The 3 Most Important Steps To Follow If Your Roof Is Damaged

Are you a first-time homeowner? Do you know what you would do if you had trouble with your roof? A good roof can last for decades but strong winds and other factors can result in serious damage. If not fixed in a timely manner, these leaks can be disastrous and expensive due to interior damage as well as damage to the roof itself. Fortunately, knowing what to do can help to reduce the impact of a damaged or otherwise leaky roof. Some things that you should do to prepare for this possibility include the following.

Copy your homeowner's insurance policy: Most people will simply leave the envelope containing their homeowner's insurance in a secure location, such as in a safe or a plastic tote in the back of their closet. Having your insurance policy in a safe place is good but it's less useful if the room where the policy is being held happens to be one that gets damaged by a large tree branch falling onto it or that gets flooded by heavy rain. In order to start the process for any residential roof repairs, you'll need to contact your insurance company. You can't contact them if you don't remember who they are or what number to call. Scan a copy and email it to yourself so that you can access a copy anywhere or give a copy to a trusted friend or relative for safekeeping.

Cover the damage: The first thing that you should do after contacting your insurance company is to arrange for the damaged area to be covered by a tarp or similar materials. This will prevent future storms from causing any more damage to the inside of your home. Contact a local company that offers residential roof repairs and arrange for them to send someone out to do this. Even if they are currently busy, they should be able to send someone out within a day or so of your call. Having this done may cost you a few hundred dollars out of pocket right now, depending on the company you contact, but can save you a lot of time and hassle later.

Choosing a repair company: Once your insurance company has sent an agent out to assess the damage, you can begin to look for a company that does residential roof repairs to come out and to remedy the issue. Your insurance company may make suggestions as to who you should use but you don't have to use the company or companies that they say. If you choose to do so, that's fine, but you may also choose a different company that you feel has a better reputation or that can better get the job done.

For more information, contact a company like The Recommended Roofers. 

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