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Originally Posted On: https://swordroof.com/common-forms-of-roof-damage-in-cincinnati/

 

Cincinnati, OH, isn’t the best place to be when you’re protecting your roof. As a city in Ohio, Cincinnati is a place that’s prone to blazing hot summers, frigid winters, and powerful storms. All of these weather conditions make your home susceptible to roof storm damage.

For this reason, filing a roof damage insurance claim isn’t a question of “if.” It’s a question of “when.”

By filing a roof damage insurance claim, you’ll get the necessary repairs and replacements for your damaged roof. However, to maximize your chances of a successful claim, you need to know what kind of storm damage your roof has.

So what are the different types of roof storm damage that can make you eligible for a claim? Here are the four types of roof storm damage you need to know to get the green light on your roof damage insurance claim.

Also, read to the end to learn more about filing a roof damage insurance claim and who to call for a free customized roof inspection in Cincinnati, OH.

Roof Wind Damage

In Cincinnati, the weather can get windy, especially toward the start of winter. As the wind increases in intensity, the force and debris can cause damage to several surfaces. One of the susceptible surfaces is your roof.

If you have a concrete or steel roof, wind damage will either be minuscule or tough to spot. However, wind damage to roof surfaces is easy to spot if you have shingles covering your roof.

Wind damage to a roof often shows up as misaligned shingles. Sometimes, an entire panel of shingles would be missing. Some shingles can also curl up and crack from the force of winds, especially the ones at the corners of roofs.

Wind damage is one of Cincinnati’s most common types of roof storm damage. Storm damage roof repair is also relatively simple in the case of wind damage. For the most part, shingle replacements are the go-to solution.

However, despite being easy to remedy, wind damage to roof surfaces can cost much in the way of labor and shingles. Getting only a few shingles replaced may result in an uneven appearance. Knowing this, you may need to replace all of your shingles.

You may also have to pay for extra repairs if the wind damage is more extensive than initially thought or observed. For this reason, you need adequate coverage from your roof damage insurance provider.

Hail Damage on Roof

Another type of roof storm damage is hail damage. Hail damage often affects more than your shingles. The hail impact can dent or even perforate the roof surface underneath the shingles.

It isn’t always easy to spot a roof damaged by hail. Often, many people suspect hail damage (or any roof damage, for that matter) too late. Many homeowners in Cincinnati only start inspecting their roofs for hail damage whenever they see leaks or feel drafts in their homes’ second floors or attics.

The damage to shingles will seem minute at first. A roof damaged by hail will have misaligned or displaced shingles.

Over time, repeated impact and wear and tear will affect the underlying surface. For this reason, homeowners must look for dents or cracks underneath the shingles.

Because of the extent of damage to the roof, hail damage requires immediate attention and repair. It’s often the case that the roof repair will involve a total removal of shingles and replacements of the underlying surface.

The repairs to a roof damaged by hail will be extensive and expensive. It’s one of the reasons to get an inspection from us and file your roof damage insurance claim.

Water Roof Damage

Cincinnati may be hot and humid in the summer. However, when a storm hits this part of Ohio, it pours. And the downpour can do a number on your roof.

Water damage happens because of a roof’s repeated exposure to water. The exposure increases the wear and tear of the shingles and roof. Also, with frequent evaporation, the shingles become brittle and crusty, chipping off and offering little to no protection over time.

Water damage from a storm’s downpour can also flush the granules off your shingles. As a result, you’ll find them clogging your gutters. As many Cincinnati homeowners will attest, blocked drains can exacerbate any roof damage, making storm damage roof repair more expensive.

There are several indicators of water damage following a storm in Cincinnati. First, you must look for leaks in your roof’s vulnerable areas, like the flashes and corners. The vent seams are also susceptible to leaks if water damage follows a storm.

Water damage on a roof is challenging to repair because the damage occurs in multiple areas. Hence, you can bet that repairs will be expensive.

Snow and Ice Damage

Snow storms can cause ice and snow to build up in various parts of your roof. As a result, snow and ice can damage your roof significantly in more ways than one.

First, ice and snow can weigh down on your roof. The resulting pressure can cause unsupported areas of the top to warp. Left unrepaired, the roof can suddenly collapse under the weight of snow and ice.

Snow and ice buildup can damage your roof when ice builds up beneath the flashings. This buildup is a roof condition known as ice damming. Ice damming causes snow and ice to accumulate moisture that seeps into the flashings and other vulnerable roof areas.

Ice damming can also clog your gutters. Clogging happens when water seeps into the gutters and freezes again. The result is backflow to your roof, which can cause the peripheries of your roof to crack and break.

Repairing snow and ice damage will often involve the removal of an ice dam, making snowstorm roof damage repair even more costly. Home Advisor says removing an ice dam can cost you as much as $400 to $4,000.

You might not want to pay out of pocket for roof repair with figures like these. This is where making a roof damage insurance claim comes in.

Making a Roof Damage Insurance Claim in Cincinnati

Your insurance coverage in Cincinnati saves you from paying out of pocket for roof storm damage repairs. However, be aware. Insurance companies will often invite you to file your claim after a storm only to tell you later that you are not eligible for coverage.

Why?

It boils down to several factors, like the cause of damage and the extent. You have to prove that the damage to your roof was from a storm. Also, you must show that the roof storm damage is extensive enough for your policy to cover repairs.

You’ll get sufficient coverage for roof repairs and replacements by following these steps.

Step 1. Check Your Policy’s Coverage

Before you consider filing a claim, check your roof damage insurance policy. Knowing what your policy covers give you a clearer idea of your rights and whether or not you’re eligible from the get-go.

As you confirm your policy’s coverage, check for the extent of damage covered and the types of roof damage your policy will repay you for.

Step 2. Gather Evidence of the Damage

There’s more to filing a roof damage insurance claim than filling out forms and getting in touch with your insurer. You need to show that there’s actual damage and that it’s extensive enough to warrant coverage.

One way you can gather evidence is by taking photos of your roof. You may have to climb to the roof to take better shots of the damage, especially in areas you can’t see from the ground.

Also, it would be helpful to have pictures of your home’s exterior before the damage occurred. This way, you’ll have evidence that the damage sustained by your roof resulted from a storm.

Step 3. Reach Out to Your Insurance Provider

Many insurance companies in Cincinnati require their policyholders to contact them as soon as possible for claims. When you reach out to yours, tell your insurers the date of the damage. Also, ask about the steps and paperwork required to file a roof damage insurance claim.

Step 4. Call a Roofing Company for an Inspection

Indeed, your photographs will prove the damage done to your roof. However, they hardly paint a picture of the true extent of the damage.

Establishing the actual damage to your roof will be too difficult and unsafe for you. For this reason, you need an expert pair of eyes to determine the extent of your roof’s storm damage.

By getting an inspection from a roofing company, you’ll know how severe the damage to your roof is. After the inspection, the roofing company documents the findings and adds them to your insurance claim.

Step 5. File Your Roof Damage Insurance Claim

After the inspection, you can now file your roof damage insurance claim following the procedure given by your insurer. When you file your insurance claim, attach receipts for any damages like your furniture or appliances. Also, add photographs of the roof’s damage following a storm.

Step 6. Get Your Roof Replaced

With everything from your inspection to your claim lined up, your insurance provider will cover you for your roof repairs. If you’re getting your roof replaced, it’s a good idea to have the same company that inspected your roof do the work.

In other words, if you got your free inspection from us, we’d be more than happy to replace your roof.

Reach Out for a Free Inspection

The roof inspection can make or break your roof damage insurance claim. Because of how pivotal a roof inspection is to a lawsuit, many companies in Cincinnati will charge you for the service.

But not us!

If you’re looking for a roofing company that can inspect your roof for free, look no further. Choose a company that gives you free inspections and affordable roof damage repairs under one roof.

We offer free roof inspections to help you determine your insurance claim eligibility. Reach out now and get a free roof inspection on us.