Wind Damage Claim Adjustment

Incredibly, policyholders permit this sort of foolishness to happen on most wind claims, day in and day out. For the majority of us it’s human nature to be mindful and cautious of scams, we even count our “change” at the grocery store checkout line, as well as diligently check over our restaurant receipts to see if our waiter tried to add food or drinks we really didn’t order.

We all do such things and don’t even realize it. Surprisingly, we will go totally out of our way to calculate and value the “small potatoes” in life. However, when a claim contains tens-of-thousands and even hundreds-of-thousands of dollars in damages, we will confide in an insurance adjuster that ultimately is calculating damages for BOTH SIDES of the wind claim.

Where would you expect and believe that adjuster’s loyalty and commitment will be? To you, or the insurance company they work for?

No individual is as in tune or knows your property like the owner does. Really, who knows your property better than you?

In a wind damage situation there are things needed to prepare and properly calculate for the claim. In most cases, items and details are omitted or missed by the adjuster, the property owner, and their contractor during the claim process.

Each is an expert at their own job or career. Is your adjuster a roof expert? Costly mistakes are made by insurance adjusters on a daily basis.

Now imagine your entire claim is all prepared and calculated solely by a representative of your insurance company.

Your insurance adjuster doesn’t really know everything about your home or building. If you have suffered water intrusion, the adjuster doesn’t really know everything about your contents (furniture, clothing, etc.) like you do.

How can an insurance company adjuster possibly be as accurate about your property and belongings than you? In addition, just because the insurance company sends an adjuster to visit and inspect your property for wind damage, does not automatically make them an expert builder, contractor, or even certified in wind damage restoration.

A strong wind storm can displace, rip, and totally tear off all types of roof coverings and shingles, which leaves your roof compromised and ineffective at repelling water. A 3-tab roof (the most common type of roof shingle) that has been damaged by high winds loses its ability to effectively shed water and protect your building from water intrusion. Long-term exposure to exterior elements on a roof that has been compromised by wind can lead to wood rot and even be structurally compromised. More importantly, small leaks can lead to wet insulation, mold, and attract rodents. All of which is not covered by your insurance unless you report your wind damage in a reasonable time frame. If your home has been hit by a wind storm and you have asphalt shingles, a metal roof, flat roof on a commercial building, stone, tile, etc. you’ll want to have your roof inspected as soon as possible.

Wood, vinyl, and aluminum siding can be displaced, detached and of course torn completely off the building. Splits and cracks that are parallel to the siding along the wood grain of both wood and vinyl siding can happen when the wood bounces, vibrates, or flutters in the wind.

Chipping, gauging, and dents can happen to both wood and vinyl as well. A chip is when a small piece of the siding has been broken off, typically at the edges or at the bottom of a siding panel ridge, where the siding has no inward flexibility to absorb wind loads or a direct hit from wind blown debris. On vinyl siding such damage can best seen when looking up, from the bottom of the panel.

High or severe wind loads can cause flying debris to puncture directly through the siding panels allowing rain water to enter the building. This water intrusion can affect sheathing, insulation and even been seen from the interior. If neglected behind the walls mold and fungus can cause severe rot and damage over time.

The most common finish on building is paint. Flying debris from strong winds can cause paint to chip, crack, peels and become discolored, many times in large sections. After a severe windstorm you may notice small black marks on your paint as well.

The force of the wind can turn rain into a pressure washer severely affecting your paint finish. All these damages can occur on all painted surfaces like, roofing, siding, soffits and fascias, windows, doors, decks, railings, fencing, and patios to name a few.

Although stucco is typically resistant to moderate weather conditions, elevated or severe windstorms can cause serious damage. The most common damage to stucco is dents and holes punched into the surface. Some holes will be larger and easy to see, however, it’s the smaller ones that will require attention and a much closer inspection to be detected. Stucco damage is a serious issue that compromises the exterior of the building. Water intrusion behind stucco can cause serious, long term damages.

Unless obvious damage has occurred, almost all owners of brick structures overlook damage to the brick until it is too late to submit a claim. While brick holds up well to most wind damage, it can become detached from the building from the direct force of wind. The brick-ties that secure brick to a building is very flimsy, thin, and rather weak. The wind force can bed these ties behind the wall causing the brick to flex. Eventually the compromised brick-ties will snap, rip or break causing the brick wall to collapse. A very costly situation that would have been covered by your property insurance if it was reported.

• Deposit Your Claim Checks. It is Your Money…
• Document Your Loss & Stay Organized

A mistake that policyholders make is that they are under the impression that if they deposit a claim check they received from their carrier, they’re accepting that claim amount as a settlement. This is not the case. In reality you actually have up to three (3) years from the date of loss to submit a claim. In addition, you can even ADD missed damages to an existing claim within the same three (3) year period. So, by having your existing claim or even a claim that has already been closed or settled by your carrier, reviewed by a wind damage claim professional will ensure you have been fully compensated. Additional claim proceeds can even be obtained if your property or building has been demolished or even leveled tot he ground by high winds.

It’s a fact, even if your wind claim has had several payments and all proceeds from your carrier has been deposited, or your home or building has been demolished and removed, you can still obtain additional claim proceeds from any and all items that were missed, not addressed properly, along with items that were previously underpaid. As with most insurance claims, property damaged by wind will see tens-of-thousands, or even hundreds-of-thousands of dollars more than the carrier has already paid can be are recovered. Yes, even long AFTER your claim has been closed. Even if you feel that you have received a fair claim settlement… you usually have not.

Although true, it’s the policyholder’s responsibility to take action and do their part to protect themselves. You’re doing that now by reading up on what to do. Here are a few wind claim tips to help your thought process during your wind claim and/or after your claim has been closed.

Most of the time high winds from a windstorm, thunderstorm, hurricane, or tornado, may not appear to have damaged the roof and siding from the ground. Surprisingly, even roofers, adjusters, and engineers will often miss significant wind damages even when they climb the roof. Why? Lazy, undetailed, and/or improper inspections. It’s for this reason to have your roof inspected by an unbiased, professional to find windstorm related damages. A professionals goal will be to seek and find all related damages. Looking for cracks, gouges or tears that affect the roof tabs and siding direct wind damage or from flying debris. High wind activity will also rip, tear, and crack many types of roofing and siding. Such affects on the siding and roof can often allow water entry.

Wind activity and flying debris will often damage window glass or seal failure. Seal failure is when you see a fog between the panes of glass. Ripped screens, dented or gaged window trim, and/or dented aluminum trim can also be affected. Other issues normally missed are cracks to shutters and displaced, detached or dented gutters.

Masonry should be inspected for splits and separation. Property damage by tornadoes or windstorms can also cause displacement and uplift to footings and foundations. Your foundation perimeter and crawlspaces should be inspected for such damages. Severe structural damage will often remain unseen.

Extreme storms can cause splitting to the corners of walls. Such stress cracking can also be seen around doors and window openings of the interior. It’s a good idea to check for shifting of flooring and the movement of walls using a level. In the following weeks and months it’s also highly recommended to look out for water stains and mold on walls and ceilings. Such stains could indicate roof damages that have been overlooked.

Windstorms will rack or shake a home or building. Policyholders should open all faucets in kitchens and baths, then open and inspect all cabinets to check the plumbing lines for leaks. Continue by flushing all toilets, run showers and fill all bathtubs with water. Investigate the ceilings below these areas for water marks .