Today our CEO, Hillary Zeh, will discuss roof inspection photos. They are important at the beginning of the claim process as well as when it’s time to submit any roof supplements and requests. Hillary has years of experience with Georgia roof supplementing as well as providing supplements for other roofing contractors on a national level. She outlines some important tips below! For more information about the roof supplementing services we offer, visit our ABOUT page. Please note, we offer a FLAT RATE and never take a percentage of your claim!
Taking good inspection photos is imperative for the supplementing process but is also necessary when completing out of pocket projects as well. I have trained my own roof sales people and project managers to gather elevation photos showing all sides of the building (such as you would need for a Hover® report).
- Photos of all elevations – note and photograph any existing damage to the home (we have had to use these when a homeowner finally notices a damaged garage door or mark on their siding. Trust me, you’ll want these photos!)
- Photos of soffit. *Check for any exposed wood, damaged soffit, fascia, etc. *This can be supplemented to insurance on a LF or SF basis with the roof claim, just make sure to take measurements and document. Also pay extra attention to damaged fascia and ensure you note if it is wood or metal wrapped. This makes a big difference in pricing and who can actually do the repair work. Detailed arguments are necessary when submitting the roof supplement request for soffit and fascia items.
- Satellite Dishes: Always take note of satellite dishes that were installed on the roof surface. They will need to be removed and OSB repaired due to the damage that the installation causes. This is another item that our project managers discuss with homeowners, they will need to have their satellite dish reinstalled in an appropriate place after the roof replacement (and the roof ISN’T the place).
- Chimneys/Crickets: Chimneys will need to be evaluated and if crickets are code requirements in your area, make sure your project managers take note if there isn’t one. If the homeowner has code coverage, this can be a good item to supplement and leaves customers happy that you did. I recommend taking a photos of the width of the chimney with a tape measurer clearly indicating the width, this is an important item to include with the roof supplement.
- Pipe boots, vents, rain caps – note if they are painted (*we supplement for that!)
- When doing a hail damage claim, I always have project managers inspect for soft metal damage on gutters, downspouts, rain caps, power vents, etc. Adding these items routinely to the roof supplement will not only increase your project totals but also increase customer satisfaction and lead to more roofing referrals!
- Cornice strips and cornice returns. Again, photos are gold for supplementing. Cornice strips and returns are not part of the Xactimate® pricing for the roof replacement field shingle material and installation. The photos are necessary to also show the height, pricing is different based on single story or two story.
- Drip Edge: If possible, check for the presence of existing drip edge. It’s a great way to ensure you are paid for the REMOVAL and REPLACEMENT of this code item. Otherwise, most field adjusters won’t check and they default to paying to Replace only.
- Decking: On older homes, my project managers know to check in the attic for spaced decking. We are able to argue for full decking replacements when we can document that the spaces in the boards do not meet code requirements. This is best done by submitting a roof supplement before the existing roof is removed. I have successfully had this roof supplement request approved many times with most major insurance carriers (even the “bargain” brands with the bad reputations), Just remember, this is an argument relying on the existence of Code Coverage in the policy.
- Extra HIGH roofs, Roofs over 2 stories tall are my favorite to supplement! Document the height with thorough photos and make sure you are being paid appropriately for the additional equipment, safety measures and supervisor oversight to ensure OSHA requirements are met. We believe in the safety of our crews and everyone involved in our roof replacements, just be ready to express that to an adjuster pushing back. As part of our membership and flat rate supplementing service, I provide the proven arguments and reasoning that win over adjusters and supervisors (when necessary).
- Pools, Hot tubs, Fountains: Photograph and document how close these items are to the structure that is going to have the roof replacement. Special care must be given to properly cover and protect these types of items to ensure that costly damage is not created. This preparation work and clean up should be included in the roof supplement and paid by insurance as part of the roof replacement.