Roof damage in Austin due to hailstorm

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Roof damage in Austin due to hailstorm

Surendra Chawla
Singapore, Singapore · Member since 2018 · 57 posts · 11 votes

Hello,

The roof of my Pflugerville (Austin) home got damaged recently due to the hailstorm. My property manager sent me these pictures and i am now working with Statefarm for a roof replacement. Since we have a lot more experienced folks here, i wanted to ask 2 specific questions.

1. Looking at the pictures, do you think i should initiate a claim or continue with the current roof? I bought this brand new home from DR Horton in 2018, so the roof is new but for this hailstorm damage. 

2. If the answer is that i should get the roof replaced because Insurance will pay for it, then what kind of roof shall i go for? When i look online on the Statefarm website, i am not to figure out which one is the best hail proof option? Any tips/guidance here will be great.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers

Suren


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Ryan KellyBusiness Member
Real Estate Broker · Austin, TX · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
5y

@Surendra Chawla If you just have damage in a few places, I would simply replace those damaged shingles and not the full roof. I'd also leave my insurance out of it unless I'm planning to replace the full roof. Everytime you make a claim, you are also increasing the change your insurance rates will go up as well. This fix could be just a few hundred dollars for some new shingles.

[email protected]512-674-5478
Ryan Kelly Group - Keller Williams5110 Reviews
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  • Scott M.
    Real Estate Broker · Rochester Hills, MI · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y

    Questions:

    1. What is your deductable?

    2. How much will a new roof cost you?

    3.  Is the damage all over the roof or only the photos you shown?  If only this area why not patch it?

    4.  How long have you been paying on this policy?

    1Reply
  • Surendra Chawla
    OP
    Singapore, Singapore · Member since 2018 · 57 posts · 11 votes
    5y

    @Scott M. The pictures were sent by my property manager who took a roof inspector there to check the damage. I don’t live in Austin, so don’t know how much the damage is. He did say that it’s not urgent but worth changing the roof. I have been paying insurance premium for 3 years now and the deductible is 3%. I am yet to invite the quote court the roof, but it’s a 1440 sq ft home- so not massive.

    0Reply
  • Scott M.
    Real Estate Broker · Rochester Hills, MI · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y

    if you want to provide dollar amounts I think you will get better more useful feedback.  Saying it is 3% is meaningless as we don't know the dollars.

    For insurance the basic question is always how much are you getting vs how much is your insurance going to increase.  If the payout is 20K and your deductible is 1K you have a net of 19K the insurance co is paying.  That isn't free, they will charge you for it by raising your rates on all of your homes (and potentially other products through your insurance score) for many years to come.  

    Now you have real numbers to consider.  19K out of pocket VS 20K out of pocket, now you can make an edicuated decison (just remember, rates go up).

    If the fix is 2K and your deductible is 1K then it is a different story.  

    For most, there are clear times when to use insurance and when to pass.  The hard part is when it is in the gray area.  

    You have to have the numbers to answer this question.  You have to know the full extent of the damage and if you don't know you need to ask your PM.  Is that it?  Or is there more?  If more, show me.  What is the estimate to replace the 10 shingles you have shown VS to replace the whole roof etc.  If this is all there is, this is not an insurance claim and at most you need to replace those shingles.  

    Get more info from your PM to help you decide is my advice.  

    0Reply
  • Surendra Chawla
    OP
    Singapore, Singapore · Member since 2018 · 57 posts · 11 votes
    5y

    @Scott M. Got it, thanks Scott.

    0Reply
  • Ryan KellyBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Austin, TX · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    5y

    @Surendra Chawla If you just have damage in a few places, I would simply replace those damaged shingles and not the full roof. I'd also leave my insurance out of it unless I'm planning to replace the full roof. Everytime you make a claim, you are also increasing the change your insurance rates will go up as well. This fix could be just a few hundred dollars for some new shingles.

    [email protected]512-674-5478
    Ryan Kelly Group - Keller Williams5110 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    2Reply
  • Stephen Stokes
    Rental Property Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2016 · 317 posts · 257 votes
    5y

    @Ryan Kelly 100% agree and @Surendra Chawla let me know if you need a referral for repair guy I have a great one for north Austin.

    0Reply
  • Chris Matthias
    Member since 2020 · 7 posts · 4 votes
    5y

    @Surendra Chawla

    Absolutely go through your insurance for this.

    It will get replaced. Find the right contractor to deal with the claim process and make sure every line item is there to get the job done correctly and to code.

    Taking advantage early is best. Insurance companies are more willing to pay claims early on when storms hit. Also make sure to have gutters and downspouts checked (most likely have hail damage) and would be replaced also.

    Make sure they inspect all aspects of your property. Siding, garage door, windows.

    You doing this only adds tremendous value to the property.

    Hope this helps

    Good luck.

    0Reply
  • Joseph Byrnes
    Insurance Agent · Northern Virginia · Member since 2021 · 11 posts · 8 votes
    5y

    I agree with @Scott M. claims now on something you can fix cheep will bite you on your next property or when you renew your policy. Call your insurance agent and not the claims number. You should have a relationship with him/her/them where they know everything about your properties and should be able to advise you on what could happen. If they don't then you should switch you policy.

    0Reply
  • Seth Yarber
    Ogden, UT · Member since 2021 · 5 posts · 4 votes
    5y

    A good roofing contractor will make the experience better and often result in a full replacement. Filing a claim will not automatically result in your rates rising either. Rates are affected by many factors and in some cases, a new roof will cause your rates to go down as the home is deemed safer.

    As for a new roof, insurance will cover what is currently installed on the building and what you have is an architectural asphalt shingle. It is more durable than a standard 3 tab and should last 15-20 years.

    0Reply
  • Surendra Chawla
    OP
    Singapore, Singapore · Member since 2018 · 57 posts · 11 votes
    5y

    @Stephen Stokes sure Stephen. Kindly suggest if you have a trusted one. I am checking as well but if you have worked with a good/honest contractor, that will help.

    0Reply
  • Stephen Stokes
    Rental Property Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2016 · 317 posts · 257 votes
    5y

    @Surendra Chawla sent via PM

    0Reply
  • Jeff T.
    Rental Property Investor · Culver City, CA · Member since 2014 · 221 posts · 79 votes
    5y

    @Surendra Chawla

    Texas is different from most markets for insurance. I have relatives that have lived there and hailstorms are common and the specifics of insurance are very local.

    I would look for advice from locals as it seems you are doing. Even well intentioned people from out of state may give advice that would not be appropriate there.

    Good luck.

    0Reply
  • Reinaldo Lopez
    Inspector · Fort Lauderdale · Member since 2019 · 223 posts · 51 votes
    5y

    Hi, from the pictures they are not that bad, but it is a weak spot, monitor. All comments are excellent and the cost analysis is perfect, get couple estimates. Here on BP community the guys can provide you with some contractors they have used before, so you need the Austin investors to step forward. 

    Depending on the age and deductible it can be repair. Good luck.

    1Reply
  • John MorganPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Grand Prairie, TX · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y

    @Surendra Chawla

    I’d milk it for a few more years unless you have a leak. You’ll get a free roof regardless. Just claim it later. Maybe you can get 10 more years out of it. I had two roofs in Texas that had hail damage from over the years and just had them replaced last year. And always get a 1% deductible.

    0Reply
  • Surendra Chawla
    OP
    Singapore, Singapore · Member since 2018 · 57 posts · 11 votes
    5y

    @John Morgan I don’t have a leak yet. I also got the estimate from Statefarm and it’s about 18k for the replacement of the roof. And my share will be about $6400 out of that as my deductible on the current policy is 3%.

    Another thing I would like to check if repairs are possible on this kind of roof- my property manager says that “he is not aware of any company that would attempt to make repairs on a dimensional roof damaged like this”

    0Reply
  • John MorganPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Grand Prairie, TX · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Surendra Chawla:

    @John Morgan I don’t have a leak yet. I also got the estimate from Statefarm and it’s about 18k for the replacement of the roof. And my share will be about $6400 out of that as my deductible on the current policy is 3%.

    Another thing I would like to check if repairs are possible on this kind of roof- my property manager says that “he is not aware of any company that would attempt to make repairs on a dimensional roof damaged like this”

    I’d wait it out if there’s no leak. Get a 1% deductible on your policy at renewal time and claim it later. Have a roofer come out just to make sure it’s safe to milk it out for a few more years like it is. Or maybe just repair a few bad shingles.  

    0Reply
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