Colorado Roof Replacement - A Complete Guide for Homeowners
Being a homeowner means dealing with all kinds of different home repairs, some expected and some unexpected, like roof replacement.
Will My Insurance Cover Colorado Roof Replacement?
Home insurance typically covers acts of nature, such as damage from wind, hail, hurricane, tornado, ice damage, earthquakes, or a tree falling on the house. However, it is important that homeowners read their policy because coverage can vary by insurance company. Scenarios that insurance will not cover is if the damage to the roof comes from animals, lack of proper maintenance, construction defects or normal wear and tear. Insurance can also deny a claim if the roof is over a certain age or if the homeowners would like to reroof due to purely aesthetic concerns.
When it comes time to have your home’s roof replaced, the experience doesn’t have to be hard or stressful. This article covers all the important things to know about roof replacement.
How To Know When it is Time for Roof Replacement in Evergreen, CO?
Most homeowners don’t get up on their own roofs very often, so it can be hard to know when your roof is in need of replacement. There are a few easy ways to know if your roof might be in need of replacement. Here are 5 signs to look for:
Is there weather damage to other pieces of your home or items on your property? If your patio furniture, gutters, mailbox, or your car have hail damage, chances are that your roof does also.
Are your neighbors replacing their roofs after a big storm? If your area has been hit with hail or other extreme weather, it is unlikely that your house escaped unscathed. If the neighbors’ roofs have weather damage, yours could as well.
What is the age of your roof? Roofing materials typically carry a warranty of 20 to 40 years, depending on the type of roof. If your roof is older than the length of the material warranty, then a reroof may be in order.
Are you getting solar panels installed? It is normal for solar panel installers to suggest a reroof before installation. This is typically done for financial reasons, since it is expensive to remove and replace the solar panels.
Are you selling your home? A new roof can go a long way towards increasing your home’s value, especially when a Colorado roofing contractor uses high quality materials like Class 4 shingles.
If you are in the market for a new roof, get in touch with Troost Roofing! Troost is the premier residential roofing contractor that services Denver and the Front Range mountain areas such as Golden, Evergreen, Idaho Springs, Clear Creek County, Aspen Park, Conifer, Pine, Bailey, Shawnee, Fairplay, Como and the surrounding areas. Call any time to receive a free quote.
How Do I Get Insurance to Pay for Colorado Roof Replacement?
Generally, insurance will cover the cost of a new roof if the damage is caused by a sudden act of nature. If you live in Evergreen, CO, the most likely scenarios that you will face are hail storms, ice damage, strong winds, or trees falling on your roof. For the most part, Colorado does not get that many tornadoes. However, if your neighborhood gets unlucky and such a weather event touches down, insurance usually covers that.
Please note that coverage can vary by insurer, so the specifics will depend on your home’s policy.
Step 1: Roof Inspection by an Adjuster
The first step to getting insurance to cover your roof replacement is to call your insurance company or your agent. They will assign an adjuster to the case. This adjustor will schedule a time to come out and take a look at your roof.
Some adjusters are homeowner advocates who will properly document the damage to your roof and assist you in getting a check to fund the replacement. Some homeowners have gotten unlucky and the adjuster assigned to their case has the company’s bottom line in mind and does not advocate for them. If this happens, you have a few options for recourse.
Option 1 is that you can contact your insurance company and ask for a re-inspection or a different adjuster.
Option 2 is that you can contact Troost Roofing for assistance. If it comes to this, Troost’s owner will meet the adjuster at your home and advocate for you. The Troost team has lots of experience helping homeowners get the most out of their insurance coverage. If this occurs, Troost’s owner can point out damage that the adjuster might have missed and use his expertise to help the adjuster understand the long-term impacts of seemingly minor damage.
Step 2: The Claim is Approved
When the adjuster finds that a sudden act of nature caused damage to the roof, the insurance company will approve the claim for your Colorado roof replacement.
The process varies slightly depending on the insurance company. Generally, your insurance will send you a check that covers a percentage or the full amount of your claim.
Step 3: Hiring a Colorado Roofing Contractor
At this point in the process, you can hire a residential roofing contractor like Troost. When you work with Troost, our team will schedule a call to discuss the specifics of your home. The important items discussed during your call can include:
Square footage of your home and if you have any additional buildings on the property (ie sheds, detached garage, etc)
Roofing material and color
If you would like to upgrade to Class 4 impact resistant shingles (which are the gold standard and may qualify you for a discount on your homeowners insurance)
If you require replacement of anything beyond the roof, such as gutters, chimney caps, or skylights
The timeline to complete the job
The total cost of the work
If you’re not sure about color or materials, Troost can walk you through your options and make recommendations. Most roofing materials have Class A fireproofing and lengthy warranties, so your choice in material really comes down to color and personal preference.
Step 4: Troost Replaces Your Roof
Roof replacements in Evergreen typically take 1 to 5 days, depending on the size of your home. During this time, homeowners should go about their usual activities. There is no need to leave your home, board your pets, or keep your pets inside. If you have dogs, the Troost team will ensure that all gates remain latched to prevent any furry friends from escaping.
The only potential inconvenience is that Troost will need use of your driveway during the day for the duration of the job. You may need to park inside your garage or on the street while the roof is being replaced.
After the roof is done, the Troost team will thoroughly clean up after themselves. A final inspection will be done to ensure that the roof was installed per code.
Step 5: Homeowner Receives a Check for the Rest of the Claim
Upon completion, Troost will send you an invoice as well as issue a warranty for the labor. You will submit that invoice to your insurance, who will then send you a check to cover the rest of the claim.
Now you get the peace of mind of a beautiful new roof!
If you chose Class 4 impact resistant shingles for your reroof, you should let your insurance company know. The Class 4 rating is the best rating one can achieve. It may extend the lifespan of your roof by being more durable to future acts of nature. Depending on your insurance company, you may qualify for a discount on your insurance.
What Are Red Flags to Look for in Residential Roofing Contractors?
Colorado roof replacement is one of the larger expenses related to being a homeowner, so it’s important that you do your due diligence when choosing a contractor. It may be inadvisable to go with the lowest bid or to choose a random result of Google without doing a little research.
Here are 5 ways to vet a Colorado roofing contractor being hiring them:
Reviews
Check reviews on homeowner advocate websites like BBB, Angi (formerly Angie’s List), and Porch. Good reviews are a green flag in the company’s favor. If there are negative reviews, see how the company responded and check the reviewer’s profile to see if they are a legitimate customer or competition.
Reasonable Cost
Cheaper isn’t always better. If you’ve ever shopped on Temu and been sent an item that broke in a day or was the wrong size, you probably understand this. When it comes to maintaining your home, the investment is worth it for longevity. Don’t go with the cheapest option; go with the Colorado roofing contractor that does high quality work.
Material Quality
When you get the proposal for the job, read through it to see what materials will be used. Homeowners should specifically look for Grace Ice & Water Shield for their Colorado roof replacement; it’s the best product on the market for protecting your home against leaks and ice damage. If a contractor isn’t specifically using Grace, that may be a sign that they are cutting corners. When a home isn’t weather sealed with a good ice and water shield, it can lead to costly problems down the line.
Payment Timeline
Be weary if a contractor asks for the entire payment up front before any work is completed. This could be a scam designed to target homeowners. It is also a red flag if a contractor wants you to pay in cash or only have a verbal agreement without a legal contract. Contracts are an industry standard that protect the homeowner and outline what work is to be completed in detail.
When you work with Troost, you do not have to pay any money up front. You only pay when all the work has been completed to the standard set by city and county guidelines.
Warranties
There are 2 types of warranties in the roofing industry: the manufacturer warranty and the contractor warranty.
The manufacturer warranty comes from the company that manufactures the roofing materials. The exact length of the warranty can vary by company, the specific product, and the type of shingle. For example, a standard warranty may cover labor costs for the first 10 years if any of their products are defective and require replacement. After that 10 year period, the warranty is prorated. Homeowners also get wind damage and algae resistance coverage.
As a homeowner, it is recommended that you check which materials were used in your reroof then register your warranty with the manufacturer. For most manufacturers, the warranty can be transferred if you sell your home. If any of the materials don’t hold up as promised, you can submit a claim to have them replaced.
Contractor warranties cover all the labor associated with installing the roof. It is standard for Colorado roofing contractors to issue a warranty upon completion of the job. If a contractor does not offer warranties, that can be a red flag.
Troost Roofing offers workmanship warranties on top of the manufacturer warranty. However, workmanship warranties are only for a complete Colorado roof replacement or the re-roof of a section of the house, not for spot repairs.
Contact Troost Roofing Today for a Free Estimate
Troost Roofing is the leading expert in Colorado roof replacement. If your roof needs a spot repair or complete replacement, give us a call!
