What Does Hail Damage Repair Cost?
Hail damage to roofs costs homeowners hundreds to thousands of dollars each year. When a roof has been damaged by hail, cost is usually the homeowner’s biggest concern. So how much does roof hail damage repair cost?
Can You Repair the Roof?
The biggest contributor to hail damage repair cost is how much work needs to be undertaken. Repairing a section of the roof is going to be cheaper than replacing the entire roof. The type of hailstorm will determine if a section can be repaired or an entire roof replacement is needed. Some hail damage will be isolated to one side or a section of the roof, a larger and stronger storm may scatter hail damage across the entire roof.
To determine whether the roof can be repaired or replaced, you should have a professional roof inspector make that call. Seawright Solutions employs reputable and experienced roof inspectors that can talk you through your options as to whether repairing the roof will suffice, or if you need an entirely new roof.
What Does Roof Repair or Replacement Cost?
Every repair job is different, which makes it hard to estimate costs, but we’ve done our best to provide some approximate figures. If the entire roof needs to be replaced, it can cost anywhere between $5,000 and $20,000. If it’s appropriate to repair sections of the roof, this can cost between $400 and $700 per “square”, which is a 100 square foot roofing section. This includes material, labor, underlayment, and flashing, but does not include extras for tearing off the existing roof. Total cost for repair is around $4,000 to $5,000 on an average-sized roof.
Will Homeowner’s Insurance Pay for Roof Repair?
The good news is that your homeowner’s insurance will typically cover the cost of repairing or replacing your roof due to hail damage. Homeowner’s insurance is there to protect you against losses in the value of your home due to issues that are beyond your control – hail damage is exactly that. You will have to pay the deductible and any extra expenses like replacing pieces of rotted roof decking.
If your roof has been damaged in a hailstorm, you should have it repaired or replaced immediately. Most insurance companies will have a statute of limitations for hail damage so in order to take advantage of your homeowner’s insurance policy, have the roof inspected and repaired as soon as possible. Delaying or waiting to repair your roof can also lead to further damage to your home, which your homeowner’s insurance may not cover due to negligence.
Beware of Hail Damage “Storm Chasers”
It’s a common occurrence for out-of-town roofing contractors to move into an area that has been affected with hailstorms. We saw this happen in northeast Columbia after an unusually damaging hailstorm in May 2014. These “storm chasers” are likely to go door to door soliciting business and offering fast turnarounds or lower prices. Although it may be tempting, these types of businesses are also rife with poor quality work and scams. Always check a contractor’s insurance, rating on the Better Business Bureau, online reviews, and where they operate. You’ll notice a pattern of changing business addresses, bad reviews, and possible court cases associated with disreputable contractors.
Contact Seawright Solutions
If you suspect hail damage to your home and roof, contact Seawright Roofing today. We are a local, Columbia SC roofing contractor who specializes in roof repairs and replacements. We’ll give you an honest opinion regarding the state of your roof and whether it needs repair or replacement. Check out our reviews at Guild Quality and we have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. We’re here to help!