If you are a resident of Calgary, you know that hail storms and high winds are common. Whenever thunderstorms hit your home, it is natural to be in a dilemma about insurance claims. It can be a task to analyze whether or not damage has occurred or who to contact when it does. We understand your concerns as we are a roof company in Calgary. Therefore, let us take you on a journey where we explore a detailed guide on the insurance coverage of your roof's hail damage in Calgary.
What Are the Common Types of Roof Damage Caused by Hail?
● Broken shingles: Severe hailstorms can split the shingles, compromising their ability to protect the roof. These cracks could lead to water seeping through, causing leaks and further damage. Hail storms cause dents on asphalt shingles or metal roofing. Due to the large size of the hailstones, the dents can sometimes affect the integrity of the shingles. Since bruised shingles do not damage the surface, they could be less visible but still compromise the shingles' effectiveness.
● Leaks: Hailstones can lead to roof leaks, weakening their structural integration. If the roof is exposed to moisture for an extended period, mould and mildew can grow, corroding metal, rotting wood, and deteriorating other roofing materials.
● Structural damage: Hail storms can cause cracks, dents, and punctures in roofing materials. These openings allow water to enter the roofing structure, which leads to water infiltration. However, over time, they can cause significant damage to your home's walls, ceiling, and insulation.
Why Is it Important to Inspect Your Roof After a Hailstorm?
● Detect damage early: Identifying and repairing hail-damaged roofs early can prevent minor issues from becoming major problems. Small dents and cracks can worsen over time, leading to more extensive and costly repairs.
● Maintain structural integrity: Addressing leaks, cracks, dents, and punctures can help maintain the roof's stability and longevity.
● Claim insurance: Insurance policies often have specific time frames within which damage must be reported. Immediate inspection helps you meet those deadlines and avoid any inconveniences.
● Safety: Prompt inspection and installation of hail-proof roofs in Calgary ensures safety for everyone by preventing accidents.
Do Canada's General Home Insurance Policies Typically Cover Hail Damage to Roofs?
Before knowing about whether home insurance policies typically cover hail damage to roofs, let us know about the different types of general home insurance policies in Calgary:
● Basic policy: It covers your home and its contents against the perils listed in the policy, such as fire, theft, vandalism, and certain weather-related events.
● Broad policy: This policy provides more expansive coverage than the former. It covers all risks related to the structure of your home and offers named perils coverage for personal belongings.
● Comprehensive policy: This policy offers the most comprehensive coverage. It protects your property and content from all risks except earthquakes and sewer backups.
Do these policies cover hail damage to roofs? The answer is YES. The coverage falls under the protection against weather-related events included in most standard home insurance policies. Coverage usually includes repairs or replacement of the roof and any other parts of the home damaged by hail.
Factors Which Affect Premium:
● Location: A home in an area prone to natural disasters may have higher premiums.
● Value: Homes which have a higher value typically have higher insurance premiums.
● Safety measures: Homes equipped with security systems may have lower premiums.
● Claims history: In case of a history of frequent claims, one may qualify for higher claims.
What Should You Do After a Hailstorm Hits Your Place?
Step 1: Document Damage – Have a contractor do this. Do not attempt yourself.
We will take clear pictures and videos of all visible damage and affected areas of your roof and document details about the damage observed, including more information, such as the date and time of the storm. This documentation will be crucial when filing an insurance claim.
Step 2: Contact Your Insurance Company –
Notify your insurance company immediately to begin the claims process. Provide them with all the damage you have documented. Your insurance company will guide you through this process, including filling out forms and providing additional information. They can also ask you to choose a contractor and send estimates and all documentation directly to them for approval.
Step 3: Get a Professional Inspection
Hire a professional roofer or a roofing contractor in Calgary to inspect your damage thoroughly. They will help you to provide an expert assessment of the extent of the damage and necessary repairs.
How to Strengthen a Claim?
● Document damage: Take detailed photos and videos of the damage from multiple angles immediately after the hailstorm. Ensure that your visuals are time-stamped, which will help verify the time and location of the damage and support your claim.
● Professional assessment: Get a professional to guide you through a roof damage inspection. Their detailed assessment and estimate for repairing the damaged roof will add credibility to your claim.
Pro-Tip: Get estimates from multiple roofing contractors in Calgary to ensure you receive a fair assessment of the repair costs.
● Understand your policy: Get acquainted with your home insurance policy's terms and coverage. Know the policy details: what is covered, the deductibles, and the exclusions. Familiarizing yourself with these policy details will help you navigate the claims process more effectively. If you take a settlement option for your insurance claim and they have recommended roof replacement, it is in your best interest to replace the roof even if it does not appear to have much damage. If you do not, you will not be covered next time there is a hail event.
Although all shingle manufacturers offer hail-resistant products, there are exclusions. If you have purchased a hail-resistant shingle, you have minimized hail damage, but the shingle is not guaranteed. It will still be an insurance claim:
For example, here’s a warranty exclusion.
Violent or unusual weather conditions, such as flooding, tornadoes, hailstorms, winds in excess of Wind Speed Limits, or other “Acts of God”
Ebenezer Roofing offers Hail-Proof materials to Protect Homeowners from Probable Damage
Are you worried about your residential roofing repair needs in Calgary? At Ebenezer Roofing, we've covered you with roofing services like hail-proof roofs, installing asphalt, rubber, cedar shake roofing and Euroshield rubber roofing. Our expert roofers only prioritize customer satisfaction and offer quality roofing repair services in Calgary. If this sounds like what you want, contact us today and get a free quote.