Hey there, fellow Texans! Today, we've got a story that hits close to home for many of us, since we've all been through at least one of our notorious hail storms. Meet Lacey, a McKinney homeowner who loves living in North Texas. She never misses a Friday night football game with her kids and enjoys the downtown scene on the square. But Lacey's got a problem that's all too common in this state. The insurance adjuster told her that her roof isn't getting replaced because of the dreaded 'matching clause' in her homeowner policy. When they first told her, she wasn't sure what that was exactly. But now she is shaking her head wondering what is wrong with her standard homeowners policy that she bought a couple of years ago. Let's look at exactly what happened with Lacey and could happen with you!
When the hail storms come rolling through the plains of Texas, sometimes we get that sideways hail or high speed straight line winds. These conditions lend themselves to only damaging either a portion or up to half of your roof. If that's the case, a standard homeowners insurance policy in Texas will likely have an exclusion or condition that stipulates that the insurance company in only the hook to replace or repair damage to your roof with like kind materials. That means that even if your siding materials or shingles on your roof aren't made anymore, they don't have to provide you with an exact match or ensure a uniform appearance. That means that you could wind up with mismatched siding of a roof that has some cosmetic damage leftover after repairs are done. That won't look pretty at all.
Here's the scoop: Matching your siding and roof materials on your Texas home is more than just about looking pretty. It's about the value of your home and how insurance plays into this. Imagine that a hail storm hits, and only part of your roof is damaged. If your current policy won't cover the entire roof, it can leave you with a patchwork roof. This not only hurts your home's curb appeal but can also drop its market value. So, you're left with two choices: live with mismatched materials on your roof or pay out-of-pocket for a complete replacement. Neither sounds great, right? That's exactly what Lacey's facing.
Let's talk about the nitty-gritty of homeowners insurance policies. You've got many options for home insurance policies sold by different companies, and each comes with its own set of terms and conditions. What's important to know is that many of these standard home insurance policies may not include matching coverage, and they definitely vary in the types of roof replacement that they offer. While there are some standardized policy forms, getting a comprehensive homeowners insurance policy means that you are going to need to add what are known as endorsements. These endorsements can save you thousands of dollars in a hail claim situation. This is key information that Lacey, and you, need to understand to navigate these waters. What are the parts that you need to understand about roof coverage?
When it comes to Texas home insurance, understanding the difference between replacement cost (RCV) and actual cash value (ACV) is vital. Most Texans understand that RCV policies can cover the cost to replace your damaged roof, while ACV policies only pay out the amount due after depreciation has been removed. The tricky part in Texas is that coverage for replacement cost falls off when your roof hits a certain age between 10 and 20 years depending upon the company. But more importantly, you want to avoid a roof claim settlement provision written as "Roof Payment Schedule". This is a phrase that translates as actual cash value. They just changed the name to hide it!
Diving deeper into homeowners insurance, let's talk about coverage scope for siding and roof. This includes understanding your insurance deductible selections and levels of coverage. Remember, there are two deductible selections to keep in mind: "windstorm and hail deductible" and "other perils deductible." While they can be the same amount, it's also not uncommon for the two of them to be different. The other thing to be careful of is if your policy has named perils rather than open perils. If you have an open peril policy and the wind lifts the shingles allowing water to be driven into your attic space, that is likely not covered as well.
So now that we've given you a lot of bad news, let's look at how to successfully navigate the claims process. If you have an understanding of your policy coverage, you can be better equipped to anticipate claim issues or outrageous statements from your roofing contractor. It's about being prepared for the ins and outs of the claims experience and working in good faith with your assigned insurance adjuster who controls the process.
We always recommend getting an inspection of your roof and home done by an experienced, trustworthy roofing contractor prior to filing any homeowners insurance claims for hail damage. By doing this, you can skip the entire insurance claim process if the partial damage has repair costs below your hail deductible amount. Common repairs on small portions of your roof can easily be handled this way and save you having a claim on your home insurance record.
If your contractor confirms that you need to make a claim due to the scope of repairs, work with your insurance agent to get the claim filed and the process started. Once that is done the adjuster will schedule a time to meet and inspect the roof as well. If you are afraid of undamaged siding or undamaged roofing being an issue, it can make sense to have the roofing professionals there to help with making sure that everyone is on the same page.
If you need to utilize coverage due to a matching issue, you'll need proper documentation and information to support your claim. It will become very important to show that the materials required for repair will not match the undamaged portions of your roof or siding. Undamaged siding can have a higher barrier for approval since siding sizes can be matched and painted over. However, the undamaged shingles go out of production more frequently and tend to be more obvious in that curb appeal equation. Leverage your insurance agent, meet with adjusters, and get estimates for repairs. Just like Lacey, you'll need proof that your current siding or shingles are discontinued or unavailable to complete the claims process. Since this will increase the claim dollars that the insurance company will be paying out, it may take some extra time and effort on your part. It's important to understand that average home insurance claims in Texas do not leverage this, and therefore require a bit extra time.
One thing that can be overlooked when talking about claims for hail damage to roofs is that you always want to pair roofing & siding matching insurance coverage with replacement cost coverage to ensure comprehensive protection for your roof. These two endorsements on most standard home insurance policies will allow you to replace not just the damaged parts or your roof, but also the undamaged material to maintain uniform appearance of your entire roof. Always opt for replacement cost on your policy over a roof payment schedule whenever possible and insist that your roofer use quality materials during the work. As insurance costs continue to increase, it's important that you are getting maximum value out of your coverage for damage to your home. Lacey overlooked these two items when it came time to replace her roof, and it cost her dearly.
In Texas, hail storms are an ever present threat, and they can wreak havoc on your life and finances. That's why having an experienced independent insurance agent is key. They can help you navigate the complex world of home insurance and find solutions to protect you from financial losses due to weather-related events. The insurance industry seems to have it out for Texas homeowners lately, but your local, independent agent who focuses on the value that they provide will always have your back.
This is where Insurance For Texans comes in. They offer TRUE Texas Home Insurance, and their independent agents are dedicated to finding the best solutions for Texas homeowners. They understand the unique challenges we face and can tailor coverage to fit our needs.
Lacey's story is a cautionary tale for all of us Texans. Don't let mismatched roofing materials be the downfall of your home's value and appeal. Click the button below to get Matching Of Roof Materials on your home policy and avoid a two-tone roof!