Metal Roofs or Tile Roofs — often found on church and other faith congregation buildings — present a special category of property damage claim. Mainly because buildings covered by metal roofing systems or clay tiles cost so much more than the average asphalt shingle roof material used for residential housing.
Are you sure you know if your insurance policy would reliably cover the full cost of hail, water, wind, fire or storm damage to your tile or metal roofing system?
Very few people are aware of what’s covered in their policies and what could be denied, until after a crushing property loss has already occurred and the damage claim has been submitted. Small details in coverage can have a great impact on how damage claims are decided. It’s never been more important for policyholders to know exactly what they’re paying for.
For example, 15 to 20 years ago, mold remediation used to be a standard part of property loss damage claims. If a fire broke out and firefighters flooded your property to put out the fire and mold subsequently developed in water-soaked areas; the insurance company paid for the cost of mold remediation. But when those costs became too burdensome, the insurance companies started writing new amendments to existing policy coverage. In order to get coverage for mold removal, unexpectedly, insurance coverage had to be written into a separate endorsement which laid out all the specific requirements, inclusions and exclusions for what the company would and would not pay for in a damage claim.
That same kind of change may be happening now, to insurance policies covering roof damage. In the past, for example, insurance covered cosmetic damage to metal roofing. If the hail storm lasted long enough and pounded your property with large enough pellets, your adjuster would add up all the small dents, cavities, creases and cuts and that could qualify you for a full roof replacement.
In the wake of Hurricane Ian, however and after some other roof damage claims that we’ve seen earlier this year, the insurance professionals at Environmental And Restoration Services, Inc. are offering a free policy review and disaster contingency planning for members of all faith congregations. Earlier this year, we were able to obtain a full metal roof replacement for a congregation in Indianapolis, for hail damage, following a careful re-review of policy terms with the insurance company’s adjusters.
If you have the time for a phone call (or possible in-person) meeting and would appreciate a careful, no-cost review of your policy, contact Environmental And Restoration Services. Special clauses for steeples and belfries or other unique construction features may need to be listed in your coverage.
We put the congregation and people’s needs first. We hope to work with you to protect your budget and help you serve your faith mission without having to face unexpected disaster costs that no one ever took the time to plan for.
Office phone: 414-647-2212
Non-local number: 800-269-9911