Homeowner Insurance

1mancrew

Background: After the wind from Ike came through I replaced approx. a bundle of shingles for a homeowner whose 3 tab roof was wind damaged. While doing repairs I discovered that she has 2 layers of asphalt shingles on top of cedar shakes.

I recieved a call last night that she had more damage from the wind that went through here last week. She said that some more of the old shingles were laying in here yard and she needs to make another insurance claim. Even though the top layer of shingles look like they have held up pretty good they have been up there for 20 years. I haven't been there to check out her roof yet.

My questions are: If she has enough damaged shingles to warrant an insurance claim to replace her roof, is it legal to write two estimates, one for replacing top layer of shingles for the insurance company without mentioning what really needs to be done to the roof and the other estimate for the home owner including sheeting install? I just don't want her to loose any monies that the insurance company may pay her.

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bwalley

You can write up the bid with a break down of what you are bidding on, the insurance adjuster will look at it and figure out what they are responsible for under the guidelines of the HO's policy.

Since you would be writing a lower bid for the client to show the insurance company, that wouldn't be an issue, but when people start writing a higher bid for the insurance company and then doing the work for a lower amount for the HO, that is when they are commiting insurance fraud, which is a Felony, i am not saying or implying that is what you are doing.

People have no problem trying to get contractors to help them get a large claim check from their insurance company, yet many times they won't hire the contractor to do the work.

One client I had did that, I gave them a bid for work, because their house was struck by lightening, they had me bid the whole job, the check came with both of our names on it and I endorsed it for the client and they hired me to fix just the roof, then the insurance company sent me a 1099, so I had a 1099 for over $10,000 yet I did less than $1,000 worth of work.

dougger222

You should have tried to push the insurance company first time around that a repair on a 20 year roof was not feasable.

You can have the home owner sign a conditional contract if the roof is approved you get the job.

I would just write one estimate to do the full roof replacement and run with it with the insurance company. Make sure to remind them that they were just out for wind damage and they will be out again if the whole roof is not replaced. Next time the wind may be worse and it may blow off more shingles and there might be some rain which may enter the house and cause some serious damage.

If there is gapping in the decking under the cedar shingles the insurance company should be liable to go over with solid sheating.

If you are an inc or llc you don't have to worry about those 1099's.

You should meet the adjuster on site and go over everything with him. If they are willing to pay for a full replacement then start lifting shingles showing him the second layer of asphalt, cedar shingles, and finally if there is gapping in the decking. After everything is figured out then send an estimate to the insurance company.

1mancrew

My main concern was the insurance company trying to get out of paying anything for the damaged shingles if they found out that her last roof install was installed incorrectly. Thanks for the input. As long as it doesn't snow tonight I will be on her roof in the morning to see how much visible damage there is since the last storm. From the info I have recieved I will just write up an assestment so she can start the claim process. I will also meet with her adjuster and then we can figure out where to go from there. Thanks again for the great info!

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dougger222

I had one last year with two asphalt layers on top of shakes on top of spaced sheating. The home owner knew the roof was bad so called me for a quote as I had done her boyfriends roof across the street a few years prior. Found a few missing shingles on an eave so met with the adjuster. The adjuster was a part time roofer and commented on the fact that the nails used to install the third top layer were only 1.25 inches long. On the front slope were there were no missing shingles but you could see were they shingles had cracked and split from eave to peak in the middle. The adjuster snapped a few pics and within a week a check was in the home owners mail box to replace the whole roof.

The fact remained the same no matter how the shingles were installed. Missing shingles on a 18 year roof meant a new roof.

Ed the Roofer

Get a contract signed with her first, even if it is contingent upon the scope of work being approved by the adjuster.

Then, there is no negotiation between what your prices are and what the adjuster will try to mark them down for, with many unwitting contractors who are just desperate to get a job signed, for whatever scope and value that they can.

Ed

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1mancrew

Thanks Ed...I will pick up shingle samples from my supplier in the morning and get that ball rolling as well. The good thing about it is I am not hurting for work or in a pinch so if it doesn't pay what is required I will just go on to another job. I stay busy enough already but since she is already a client I will try to keep her that way.
Dougger...from what I have ran across in the past for this area I would highly doubt that this home sheating isn't gapped. I think while I am out them, I get in the attic and take pictures from the underside of the sheating so I can give her a solid bid and also have copies for the meeting with the adjuster.

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