Are These Really Good Reasons to Put Off Replacing
Your Commercial Roof After a Hail Storm?
Although it may be interesting to observe, a hailstorm can wreak havoc on your building and cause significant damage to your roof. Hail damage is subtle and may be difficult to discover – but failing to make repairs can be pricey. Here are some of the most common reasons why people make the costly mistake of putting off roof repairs to their commercial roof – and why you should seek help immediately away after a storm.
A patch is cheaper. Although patching a visible hole may be less costly in the short term, a lot of the harm caused by hail is to the structural integrity of your roof. If you have a flat roof, attempting a patch or mismatched replacement can, in reality, damage your roof more than the original hailstorm and can end up costing you more in the end. You can lose even more than your roof if water seeps into your building. From mold to water deterioration and even a wildlife invasion, just patching a hole can cause you plenty of trouble in the future.
My insurance agency claims the roof is fine. Insurance companies are in business to make money, and if they can put off making needed repairs, they will. If you see the other properties in your area all need new roofs; your building may very well need one, too. Make sure you get an independent investigation of your own and don’t just rely on the word of a sole insurance agent to protect your most prized investment. The best way to get a fair and accurate approximation of the condition of your roof, the damage the storm inflicted, and what the best course of action to take further is to get the professional evaluation of your roof after the storm. Our certified roofing inspectors will inspect your roof and report the findings free of charge for you. Just call us to schedule your free roof inspection.
The salesman says I have to sign papers immediately to lock in a price. Unscrupulous and unlicensed agencies swarm the area that has been hard hit by hail and other storms. While you may very well need the roof replacement, you don’t have to be pressured into one. Make sure the chosen contractor is licensed and certified to work in your area and has a solid, stable existence in your community before making a decision about your roof.
No one else in the area needed a new roof. Hailstorms and the damage caused are unpredictable and variable, so you may need repairs or a whole new roof while the commercial roof right next door escapes entirely unscathed. Protect your roof and investment by having a professional take a look after a storm. If you happen to see roofing work going on around your neighborhood, there is a good chance that your roof will need to be seen by a professional, as well.
No leaks = No problems? The roof is not undamaged just because water isn’t actively leaking into your building right now; some problems develop over time, by taking care of small issues you can keep them from turning into catastrophic ones. You might not even notice the leak until it becomes a massive problem, damaging your roof and possessions, so have your roof checked to safeguard your investment.
My insurance agent says we can wait a while. Make sure you communicate these matters with your insurance company and not your agent. Even if your insurer does not have a statute of limitations on the repair, you may be insured for actual cash value only. As your roof and building age, your insurance company will have to pay less money in order to have it fixed – in many cases just the actual value of your old roof, not the actual replacement cost of a new one. Again, the time is not on your side in this case, so if you are told to wait a while, you should find another objective opinion on your roof damage.
If your property has been damaged from hail or bad weather and you’ve been getting the runaround from your insurance agency, contact one of our White Roofing Systems Contractors for an objective appraisal of the damage and an estimate of the actual cost to repair or replace your roof.