, will complete it without lapses. Final payment should not be made until work is finished.

For more information on shingles and roofing contractors, visit the Web sites www.roofhelp.com/choices/asphaltshingles/ and www.inspect-ny.com/roof/roofcont.htm.

via Do-it-yourselfer Q&A – Home – Belleville News-Democrat.

Every type of roofing requires varied ways of repairs. Fibered roofing cement or mastic is the most commonly used material in repairing the asphalt compositions. It is easily adheres to metals and patching the asphalts. It can be used to add patch on the roof. It is allowed to get dry after the application and then painted for additional protection and strength. But mastic is not suitable for repairing the wooden shingles as it can not stick on the wood. A special patching material is used to repair the wooden and polymer or synthetic rubber roofing which is specified by the roofing contractor.

Generally, tar and gravel roofs require constant maintenance. The gravel is left exposed to sun constantly which damages this low slope roof. Most of the roofing materials have the durability for 15 to 30 years. But the life of the roof is highly depended on the quality of the roofing material used and its maintenance. The exposure to the weather and environment are also a major reason of damages. The roof repairing project is depended on your tolerance for leakages and number of repairing sessions your roof has gone through. A careful maintenance can make your roof lasts for more years. Roofing contractors can help you in sorting out major issues of your damaged roof. It is better to consult the roofing contractor to determine the cost of repairs of roof.

via Need of Roof Repairs and Maintenance : About Roofing.

Great article on choosing quality roofing contractors.