Insurance Approved Your Roof Replacement in Pittsburgh, PA — Here’s What Happens Next

You filed the claim, the insurance adjuster came out and now you've been told the roof replacement is approved.

Good news. But now what?

This is usually the point where homeowners start looking through pages of insurance paperwork and wondering what they're actually supposed to do next.

At Legacy Roofing & Restoration, we work with homeowners throughout the Pittsburgh area on insurance-related roof replacements. If you've already received approval from your insurance company, here's a little of what you can expect from this point forward.

First, Take a Look at What Was Actually Approved

Your insurance company should provide an estimate showing the work included in the claim.

And yes, those estimates can be confusing.

There may be line items for shingles, underlayment, flashing, vents, tear-off, disposal and other parts of the job. If the storm damaged more than the roof, you may also see items for gutters, siding or other areas of the home.

You don't have to become an expert at reading an insurance estimate.

An experienced roof insurance claim contractor in Pittsburgh, PA can go through the roofing portion of the estimate and compare it with what is actually needed to complete the job.

That's something we regularly do at Legacy Roofing & Restoration.

The Insurance Estimate Isn't Always the Final Estimate

This is something that catches homeowners off guard.

The amount or scope on the first insurance estimate isn't necessarily where everything ends.

Sometimes the roofing contractor finds something that wasn't included. Other times, additional damage isn't visible until the old roofing materials start coming off.

When that happens, the additional work can be documented and sent to the insurance company for review.

You may hear your roofer refer to this as a supplement.

It doesn't mean the additional work is automatically covered. The insurance company still makes that decision. It simply gives the carrier the information it needs to review something that may not have been included originally.

Legacy Roofing & Restoration owner Brant Toward has more than 16 years of experience and has handled more than 300 homeowners insurance claims. He's also experienced with Xactimate, estimating software commonly used in the insurance restoration industry.

That experience can be especially helpful when you're dealing with an insurance roof replacement and trying to make sense of everything that comes along with it.

You Still Get to Choose Who Works on Your Roof

Just because insurance is involved doesn't mean you should treat the contractor as an afterthought.

This is still your house.

Take some time to look into the company you're considering. Are they local? Are they licensed and insured? Do they have experience with insurance restoration work? Who are you going to call if you have a question halfway through the job?

You want someone who knows how to install the roof correctly, but it also helps to have a contractor who has been through this process before.

Legacy Roofing & Restoration is based in the Pittsburgh area and works throughout Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio.

What About the Deductible?

This is another common question.

Your deductible is generally the part of a covered claim you're responsible for paying. The amount depends on your individual insurance policy.

If you're unsure what your deductible is, how depreciation works or when the insurance company will issue payments, it's best to ask your insurance carrier directly.

We can explain our roofing estimate and the work being completed, but your insurance company determines coverage and how your particular claim is paid.

Now You Can Start Talking About the Actual Roof

After all the insurance paperwork, this is the part that starts to feel a little more like a normal roofing project.

What type of roof are you putting back on the house?

What color do you want?

Are you staying with asphalt shingles, or have you been considering metal roofing?

Legacy Roofing & Restoration installs both asphalt shingle and metal roofing systems. We'll go over the options with you and talk about what makes sense for your home.

If you decide you want something beyond what's included in the insurance-approved work, we can also talk about the additional cost before the project gets underway.

What Happens When the Old Roof Comes Off?

A lot can be learned from inspecting the outside of a roof, but you can't see everything until the old roofing materials are removed.

Once tear-off begins, there may be damaged decking or another condition underneath the roofing materials that wasn't visible during the original inspection.

If we find something, we'll show you.

If it appears to be related to the covered loss, we can photograph it, document it and provide that information for the insurance company's review.

We don't just cover it back up and keep moving.

What If You Haven't Filed a Claim Yet?

Maybe you're reading this because your neighbor just had their roof approved after a storm and now you're wondering about yours.

That's a different situation, and the first step is much simpler.

Have the roof looked at.

Legacy Roofing & Restoration offers free storm damage roof inspections in Pittsburgh, PA. We can check for signs of hail, high winds and other storm-related damage and let you know what we actually see.

You may need a repair.

There may be enough damage that it's worth contacting your insurance company.

Or your roof may be fine.

We're not going to tell you that you need an insurance claim just because we climbed onto the roof.

If hail recently moved through your area, a hail damage roof inspection in Pittsburgh, PA can help determine whether the shingles were affected. If you've noticed missing, lifted or damaged shingles after high winds, we can take a closer look and determine what needs to be repaired.

The point is to find out what's actually going on before making the next decision.

Already Have an Approved Roof Claim?

If your insurance company has already approved your roof replacement, give Legacy Roofing & Restoration a call.

We can take a look at the roof, review the roofing portion of the insurance scope and answer questions about what happens next.

And if you haven't filed a claim but think your roof may have been damaged by a recent Pittsburgh storm, we can start with an inspection. Either way, you'll have a better idea of what you're dealing with and what the next step should be.

Legacy Roofing & RestorationPhone: 412-754-3877 Website: www.legacyroofing412.com Serving Pittsburgh, Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio.