Many roof leaks are the result of nail holes. It's not unusual for nail holes in the shingles or flashing to increase in size over time allowing water to seep around the nails. Before a roof leak causes damage to your home and punctures your pocketbook, you'll need to pinpoint the source of the leak. And for that we'll head to the attic.
From inside the attic, scan the framings with a flashlight. You're looking for drops of water, or stains. It's best to do this after a rainstorm or as snow melts. On sunny days, you can sometimes spot a nail hole as the light shines into the dark attic. To keep on top of nail holes on your roof, here are some leak-proof pointers:
* Caulk and seal any holes you find on the roof using roofing cement. Cover nail heads with roofing cement when nailing in shingles.
* Inspect your roof twice a year. Replace shingles that have holes that are too large to patch.
* Remember leaks can be sneaky; they may not take a direct route. If you can't find the source of a leak, get professional help.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Filing An Insurance Claim
If you have experienced hail damage, take precautions by following the tips below, and call your insurance carrier to file a claim as soon as possible.
· Make personal safety your first priority. Remember, windows may be broken and high winds may have knocked down trees and power lines.
· Look for broken glass, sharp objects and live wires.
· Wear proper shoes and gloves.
· Don’t use rain-soaked electrical equipment.
Call your insurance carrier to file a claim if you have damage from a hailstorm. Be ready to provide at least a general description of your damage. A representative will walk you through your claim, recording the details.
If you have hail damage to the roof of your property or your car, it is your responsibility to take action to avoid further damage.
If you can, cover broken windows and holes in roofs with tarps or plywood to prevent water damage. Move wet items to drier ground, and wash and dry whatever you can. If you’re not sure it’s safe, professionals can help. You’ll usually find them listed under "contractors" or "water damage restoration" in your phone directory.
As part of documenting the damage, make sure to save receipts from any temporary fixes.
Your insurance policy typically covers the cost to repair common hail damage—including damage to roofs, walls and cars, and your inventory or belongings. However, your deductible does apply—and you may have a higher deductible for wind/hail damage on your policy. Check your policy to see what’s covered and the deductible you’ve chosen. Reviewing your policy will help you prepare questions for your claims professional.
As soon as you can, make a thorough list of items that the hail storm damaged—this will help your insurer process your claim faster. Document the damage with photos, video, bills and receipts. In the meantime, don’t throw out damaged items—especially expensive items.
Your claims professional will let you know the specific information they need to process your claim.
Your insurance company may require you to wait until your claims professional assesses your damage before you begin making permanent repairs. However, they encourage you to schedule permanent repairs as soon as possible because contractors can be difficult to schedule after a storm. Use a local, licensed, bonded, and insured contractor, and check references.
Insurers typically will replace damaged items and materials with the same type and quality of materials you had before the earthquake. For example, if you had a fiberglass roof, they will pay to repair or replace damage with fiberglass materials—but they won’t pay to replace it with more expensive slate tile.
If damage is extensive, people sometimes decide to take the opportunity to upgrade their property with better or more expensive materials. Again, your insurance companyy will only pay to replace materials of comparable kind and quality. If you want to pay the additional expense to upgrade, you’re welcome to do so out of your personal budget.
Any time you make improvements to your property, talk to your agent to make sure you have enough insurance, and to find out if you are eligible for discounts.
(Information from Safeco.com)
· Make personal safety your first priority. Remember, windows may be broken and high winds may have knocked down trees and power lines.
· Look for broken glass, sharp objects and live wires.
· Wear proper shoes and gloves.
· Don’t use rain-soaked electrical equipment.
Call your insurance carrier to file a claim if you have damage from a hailstorm. Be ready to provide at least a general description of your damage. A representative will walk you through your claim, recording the details.
If you have hail damage to the roof of your property or your car, it is your responsibility to take action to avoid further damage.
If you can, cover broken windows and holes in roofs with tarps or plywood to prevent water damage. Move wet items to drier ground, and wash and dry whatever you can. If you’re not sure it’s safe, professionals can help. You’ll usually find them listed under "contractors" or "water damage restoration" in your phone directory.
As part of documenting the damage, make sure to save receipts from any temporary fixes.
Your insurance policy typically covers the cost to repair common hail damage—including damage to roofs, walls and cars, and your inventory or belongings. However, your deductible does apply—and you may have a higher deductible for wind/hail damage on your policy. Check your policy to see what’s covered and the deductible you’ve chosen. Reviewing your policy will help you prepare questions for your claims professional.
As soon as you can, make a thorough list of items that the hail storm damaged—this will help your insurer process your claim faster. Document the damage with photos, video, bills and receipts. In the meantime, don’t throw out damaged items—especially expensive items.
Your claims professional will let you know the specific information they need to process your claim.
Your insurance company may require you to wait until your claims professional assesses your damage before you begin making permanent repairs. However, they encourage you to schedule permanent repairs as soon as possible because contractors can be difficult to schedule after a storm. Use a local, licensed, bonded, and insured contractor, and check references.
Insurers typically will replace damaged items and materials with the same type and quality of materials you had before the earthquake. For example, if you had a fiberglass roof, they will pay to repair or replace damage with fiberglass materials—but they won’t pay to replace it with more expensive slate tile.
If damage is extensive, people sometimes decide to take the opportunity to upgrade their property with better or more expensive materials. Again, your insurance companyy will only pay to replace materials of comparable kind and quality. If you want to pay the additional expense to upgrade, you’re welcome to do so out of your personal budget.
Any time you make improvements to your property, talk to your agent to make sure you have enough insurance, and to find out if you are eligible for discounts.
(Information from Safeco.com)
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Roofing Contractor Tipps
The typical life expectancy of a maintained roofing system is anywhere from 15 to 30 years. Some shingle manufacturers advertise that their shingles can simply have new shingles placed directly on top of the existing shingles, although this is not the best solution.
Many roofs that have been damaged due to age, weather, mold, or fungus often need new plywood sheathing replaced as well. It is at this time which other improvements to the attic, insulation, and roof structure can easily be made to enhance the comfort of the home.
Very often when a roof has had a leak, the trusses and other supporting components of the roof have also received substantial damage. At this point a homeowner would probably experience a large shock when a new estimate is given.
It is very important to disclose to a prospective contractor any leaks that have occurred in the past. With this information, the roofing contractor will be able to provide a more accurate and realistic estimate which can then be compared to other estimates.
Should the homeowner choose a "too good to be true" estimate and later unforeseen hidden damage is discovered, the price quote for the job will be null and void. This is usually listed in the fine print which very few individuals actually read.
An additional complication may be that the original roofing contractor refuses to continue the roof work until the homeowner accedes to the much higher estimate and pays additional moneys before work is resumed. Should the homeowner opt to switch to a different roofing contractor, some would not guarantee the work due to the quality of prior work being unknown or even refuse to take the job.
While these scenarios are few and rare, they do happen across the country. The easiest method for a homeowner to improve the chances of selecting a reliable, fair, and professional roofing contractor is to contact the Better Business Bureau and other organizations with which the roofing contractor is affiliated.
The longer length of time a builder or contractor has been in business is a good indication of reliability and quality, especially in smaller communities where word of mouth can destroy a business overnight.
Many roofs that have been damaged due to age, weather, mold, or fungus often need new plywood sheathing replaced as well. It is at this time which other improvements to the attic, insulation, and roof structure can easily be made to enhance the comfort of the home.
Very often when a roof has had a leak, the trusses and other supporting components of the roof have also received substantial damage. At this point a homeowner would probably experience a large shock when a new estimate is given.
It is very important to disclose to a prospective contractor any leaks that have occurred in the past. With this information, the roofing contractor will be able to provide a more accurate and realistic estimate which can then be compared to other estimates.
Should the homeowner choose a "too good to be true" estimate and later unforeseen hidden damage is discovered, the price quote for the job will be null and void. This is usually listed in the fine print which very few individuals actually read.
An additional complication may be that the original roofing contractor refuses to continue the roof work until the homeowner accedes to the much higher estimate and pays additional moneys before work is resumed. Should the homeowner opt to switch to a different roofing contractor, some would not guarantee the work due to the quality of prior work being unknown or even refuse to take the job.
While these scenarios are few and rare, they do happen across the country. The easiest method for a homeowner to improve the chances of selecting a reliable, fair, and professional roofing contractor is to contact the Better Business Bureau and other organizations with which the roofing contractor is affiliated.
The longer length of time a builder or contractor has been in business is a good indication of reliability and quality, especially in smaller communities where word of mouth can destroy a business overnight.