What should you do after a storm?

After the weather warnings are gone and its clear to go outside, do a visual inspection of your entire property. From the ground, examine your gutters, downspouts, fascia, and siding for any damage. Walk your lot or yard and look for downed trees, any debris found around your home that could be related to your roof, or siding.

Soft metals are typically the first things we look at when inspecting your home because soft metal damage is often the first identifiable signs of significant storm damage that could lead to insurance replacement. Soft metals include roof vents, gutters, downspouts, fascia, windows, metal wraps, & even your air conditioning unit.

With large enough hail, painted surfaces, vinyl siding, wood siding and even window glass can have physically damage as well. Performing a thorough inspection is the first key to fully understanding the full scope of storm damage.

After you’ve completed a visual inspection of the home from the ground, use your smart phone camera and document any new damage. We recommend first taking a wider shot of the entire exterior elevation followed by detail pictures of any damage to help you organize the pictures. Did you know there is hidden meta data is each picture a smartphone captures that records time, date and location? This can be used to clearly document when the damage occurred and where.

Now it’s time to call Northway Roofing. We will complete a free, no hassle, thorough inspection of your entire roof and exterior. During our inspection we compile a detailed scope of damage and help you determine if you have enough damage worthy of filing a claim with your insurance.

What Types Of Storm Damage Are Paid By Insurance For Replacement?

  • Soft Metal Damage: Most insurance companies consider this the first sign of larger storm damage. Gutters, downspouts, fascia, window wraps, window frames, window screens, roof vents, roof valley Metal and AC condensers are all good places to inspect for damage after a storm has passed. Compile all the damage with pictures to help understand your loss and make a case for your claim.
  • Roof Damage: When asphalt roof shingles are damaged from large hail, there is often “bruising” left behind on the surface of the shingle. Granules are removed from the asphalt face of the shingle and at times, there is even physical dents left behind that you can easily feel with your fingers. Most insurance companies now days have pretty tight metrics on how much damage is enough for replacement. Most insurance carriers require 10 or more significant hail impacts in a 10′ x 10′ area of any part of the roof. The more areas with 10 or more hits, the higher the chance that the roof will be replaced. A skilled roofing contractor will be able to tell immediately from damage caused by aging deterioration, normal wear and tear, and a storm impact or high wind separation.
  • Siding Damage: Vinyl siding can get physical holes from hail and debris. Traditional wood siding usually needs regular painting or staining and hail can impact the surface of the finish and be covered under your claim as well.
  • Window Damage: Most modern window frames are aluminum wrapped wood, vinyl, or fiberglass and depending on the size and severity of hail they can all be damaged and need to be replaced.
  • Paint Damage: Decks are a common part of the home that see damage from hail. Horizontal surfaces of wood decking and railings often show signs of damage of the surface finish after a severe storm with hail. Engineered siding like James Hardie & LP Smartside often hold up better to hail impact, but even these materials even get damaged.
  • Tree Damage: Typically a tree that fallen and contacted the home will leave some amount of damage. Its best to take pictures of the tree and how it contacted the home before calling a service to remove the tree.

You Don’t Have To Sign An Agreement For Your Inspection.

Far too many roofing companies (often with door knocker salespeople) will try to get you to sign an agreement before inspecting your home, often this locks you into using their services if you file a claim with your insurance. In the state of Minnesota, you have 3 days to cancel this agreement in writing before it becomes binding. It’s best to trust your gut. If something feels like high-pressure sales, it generally is. Email is a great way to make sure you have record of cancellation if you feel uncomfortable after signing an agreement. Most reputable companies will still allow you to cancel the agreement even after the three day period.

You Should Call Northway Roofing

We don’t use high-pressure sales, or gimmicks to get customers to w work with us. Northway Roofing provides value, integrity and amazing results, so you WANT to work with us. We serve the entire Minneapolis, Saint Paul areas, including the surrounding suburbs of Bloomington, Chanhassen, Chaska, Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Hopkins, Minetonka, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Richfield, Savage, Shakopee, Victoria, Waconia, & Wayzata. Call Northway today to get your roof inspected for storm damage, or age deterioration.