HANDLING YOUR INITIAL INSURANCE CLAIM REQUEST

Submit your request for storm damage inspection, roof repair or entire roof replacement by calling our office or filling in our online form. We devote the same amount of attention to each request – no matter how big or small!
To better assist you, we will ask you about your contact information (name, phone number and email address), what type of service you need, how you heard about our company, and the best time to meet with you. We will then schedule the initial appointment and assign one of our roofing professionals to assess the property.

INSPECTION AND INSURANCE CONSULTATION
At the day of the appointment, our professionals will inspect your entire property for storm damage. A diagram of the roof and any other problem areas such as siding, gutters, and windows will be prepared and pictures will be taken. If you qualify for insurance reimbursement, we will describe which areas can be claimed. If your property does not have storm damage, we will use the diagram and photos to prepare your proposal for a retail price.

INSURANCE CLAIM ASSISTANCE
Subject To Agreement – Once you decide to use our company assistance in your insurance restoration process, a document called Assistance Agreement (provided by your roofing professional) has to be signed and given to your roofing professional.
Opening a Claim – Your assigned roofing professional will then assist you to call and open a claim with your insurance company. You will either receive your insurance claim number during that call or your insurance company will contact you later with this information.
Inspection with Adjuster – After an adjuster is assigned to your claim, he will contact you to schedule an appointment for storm damage inspection. It is very important that you call us right away to let us know the adjuster’s name, phone number, date and time of the inspection. It is your right to have your roofing professional present during the inspection – this can dramatically speed up the claim negotiation process.

At the day of the insurance inspection we will meet with your insurance adjuster. We will point out all the damages at your property, we will try to agree on acceptable scope of work to be done.
Insurance Loss Sheet – Once the inspection is complete the adjuster will prepare his detailed report called “Insurance Loss Sheet” and mail it to you. In some cases the report will be given to you right after the inspection. You will need to submit this report to Roofing Professionals of Texas for a detailed audit and once we ensure its accuracy your job scope and proposal will be prepared.

WRITTEN CONTRACT
After the above steps are completed, we will provide you with a proposal for the work be done based on the insurance claim settlement scope. Once you sign the contract and we procure the insurance ACV payment, your job will be forwarded to our production department.

JOB APPROVAL AND SUPPLEMENT
Your contract will describe a process called Supplementing. If the roofing professional discovers any missing items, we will submit a request to your Insurance Company to include (or “supplement”) these items and will provide you with a copy of this request to you. Your contract will specify job start date and expected completion.

JOB SCHEDULING
The next step in the process is scheduling your job. We will assign the team for your project and schedule installation dates (roofing, siding, gutters, painting, etc.). We will pre-order all the material and schedule their delivery. The dates will be coordinated with you. It is also important for you to know that all schedules are dependent on weather conditions. Each day the weather is not allowing us to work, your project will be delayed.

INSTALLATION
Roof Replacement – Our roofing crew will arrive early in the morning and start the tear off process.  To avoid exposing your home to inclement weather during the construction process, our crews do not tear off more than they can replace in one day.  The roofers will use your driveway to park a dump truck used to load debris and for cleanup purposes. We will take all necessary steps and precautions to protect your house, premises and landscaping or garden from any construction debris.

Material is delivered later in the morning, usually before noon. Our crew supervisor will verify all materials delivered correspond to what has been ordered.

After the tear off process is complete we will be able to determine the condition of the wood deck.  If any part of the decking needs to be replaced, the roofing professional will take pictures and will notify you about the quantity of necessary replacements.

After the roofing work has been completed, we will haul away all of the debris around your property. Nails that fell from the roof will be picked up with a magnet nail roller.

Siding Replacement, Gutter Replacement and More – If your job includes more trades such as gutters, siding or windows, additional departments will be sent to conduct the repairs. Usually the siding should be completed prior to gutter installation. If any painting or awnings have to be done, we prefer to schedule it as final step.

JOB COMPLETION
Upon completion of all trades, our project manager will perform a final inspection to ensure quality work standards were met. Your roofing professional will meet with you and complete a final walk through to make sure work was done to your satisfaction. Then, upon full payment, a completion certificate and warranty will be given to you to sign and later turned in to the office.

Once we receive your signed completion certificate we will mark your job as complete and withdraw your file from production. If your project is an insurance restoration work, we will submit final documents to your insurance company so they can release the depreciation funds to be picked up by your roofing professional on your claim.

FOLLOW UP
Each of our contracts specifies a warranty period for our workmanship. We take pride in our installation quality and provide a lasting service warranty, in addition to the best manufacturing guarantees. Anytime you suspect there might be an issue with our work, don’t hesitate to call our office – we will give your request highest priority!

Your Choice is Roofing Professionals of Texas.  Let us show you what makes Roofing Professionals of Texas the leading roofing contractor in Texas. Call us today at (469) 906-2600 or submit an online request. We look forward to serving you!  Contact us now or visit our website at www.roofingprotx.com.

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Kansas attorney general sues unregistered roofers

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced that his office has filed lawsuits against five roofing contractors for violating the Kansas Roofing Registration Act by failing to registerwith his office.

Schmidt said the following companies have been served with lawsuits:

Gregory E. Wright, Wichita, dba Extreme Home Solutions; Shawnee County
Mike’s General Contracting LLC, Derby; Mitchell County District Court
Roof PRS LLC, Holdrege, Neb., and Chanse Beinke, Smithfield, Neb.; Shawnee County
Super Siding LLC and Daniel Roberts, Hutchinson; Reno County
Taylor Made Exteriors LLC, Wichita; Sedgwick County


The defendants engaged in advertising, soliciting or performing roofing contractor services without with attorney general's office.

Schmidt is seeking restitution to consumers who did business with these unregistered companies as well as penalties for doing business without registering

GAF Roofing Materials Manufacturing Plant Receives Certification for Waste Diversion Initiatives

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — GAF has announced that its Tuscaloosa, Ala., facility is its second asphalt shingle plant in North America to achieve Waste Diversion from Landfill certification. Conducted by GreenCircle Certified LLC, this certification demonstrates the dedication GAF has to the responsible management of end-of-life materials.

The company has pioneered several initiatives to increase operational efficiency, reduce waste and divert material from landfill. Partnering with recyclers and like-minded organizations, GAF has not only developed unique ways to reuse waste material internally, but has also identified alternative uses for previously landfilled waste. Utilizing these progressive waste-management practices, along with innovative recycling initiatives, GAF achieved an impressive waste diversion rate of 94 percent at its Tuscaloosa facility.

“As Waste Diversion from Landfill emerges as a critical sustainable performance measure, forward-thinking companies are finding innovative material management solutions,” said Tad Radzinski, certification officer at GreenCircle. “With its second plant receiving GreenCircle certification, GAF is not only leading the way in waste diversion, but it’s also ensuring accountability and transparency in its sustainability claims.”

Continued growth in the green building market is prompting emphasis on sustainability for building product suppliers like GAF. Third-party certification of sustainability claims adds a level of integrity for manufacturers, which is key to establishing credibility and gaining consumer confidence. “Sustainability and transparency are cornerstones of our business strategy at GAF,” said Gregg Baran, director of specialty manufacturing at GAF. “GreenCircle certification verifies our claims and helps us showcase our waste leadership in a way that resonates with our customers and employees.”

For more information, visit www.gaf.com.

EXPENSIVE HAIL DAMAGE MAY NOT BE OBVIOUS

Monday, April 20, 2015 -- The hail pounded a wide swath of our area. Now homeowners are cleaning up what's left.

Kathy, a homeowner, only has a few more scoops of debris to collect from her yard, but she's worried enough about her roof to get an inspector out to look for damage.

"I think we will call them and have them come out and it would ease my mind just to have it looked at," Kathy said.

Insurance agents say it's wise to have your roof checked even if you do not see any obvious damage from hail.

We're looking for damage to the shingles, the vents, (and) the matting of the shingles.

Agents say if there is damage, homeowners may only have a few months to file a claim depending on their insurance company, but it could be a year or more before a problem develops.

Another tip is be sure to research any company offering to do the work. 

One of the Presidents at Better Business Bureau, says homeowners should see someone who has been around and has a decent history.

"Even if they're not accredited with us but they've got a decent history, they resolve complaints (and) they take care of things. Also talk to your insurance company...they may have a vetted list that they've done on their own too," BBB explained.

In some cases, the damage caused by the storm will not be greater than a homeowner's deductible. In that case, do not be surprised if you have to pay for the repairs out of your own pocket.

DFW Metroplex 469-906-2600

Nationwide 855-631-ROOF

Texas bills target crooked roofers after Dallas area's hail horror stories

AUSTIN — Several weeks after signing a contract to get her roof replaced for $25,000 last summer, Mary Jane Pierson of Fort Worth started to worry she was getting scammed.

Her repeated phone calls to the roofing contractor weren’t returned or she was offered a litany of excuses about why the job wasn’t getting done: the company’s office flooded, the owner’s wife was in the hospital, shipment of the shingles had been delayed.

“I knew there was a serious problem,” she said, recalling the change in behavior of the roofer, whose initial friendly demeanor before he secured the contract — and a check for $14,000 — was gone.

Pierson, whose $200,000 brick home is still waiting for a new roof, said the contractor originally came knocking on her door — as did several others — last spring after a massive hailstorm in North Texas. He was very helpful and offered to get her insurance claim moving — so she agreed to sign a contract.

“Everything looked on the up and up. So I gave him the first check from the insurance company for $14,000. I now know I shouldn’t have done that,” she said.

Pierson plans to tell her story later this month in Austin when lawmakers consider bills that would impose new state requirements on roofing contractors for the first time. Currently, roofers are not required to be licensed or registered by the state.

Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, is sponsoring one measure aimed at protecting homeowners from dishonest roofers and roofing companies through state licensing of those businesses. A backup proposal by Carona calls for registration and oversight of roofers by the Texas Department of Insurance.

“I’m generally not in favor of a large amount of licensing of any of the occupations, but where roofing is concerned there is such a long history of abuse of consumers, particularly during periods after storms or natural disasters,” he said.

“Texas needs to put some safeguards in place to ensure that the people who provide new roofs are financially sound, meet the appropriate building codes and honor their warranties.”

Some in the roofing industry, especially smaller outfits, have complained that the proposals might prevent contractors from starting their businesses and increase costs to consumers. Others have praised legislators for trying to help to weed out abusers who’ve preyed on homeowners.

Roofers after a storm

Carona said his office regularly hears from constituents who have lost several thousands of dollars in scams by unregulated roofers.

Karen Fox, executive director of the North Texas Roofing Contractors Association, said the pattern of fraud is similar in a majority of cases.

“Within 12 hours of a storm, an area can be blanketed with roofers, many from other states. After making contact with the homeowner and offering a lower price, they ask for a down payment and say they will come back after buying the shingles. Then, they never come back,” she said.

“Homeowners get taken advantage of all the time. It’s a big problem in North Texas.”

Mike Crosby of Crosby Roofing in Dallas agreed the problem is widespread.

“I can’t tell you how many people I’ve run into who had to pay for a new roof out of their pocket after a roofer took their money and disappeared,” he said.

A major reason homeowners in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are targeted is that they live in what many consider to be the hail capital of the nation.

Just last year, more than 40,000 homes and businesses were damaged by two massive storm systems that struck the area, requiring roof replacements totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.

“Unlike plumbers, electricians or even barbers, anyone can place a sign on their truck calling themselves a roofing contractor,” said Mark Hanna of the Insurance Council of Texas. “The result can be shoddy work, no work or outright insurance fraud.”

Those practices, which have become more commonplace, have made many homeowners leery of dealing with roofing companies — a situation that Hanna says points to the need for regulation of roofers.

He cited a council survey of registered voters last November, which indicated that more than four out of five Texans want roofing contractors to be licensed by the state.

Contractor went to Hawaii

Darrin Tatum, who lives on Lake Texoma near Pottsboro, is among those who strongly support new regulation of roofers, particularly after his own experience getting the roof on his home replaced after a hailstorm in 2011.

His roofer, who had placed yard signs in the neighborhood after the hailstorm, agreed to start work as soon as a contract was signed.

Tatum went on vacation for two weeks and returned to find nothing had been done. He couldn’t reach the roofer’s company and eventually learned he was vacationing in Hawaii with his wife.

“He was a shyster, big time,” said Tatum, who finally got his roof replaced months later and then learned the roofing contractor never paid for the $4,000 worth of roofing shingles that were used on his home.

Tatum said some of his neighbors had similar experiences with the roofer, who is no longer working in the area.

Fox said many of the problems could be prevented if roofing contractors were regulated by the state, which could then take action against those who defraud homeowners or perform shoddy work.

“We want our industry to be as professional as any other industry,” she said, noting that leading roofing companies and contractors are backing the legislation by Carona and Rep. Kenneth Sheets, R-Dallas. “It’s hard to compete against companies that cut corners and don’t have to meet building standards.”

She also pointed out that the state is losing sales tax revenue from the large number of roofers who don’t collect it.

Pierson, meanwhile, is looking forward to finally getting her roof replaced later this month. “I realize I am just one of many that this has happened to. But it will continue to happen to many more unless the state steps in and protects homeowners,” she said.

Possible changes at a glance

Bills have been filed in the House (HB 888) and Senate (SB 311) that would provide for state regulation of roofing contractors for the first time in Texas. The proposals are in response to widespread problems — including fraud and shoddy workmanship — mainly caused by smaller and out-of-state roofers. Among the possible changes:

Requiring state licensing of roofing businesses or registration and oversight of those businesses by Texas Department of Insurance.

Requiring standard form contracts for roofers and homeowners drafted by insurance department.

Requiring disclosure of roofer insurance coverage to consumers before contract is signed.

Prohibiting roofers from offering to cover an insured’s deductible as part of transaction.

Prohibiting roofers from adjusting insurance claims.

Creating a license holder database on Department of Insurance website for consumers to compare and examine roofing businesses.

Conducting background checks for roofers.

Exempting new homes and new commercial construction.

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood sues State Farm since they enriched itself through Katrina homeowner program

From ROGELIO V. SOLIS — AP SunHerald.com 

Attorney General Jim Hood is suing State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. over millions of dollars he claims the state lost because the insurance company "maliciously" denied Hurricane Katrina claims for wind losses while the federally funded Homeowners Assistance Program picked up the tab.

The lawsuit says: "State Farm benefited substantially and illicitly from HAP, because HAP grants ameliorated the financial pain to State Farm policyholders caused by State Farm's wrongful denial or underpayment of claims for wind damage under its homeowner policies.

"State Farm in effect converted a program designed to help Mississippians who were devastated financially by Katrina into a subsidy for itself."

State Farm had no immediate response to allegations outlined in the 50-page lawsuit, but in past cases brought by policyholders has denied any wrongdoing.

The lawsuit, filed in Hinds County Circuit Court, accuses State Farm of fraud, negligence and breach of contract. Hood is asking for a jury trial. The state is seeking unspecified compensation for its losses, plus punitive damages, court costs, interest and attorneys' fees. Although the lawsuit comes almost 10 years after Hurricane Katrina, no statute of limitations applies to the state under its constitution and state law.

Comparing payments

The HAP program was designed to compensate qualified homeowners for losses insurance did not cover. In some cases, the lawsuit says, State Farm delayed payments to policyholders so HAP grants would cover their losses.

The lawsuit says Mississippi paid 6,810 policyholders five times more than State Farm did for Katrina damage.

The state paid a total of $522 million to State Farm policyholders, the lawsuit says, or an average of $76,673.59 per policyholder. State Farm paid the same policyholders $98.7 million, or an average of $14,494.62 per policyholder.

The lawsuit details State Farm's efforts to minimize wind losses, first by characterizing Katrina as a "water" event. Tidal surge, excluded from coverage under private insurance policies, is covered by the National Flood Insurance Program. NFIP relied on State Farm and other insurers to adjust its claims.

State Farm coerced engineering firms to alter reports, then ceased ordering damage reports altogether, when engineers found wind covered under its policies caused homeowner losses, the lawsuit says. Those allegations are familiar to Coast residents, hundreds of whom sued State Farm and other insurers after Katrina over wind claims that were allegedly underpaid or denied.

AG investigates others

"We are aggressively investigating other insurance companies that may have unjustly enriched themselves at the expense of the HAP program," Jan Schaefer, spokeswoman for the attorney general's office, wrote in an email in response to questions from the Sun Herald. "We haven't ruled out future lawsuits against those other insurers.

"We are filing this suit against State Farm because we now have proven evidence of its fraud and because, as the nation's largest property insurance company, its activities harmed Mississippi more than any other insurer."

The proven evidence to which Schaefer referred came in a whistle-blower lawsuit that two sisters, insurance adjusters Cori and Kerri Rigsby, filed against State Farm. In the federal lawsuit, a jury in April 2013 found State Farm defrauded NFIP by attributing wind damage to tidal surge. State Farm was ordered to pay $750,000 in damages -- triple the amount of the false flood claim payment -- to NFIP, with 15 percent going to the Rigsbys for pursuing the claim. The case is on appeal.

"In the wake of that verdict," Schaefer said, "we spent considerable time closely evaluating the impact of this activity on the state through the HAP program."

Attorneys representing the state include the Rigsbys' lawyers, August Matteis of Washington, D.C., and Maison Heidelberg of Jackson, along with former assistant attorney general Ben Bryant of Balch & Bingham in Jackson. Mary Jo Woods, an assistant attorney general involved in litigation against State Farm after the hurricane, signed the complaint for the state.

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/21/6187338_mississippi-ag-files-suit-against.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

Roofing Professionals of Texas

FAQ's About Insurance Claims - The Insurance Claims Process for your Roof

Will my insurance company pay for my roof to be replaced?

Yes, if there is damage caused by an act of nature such as wind or hail.  Contact your Roofing Professionals of Texas Project Manager for more information.

Does it matter how old my roof is?

Not as far as determining whether to pay or not, but it does affect how much the insurance company will pay if you have an actual cash value (ACV) policy. Contact your Roofing Professionals of Texas Project Manager for more information.

How much do I have to pay?

This depends on your deductible and the type of policy you have. If you have a full replacement policy, your total cost would be the amount of your deductible. If you have an actual cash value (ACV) policy, the insurance company subtracts your deductible from the total amount, and then they subtract a portion for depreciation. Depending on the age of the roof. This depends on how they pay you. Some insurance companies will pay a lump sum at one time, while others will require the work to be completed before they release a final payment. If they pay a portion up front and are holding a portion back until completion, the final bill will be determined by the actual invoice not to exceed the adjusted amount.  Contact your Roofing Professionals of Texas Project Manager for more information.

EXAMPLE: The insurance company says it will allow $4,000.00 to replace your roof. Your deductible is $500.00. You will only receive $3,500.00 if the job costs $4,000.00. If the job costs $3,700.00, the insurance company will pay you $3,200.00 total, since your deductible is $500.00. They only owe the actual amount not to exceed the adjusted amount. Your Roofing Professionals of Texas Project Manager will also get more money for your repairs and renovations from your insurance company, but you need to contact your Elite Roofing Solutions Representative for more information.

How can I avoid paying the deductible?

Legally, you can't. Of course, a roofer in collusion with a homeowner can submit falsified invoices. However, doing so is insurance fraud. Please don't ask us to do this. There are legal ways to do this, but you need to contact your Roofing Professionals of Texas Project Manager for more information.

Should I get several bids?

It is always good to get multiple bids on non-insurance related renovations. However, when insurance is paying for the work, the dollar amount of the bid is not very important as long as it is equal to or less than the insurance company estimate. In all such cases, you will only be paying your deductible, so your cost will be the same. Therefore, your decision should be based on going with your Roofing Professionals of Texas Project Manager we will perform the best job.

What if your bid is greater than the insurance company's estimate?

Supplements are an option to address overages on your estimate. We will almost always work something out with the insurance company on your behalf.

Can I get upgrades on my materials?

Yes, however, the increase in price above the insurance price is your responsibility. This is a great time for upgrades since the insurance company is responsible for the bulk of the cost. Also, if you have another storm related claim, the insurance company will be forced to pay for the upgrades.  Contact your Roofing Professionals of Texas Project Manager for more information.

When Insurance Companies Hide Behind their Experts in Texas

One tactic insurance companies use to circumvent bad faith liability is claiming that they reasonably relied on their experts’ reports to deny a claim. Texas law on bad faith states that an insurer breaches its duty of good faith when: (1) denies or delays payment of a claim for which liability is reasonably clear, and (2) the insurer knew or should have known that liability was reasonably clear. For that reason, insurance companies often claim that because their retained experts decided that there was no valid insurance claim, liability was not reasonably clear and they should not be found liable for bad faith. Courts typically side with insurance companies on this issue, but sometimes the facts of a case require courts to doubt this argument, just as the Texas Supreme Court did in State Farm Lloyds vs. Nicolau, 951 S.W.2d 444 (Tex. 1997). 

In Nicolau, a homeowner filed a lawsuit against its insurer for foundation and other structural damage that resulted from a plumbing leak that introduced water into the clay subsoil. The insurer retained an expert, HAAG Engineering¸ to conduct a study on the homeowner’s claim. It was established in Nicolau that the insurer hired HAAG Engineering with the belief that HAAG Engineering generally believed that leaks beneath a house would not cause foundation movement. As expected, the HAAG engineer concluded that there was no damage near the leak, but evidence showed that his investigation was not thorough because: (1) he did not isolate the leak; (2) he failed to determine the leak’s severity; and (3) he did not take any soil samples. The HAAG report concluded that the plumbing leak had not caused the damage, and the insurer denied the claim based on the HAAG report.

The Texas Supreme Court stated that an insurer’s reliance upon an expert’s report alone will not necessarily shield the insurer from liability if there is evidence that the report was not objectively prepared or the insurer’s reliance was unreasonable. Overturning an intermediate appellate court decision, the Texas Supreme Court found that there was evidence to support the jury’s finding that the insurer denied the claim in bad faith because there was evidence from which the jury could infer that HAAG’s reports were not objectively prepared, that the insurer was aware of HAAG’s lack of objectivity, and that the insurer’s reliance on the reports was merely pretextual.

Nicolau reaffirmed the long-established idea that insurance companies cannot expect their experts’ reports alone to shield them from bad faith liability.

Insurance companies commonly deny claims.  Here are some of the biggest rationales of the insurance industry.

1. Routinely adjusts valid claims with a predisposition of denial instead of paying it.

2. They routinely obscure the truth to their insured(s).

3. They routinely lowball their insured(s).

4. They routinely "drag their feet" in paying justified claims when all the facts and evidence merit prompt payment.

5. They routinely force their insured(s) into litigation - and why not? They have an army of attorneys in any given state and it's often cheaper to fight/deny the claim(s) than to pay it/them.

6. They routinely "force" their insured(s) to retain counsel to represent their interests in the litigation process.

Insurance Company Bad Faith Claims

One tactic insurance companies use to circumvent bad faith liability is claiming that they reasonably relied on their experts’ reports to deny a claim. Texas law on bad faith states that an insurer breaches its duty of good faith when: (1) denies or delays payment of a claim for which liability is reasonably clear, and (2) the insurer knew or should have known that liability was reasonably clear. For that reason, you need a team like Roofing Professionals of Texas, because insurance companies often claim that because their retained experts decided that there was no valid insurance claim, liability was not reasonably clear and they should not be found liable for bad faith. Courts typically side with the facts of a case which  require courts to doubt this argument, just as the Texas Supreme Court did in State Farm Lloyds vs. Nicolau, 951 S.W.2d 444 (Tex. 1997).

What happened was a homeowner filed a lawsuit against its insurer for foundation and other structural damage that resulted from a plumbing leak that introduced water into the clay subsoil. The insurer retained an expert, HAAG Engineering¸ to conduct a study on the homeowner’s claim. It was established in Nicolau that the insurer hired HAAG Engineering with the belief that HAAG Engineering generally believed that leaks beneath a house would not cause foundation movement. As expected, the HAAG engineer concluded that there was no damage near the leak, but evidence showed that his investigation was not thorough because: (1) he did not isolate the leak; (2) he failed to determine the leak’s severity; and (3) he did not take any soil samples. The HAAG report concluded that the plumbing leak had not caused the damage, and the insurer denied the claim based on the HAAG report.

The Texas Supreme Court stated that an insurer’s reliance upon an expert’s report alone will not necessarily shield the insurer from liability if there is evidence that the report was not objectively prepared or the insurer’s reliance was unreasonable. Overturning an intermediate appellate court decision, the Texas Supreme Court found that there was evidence to support the jury’s finding that the insurer denied the claim in bad faith because there was evidence from which the jury could infer that HAAG’s reports were not objectively prepared, that the insurer was aware of HAAG’s lack of objectivity, and that the insurer’s reliance on the reports was merely pretextual.

That claim reaffirmed the long-established idea that insurance companies cannot expect their experts’ reports alone to shield them from bad faith liability.

Insurance companies commonly deny claims.  Here are some of the biggest rationales of the insurance industry:

1. Routinely adjusts valid claims with a predisposition of denial instead of paying it.

2. They routinely obscure the truth to their insured(s).

3. They routinely low-ball their insured(s).

4. They routinely "drag their feet" in paying justified claims when all the facts and evidence merit prompt payment.

5. They routinely force their insured(s) into litigation - and why not? They have an army of attorneys in any given state and it's often cheaper to fight/deny the claim(s) than to pay it/them.

6. They routinely "force" their insured(s) to retain counsel to represent their interests in the litigation process.

Roof Insurance Claims in Texas

It pays to have us on your roof with an insurance adjuster

Did you know that most insurance claims in the U.S. are grossly underpaid? Even worse, many legitimate claims are completely denied. This doesn't necessarily mean that your insurance company is out to cheat you. However, when it comes to spotting roof damage, we've spent a lot more time on rooftops than even an insurance adjuster.  

Elite Roofing Solutions technicians know what to look for regarding roof damage and may be able to see problems that the adjuster doesn't. We have worked with many insurance adjusters over the years and take a non-adversarial approach when talking with them. Let us represent you.

Hail damage

Let’s say you have hail damage on your roof. A common practice for insurance companies is to mark a 10’ x 10’ square and count the number of hail marks. However, the section of roof they choose to measure can have a big impact on whether you get a new roof or your claim gets denied.

Unnecessary Claims

Let's say you think you have a claim, so you call your insurance agent. After an inspection they decide that the damage is minimal and the insurance company will only cover the repair or won't cover the claim at all.  Had you already known this, it may have made more sense to just pay out-of-pocket for the damage or ignore the problem completely. 

However, now that a claim has been filed, that information will likely be added to your CLUE report[1], which is a history of property-damage claims that could result in a rate increase or affect your ability to buy affordable insurance in the future.   If you suspect roof damage, call Elite Roofing Solutions first. We'll inspect the damage and offer a recommendation regarding contacting your insurance company.

We can help even if the insurance adjuster has already made a decision

It’s best if we can represent you during the initial inspection. However, if your claim was rejected and you think you have a legitimate claim, let us take a look at the damage. If we don’t agree with the adjuster’s investigation, we’ll recommend a second inspection. Rarely will they refuse, but the claim handler may ask for photos of the damage. 

We’d be happy to take the photos for you and forward them to the decision-maker.

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[1] CLUE stands for Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (insurance); The C.L.U.E. Personal Property report provides a seven year history of losses associated with an individual and his/her personal property. The following data will be identified for each loss: date of loss, loss type, and amount paid along with general information such as policy number, claim number and insurance company name.

Commercial Roofing: Evaluating Your Roof

Identifying signs of potential commercial roofing problems before leaks begin will save time and money.

Sometimes signs of a roof problem are obvious, such as the edge flashing tearing away or peeling back. Once this happens, you should know to immediately contact a roofing professional like Roofing Professionals of Texas.   Below are common types of commercial roofing and problems that indicate roof leaks or conditions that could signal the potential for leaks. If you observe these signs of trouble, contact a roof professional to help determine next steps. For guidance on choosing a roofing professional like Roofing Professionals of Texas, please see Hiring a Roofing professional like Roofing Professionals of Texas. For information about metal coverings on a parapet wall or expansion joints, please see “Evaluating Flashing and Coping.”

Commercial Roofing

Built-Up Roof (BUR)/Modified Bitumen (MB):

INSPECTION CHECKLIST

If any of the following conditions are present, see section D (Water Damage) below.

·         Bubbles / blisters;

·         Ridges – membrane blisters in longitudinal form;

·         Cracks in the membrane;

·       Excessive wear around connections to parapet walls and connections to penetrations through the roof such as hatches or curbs for roof equipment;

·         Tears and punctures through one or more layers of the cover;

·         Long-term standing water – evident by the presence of mold or vegetative growth;

·         Excessive weathering resulting in loss of embedded gravel for BUR;

·         Excessive weathering resulting in loss of granules for MB;

Single Ply Membrane (SPM):

INSPECTION CHECKLIST

If any of the following conditions are present, see section D (Water Damage) below.

·         Membrane tenting / shrinkage – pulling away from the edges

·         Excessively loose membrane

·         Worn seams

·         Brittle membrane or adhesives used to repair seams

·         Membrane tears, punctures, cuts

·         Gaps in membrane

·         Mechanical fasteners / screws “stand-off” or backing out

·         Long term standing water – evident by the presence of mold or vegetative growth

Sprayed Polyurethane Foam (SPF):

INSPECTION CHECKLIST

If any of the following conditions are present, see section D (Water Damage) below.

·         Excessive weathering (which can erode the SPF or caused loss of the acrylic coating)

·         Long-term standing water – evident by spot loss of acrylic coating or the entire SPF

·         Tears and punctures through one or more layers of the interplay

Water Damage – BUR, MB, SPM, SPF:

Signs you could have a water damage problem:

·         Visible water damage from below a roof deck will depend on the type of roof cover system and roof deck, as well as the amount of damage. Some roof cover systems can absorb an extensive amount of water. Prolonged trapped moisture can result in corrosion and premature degradation of the deck.

·         Gypsum, wood, and cementitious wood decks with roof leaks will show water stains on the underside of the deck.

·         Steel, lightweight insulating concrete on steel form deck, and concrete decks will not show early visible signs.

·         Even if roof leaks are not visible from below in a monolithic deck such as a structural concrete slab, prolonged roof leaks may eventually be visible along a perimeter wall or by spauling from the bottom surface. This will depend on the size of the leak, duration, and location relative to the slope of the roof to the wall.

Metal Panel (Structural):

STANDING SEAM METAL PANEL

Roof Inspection Checklist: If the answer to any of these questions is “yes” there is a potential problem.

·         Is there deformation or bending of the standing seams?

·         Is there any delamination or opening of the standing seam?

·         Are there visible leaks near the clip screws penetrating the deck?

·      When fiberglass batt insulation is present below the metal panels, are there water stains?

NOTE: Even if roof leaks are not visible from below, prolonged roof leaks may eventually be visible along a perimeter wall. This will depend on the size of the leak, duration, and location relative to the slope of the roof to the wall.

Lap Seam / Through Fastened Metal Panel:

Roof Inspection Checklist: If the answer to any of these questions is “yes” there there is a potential problem.

·            Are there worn gaskets / washers between screw heads and the metal panel?

·         Are there under-driven screws (sticking up) that could allow water to penetrate between the screw and panel?

·         Are there overdriven screws (too far in) that are deforming the gasket / washer?

·            Are there visible leaks near the screws penetrating the deck?

·            When fiberglass batt insulation is present below the metal panels, are there water stains?

NOTE: Even if roof leaks are not visible from below, prolonged roof leaks may eventually be visible along a perimeter wall. This will depend on the size of the leak, duration, and location relative to the slope of the roof to the wall.

Water Damage – Metal Panel (Structural):

If the roof has any of the above conditions in Section E, contact Roofing Professionals of Texas 469-906-2600.