If you’ve recently experienced storm damage to your home, the repair process can be nerve-wracking and stressful if you don’t know what to expect. Navigating insurance claims, damage assessment, small-print policies, and other details can feel overwhelming. Choosing a contractor that will take the necessary precautions to prevent further property damage is important to avoiding an even bigger headache and making sure you don’t have even more problems to deal with down the road.
Reputable roofing contractors who are dedicated to ensuring the safety of your home will take these five precautions to prevent further property damage.
Use Special Equipment to Protect Your Property
There are various types of equipment contractors can use to protect your property. Indy Roof & Restoration uses a piece of equipment called a Catch-All, which is a netting system that wraps around the more vulnerable parts of your home (e.g. windows, vegetation, garage doors) to keep debris from causing more damage during the roof installation process. Many contractors simply use a tarp, which isn’t breathable and can kill any vegetation you have around your home.
An Equipter can also be used to keep shingles from dropping into your yard during the roof installation. This is a driveable dumpster that fits more easily in areas that cannot be accessed from the driveway. Not only does it help cut down on manpower, but it also protects your yard and any shrubbery around your home.
Contractors should be willing to show you whatever property-protecting equipment they use onsite. If they don’t want to do this, it’s best to find a contractor elsewhere.
Offer More Durable Shingle Options
There are two main types of shingles: oxidized asphalt shingles (which are more common) and polymer modified shingles. If you do choose asphalt shingles, we recommend asphalt dimensional shingles, which are far more durable and comparable in cost. For example, dimensional shingles are typically rated for 110-130 miles per hour and last for 30-50 years depending on climate and make/thickness. Traditional 3-tab shingles are only wind-rated for about 60 miles per hour and 20-25 years. With a minimal cost difference, you can see why dimensional shingles are recommended!
An even better option, however, are polymer modified shingles. These look exactly the same, but they are made of a rubber compound that makes them more flexible. Because of this, they are typically rated as a high-impact shingle and can withstand things like hail and falling debris.
By installing higher quality shingles, your contractor can help protect your roof from further damage down the road. Plus, many insurance companies offer discounts for polymer modified shingles.
Offer Warranties on New Installations
Although you may have already received general information about warranties the contractor offers, you want to make sure that you really understand what each one covers before setting up the first work date. For manufacturer’s warranties, be sure to have the contractor explain the types of materials used to repair your roof or home.
Materials Warranty
The materials warranty the contractor offers you comes directly from the manufacturer. Each materials manufacturer has its own guidelines outlining when it will honor the warranty and any situations that would void the warranty. Your contractor must follow all instructions from the manufacturer, including how to install the roofing shingles or other material, in order for the warranty to remain valid. You have the right to see the manufacturer’s warranty and should ask to do so if the contractor doesn’t offer it first.
We also recommend confirming that your chosen contractor has received certification for the type of shingle installed as it allows for upgraded warranties. These contractors are more likely to follow the manufacturers installation requirements.
Workmanship Warranty
The second warranty is for the quality of the contractor’s workmanship. Just to give you an idea of the coverage period to expect, our company routinely offers five-year warranties on any work completed. In most cases, any problems that might arise happen within the first one to two years after repairs or new installation. We choose to offer a five-year warranty to give clients a chance to notice problems that they might not have seen at first.
Provide an Annual Roof Inspection
Many roofing contracting companies, including Indy Roof & Restoration, provide a free annual inspection after repairing or replacing a roof. Even if you don’t suspect damage, it’s better to schedule annual maintenance with prevention in mind than waiting until you see cracks, torn shingles, mold, or another common problem on your roof. Sometimes the first indication of a problem is when you feel a drop of water on your face while eating breakfast one day alerting you to the fact the roof is leaking.
When you wait until you already have roof damage before scheduling an inspection, it can be more costly to fix. Preventive maintenance gives contractors the opportunity to detect and repair small problems before they reach that point.
Bring Plenty of Experience to the Table
It’s important that the roofing contractor you choose has experience working with insurance claims and is able to communicate to you how they navigate that process. They should also be willing to stand in your corner, rather than taking whatever low-quality estimate the insurance sends out.
Roofing jobs that deal with storm damage and insurance providers are a completely different ballgame than other types of roofing projects, and your contractor should know those ins and outs so you get the best quality product you’re able to.
You should also choose a reputable contractor that has a stable footprint in your community so you can make sure they will still be around should you need to take advantage of the warranty in the future.
Trusted Roofing Contractor in Indianapolis
Indy Roof & Restoration has plenty of experience working directly with insurance providers and fighting for you, our customer. We offer exceptional service, quality workmanship, and products from trusted manufacturers that are tried and true by our local customers.
If you have recently experienced storm damage and would like to receive an estimate, or you would simply like more information about replacing or repairing your roof, call our team at Indy Roof & Restoration today!
