Wind, hail, ice dam, fallen tree. We tarp first to stop the water, then walk you through the insurance claim. Most West Michigan storm damage is covered by homeowners policy, you pay the deductible and we handle the rest.
If a storm just hit and your roof is damaged, here is the order:
The damage we see after a typical West Michigan storm event:
The insurance side scares most homeowners more than the damage itself. Here is the actual flow:
Most West Michigan storm claims we handle settle within 30 to 60 days from claim filing to final payment. The number-one thing that delays a claim is poor documentation, which is exactly what we fix by being involved from day one.
In most cases, yes. Standard Michigan homeowners policies cover wind damage, hail damage, and damage from falling trees or branches. The deductible applies but the rest is typically paid by insurance. We document the damage with photos, provide an itemized scope, and work with your adjuster to get the claim approved.
Call us first. We do a free damage assessment with photos before any insurance claim is filed. If the damage is minor and below your deductible, filing a claim hurts you. If it’s a clear claim-worthy situation, we help document and file. Filing without knowing the scope can cost you premium increases on a claim that wasn’t worth filing.
Same day in the GR metro during business hours, often same evening if weather allows. Outside the metro (Holland, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, Lansing) typically next-business-day. Tarping stops the immediate water damage even when the full repair is scheduled later.
Common, especially on first-pass adjuster scopes. We file a supplement with documentation showing what was missed. Most West MI insurance carriers approve reasonable supplements within 7 to 14 days. If they refuse, you have escalation paths through the carrier or the Michigan Department of Insurance.
Yes. We meet adjusters on-site whenever you want us there. The conversation between contractor and adjuster on the roof typically gets the scope sized correctly the first time and prevents the supplement back-and-forth.
Sometimes, depending on the policy and the manufacturer. Many shingle manufacturers refuse to warranty a partial replacement because mixing new shingles with weathered ones voids the warranty on the new ones. That fact, properly documented, often justifies full replacement under the policy. We’ve had this argument win and lose, depends on the carrier.