Dealing with the insurance companies is stressful and most of the time very hard.

Most of the insurance companies are not fair to home owners, they pay for what you ask and if is covered, but do you know what need be replaced? This why you need to have a good roofer who know all the components and all the materials. Also he needs to know all the codes and be aware of the HOA restrictions. Our team is great and can walk you through the claim and make sure that the insurance is fair to you. Always make sure you work with the professionals.

Certification and accreditation is a very important part of any contractors in any field especially in roofing. Accreditation with roofing association basically means that the company is well known and have good reputation and fallow all the regulations and laws. Certification from many brands or companies means that the company have passed all the training and know the materials and the most important is that the warranty of the products will be applied. If the material was not install properly or not by the code that will void the material warranty and could cause a leak or serious damage to the house.

We are in the era of social media, and almost anyone have access to internet and social media platforms like Google, Facebook, Yelp etc. People are really open to share there experience with the rest of the world, sometimes reviews are not accurate or even mean but the majority of the review will tell you a lot about the company or about your contractor, since you don’t interact with the contractors on daily bases checking the reviews will give you a picture about the contractor. Before taking a decision just check the reviews to get a better picture about the contractor and services they provide.

Shingles that are “impact resistant” are considered a class 4 product, and are designed to withstand high winds and hail damage. Basically class 4 is a higher class of shingles that are more flexible and more resistant. All the shingles (asphalt one’s) are flexible but the heat, water and cold can make the material loose the power, plus innovations are made every day especially in building materials. Since DFW is in high risk of hail class 4 Shingles is a good upgrade and can drop your insurance rate.

Right now are many companies and many varieties of shingles. One manufacture make at least 10 types (without the color option) of shingles and each one have his one specs, we are working most of the time with Owens Corning and GAF , they have a good quality products. A good roofer will suggest you a good material.

If your roof is leaking that is bad news but don’t panic, secure all your belongings so will not get water damage and call a roofing contractor. Interior leaks are cause of serious damage. If is real bad is better to turn off all the power and leave the house till the professionals will arrive. A real good roofer will have tarps to cover temporary your roof and will walk you thru all the steps of filling the claim and your home restoration.

If your house got hit by the hail or windstorm first thing look for visible damages, be careful and use protective gloves. Call your insurance company and let them know, is important to file the claim on the right time because you have a time window to file it. If you don’t see any damages on your house but you saw the hail call a local roofer and get your house inspected , a good roofer will let you know if you have damages and what you can do. If you don’t have construction experience don’t get on the roof unattended.

How to find the right roofing company? Most of the people are dealing with roof damage for the first time and since is not a common service is hard to make a decision when it comes to construction or remodeling. We will present you 5 simple topics that you need to look when it comes the time to find or choose a roofer.

1. Get a local roofer. A local roofer will be the best option, they know the area and upgrades that you need, they know the regulation and the most important is the time. Time= they will come and inspected and fixed fast, they have a better and experienced team and they have better warranty.

2. Reviews and referral. Ask your friends or neighbors probably they know a trusted one. If not use social media or internet to find one and read the reviews. Reviews will give you opinion about the company.

3. Accreditation and certifications. A good standing company that you can trust will have many manufactures certifications of the products that they use and accreditation in NRCA, RCA and BBB.

4. Years in business. You definitely need to look for a company that is been on the market for years, they have a reputation and the warranty that they will provide will be a real one. Don’t hire overnight company.

5. The appearance and attitude. A good standing company will always look good and presentable, will talk respectful and will explain and answer all your questions. Company logos on cars or wrapped cars, company uniforms and marketing material is telling you that the company is proud of the brand and you will get a good service.

Roof ventilation is a necessary. Poorly ventilated attics don’t have an escape route for the heat that builds up. When the weather is hot, the moist air will condense on the underside of the sheathing in  a poorly ventilated attic.  An evenly vented roof will allow the hot air to  circulate freely in the attic.

If your home is too hot during the summer, you will definitely make your ac cooler,  and therefore, use more energy. But when your home stays cooler during summer because of proper ventilation and warm during the winter, you won’t have to rely on your AC or your heat as much and you’ll be able to save money on your energy bills each month.

Exhaust vents can include either be a roof turbine or ridge vent. A turbine is located on the top of a roof and uses wind to spin around and pull hot air out of the attic. Ridge vents extend the length of the top of the roof. These roof vents draw hot air out of the attic.

Your property and most of its contents, such as your laptop computer, your furniture and even your roof, may lose value over time due to factors such as age and wear and tear. This loss in value is commonly known as depreciation. Under most insurance policies, claim reimbursement begins with an up-front payment based on the actual cash value of your damage, or the value of the damaged or destroyed item(s) at the time of the loss. If you have replacement cost coverage included on your policy, you may be able to receive additional money to cover the depreciation of these items. If this is the case, reimbursement may involve two or more payments – one for your initial payment based on the actual cash value of your items and then additional payment(s) once you repair and/or replace the damaged or destroyed items and provide us with documentation.

CALCULATING DEPRECIATION:

Generally, depreciation is calculated by evaluating an item’s replacement cost value (i.e., the current cost of repairing the item or replacing it with a similar one) and its life expectancy (i.e., the item’s average expected lifespan). For example, let’s say your 13-inch laptop was destroyed in a fire. You bought the laptop two years ago and it was in normal condition for its age before the fire. A similar laptop is sold in stores today for $1,000 (the replacement cost value). This laptop has a life expectancy of five years, meaning it loses 20% of its value each year. Because your laptop was two years old, it had lost 40% of its value before being destroyed by the fire. Therefore, the actual cash value (i.e., the value at the time of the loss) of your laptop is $600.

Cost of a new laptop today $1,000 - 40% depreciation $400 (2 years x 20% per year) = Value of laptop after depreciation $600 (Actual cash value)

This calculation technique may apply to structural components of your dwelling or building that wear out over time, such as the roof. If your dwelling has a 25-year composition shingle roof, it would depreciate at 4% a year under normal conditions. If the roof is 10 years old at the time of your loss and it requires replacement, we would subtract 40% depreciation (10 years x 4% a year) from your replacement cost estimate to determine the actual cash value of your roof. Please keep in mind that the condition of an item may also factor into the depreciation calculation.

Submitting a request for recoverable depreciation:

Frequently asked questions If you have replacement cost coverage, here are the steps you should take: • Repair or replace the lost or damaged item(s). • Save all invoices, signed contracts, receipts and/or canceled checks associated with the repair or replacement of your property; and submit them to your Claim professional. – Specify in writing at the top of each receipt or invoice which items were replaced and/or what work was completed. – Provide either the original documents or legible copies to your Claim professional, and remember to keep copies for your files. – Include your insurance claim number on all correspondence. • Once your request for reimbursement is received, your Claim professional will contact you to discuss any additional payment(s). • Your potential reimbursement is governed by the replacement cost. Please keep in mind that when repairing or replacing an item, you cannot recover more than the amount you actually spend. For instance, in our earlier example we determined that the replacement cost value of your 13-inch laptop was $1,000. If you purchase a replacement laptop for $900 and submit a request for the recoverable depreciation, Your insurance will reimburse you $300 – the difference between the actual cash value of your previous laptop ($600) and the cost of your new one ($900). If you find that you cannot repair or replace damaged or destroyed item(s) for the replacement cost established on your estimate, please contact your Claim professional before repairing or replacing the item(s).

Frequently asked questions:

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE REPLACEMENT COST COVERAGE?

While there are some exceptions, most insurance policies include some replacement cost coverage. Your insurance Claim professional will go over your coverage with you upon inspecting your property.

HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF MY PROPERTY?

We use estimating software that relies on data from many reputable sources, including guides published by the U.S. government and the National Association of Home Builders. The information in these guides is widely used in the industry and is composed of relevant data from manufacturers, retailers, installers, contractors, insurance companies, home inspectors, etc.

ARE THERE DEADLINES I MUST MEET TO RECEIVE THE RECOVERABLE DEPRECIATION?

Yes. Please review your policy for specific details. In most instances, you should notify your Claim professional of your intent to recover this depreciation within 180 days of the date of loss.

WHAT IF I DECIDE TO BUY A MORE EXPENSIVE ITEM TO REPLACE THE ONE I LOST?

You may purchase a more expensive item to replace the one you lost, but we can only reimburse you up to the replacement cost value. In our earlier example, we determined that the actual cash value of your 13-inch laptop was $600, and the cost of a similar laptop is $1,000. If you purchase a 15-inch laptop for $1,500 and submit a request for recoverable depreciation, you will be reimbursed $400 – the recoverable depreciation on your original laptop.

WHAT IF I DECIDE NOT TO REPAIR OR REPLACE MY DAMAGED ITEMS?

This decision is entirely yours. If you do not repair or replace the damaged items, you may not be able to submit a request for additional payment(s).

Here is 10 reasons why rain gutters are important and critical to the health of your home:

1.  MOISTURE CONTROL

   The main purpose of gutters is to divert rain water away from your home in a controlled manner. This means that professionally installed rain gutters will control roof water runoff and keep your basement, crawl space and garage dry.  They will also prevent rain water from gathering around your home’s foundation and possibly seeping through cracks, which can ultimately lead to flooding problems and destruction of property. Furthermore, gutters are your first line of defense against conditions that promote mold and wood fungi growth. Plus, as an added bonus, it keeps you from getting soaked while trying to get into your home on a rainy day.

2. FOUNDATION PROTECTION

   Roof water runoff from a heavy rainfall can erode the soil around the house and weaken your  home’s foundation. However, since gutters capture this roof water runoff, the volume of water pounding the ground next to the foundation is greatly reduced.  The capturing of this water sharply limits and stabilizes the movement of active zone soils below the foundation.  In turn, this will promote the integrity of the foundation being protected and prevent it from ever looking like this home’s version of the “Leaning Tower of Pisa”.

3. BACK-FILL STABILITY

   Regrettably, the topsoil around your home’s foundation is mediocre as a moisture control agent.  Properly installed rain gutters will prevent roof water runoff from pummeling the topsoil and eroding it, making rain gutters a trustworthy friend that will halt any future structural damage to your home.

4. WINDOW AND DOOR PRESERVATION

   Unfortunately, nearly all durability issues originate from water intrusion via doors and windows.  In fact, numerous clients of mine, whose homes didn’t have rain gutters, have had front, side and back doors replaced because rain water splash back caused wood rot.  One client in particular, who had a home built worth over half a million dollars and decided against having rain gutters installed, had to spend over $1,000 to have their back door replaced within a year because of wood rot.  Roof water management via rain gutters will prevent exterior door replacement projects by ensuring the water is moved away from key areas, averting wood rot.

5. FASCIA AND SOFFIT PROTECTION

   Water migration can trigger fascia and soffit wood rot as well as insect infestation which could be expensive to repair. Moisture from water movement can also soften Hardie-Plank.  Fascia and soffit replacement is by far the number one home repair that accompanies gutter installation.  By swiftly moving water away from rafter beams and roof joints via rain gutters, your homes protection from water related damages is assured.

6. EXPANSION Of ROOF OVERHANG

   Rain gutter systems can be responsible for adding up to 7” of additional roof overhang, fortifying window and door protection as well as speeding up drying times and decreasing moisture levels.

7. SPLASH BACK PROTECTION

   Rain gutters will once and for all put an end to dirt, grass, minerals, and shingle grit splashing back onto to the exterior walls of your home and causing stains that can be tough to remove.  This is, without a doubt, the most common problem that I see on homes without gutters.

8. MAINTENANCE REDUCTION

   Uncontrolled roof water runoff that is allowed to keep flowing will deposit dirt and residue onto the exterior of your home.  This will definitely have detrimental effects to your home’s paint, design and overall look. Subsequently, it will lead to the extra cost and burden of cleaning and repainting your home more often than necessary, something that professionally installed rain gutter systems will prevent.

9. DECORATIVE DETAIL

   Not only do rain gutters provide a functional mechanism to protect your home from rain and water related damage, but they are a home improvement project that can accentuate and enhance the architecture beauty of any home.  A six inch gutter installation can have the same effect on the outside of your home that crown molding has on your home’s interior.  It can be absolutely stunning!

10. RAINWATER COLLECTION

    And finally, acquiring rainwater via rain barrels is one of the easiest ways to keep your lawn and plants watered while also playing a role in water conservation efforts.