So last night's storm did a number on my roof... shingles everywhere, and there's a pretty noticeable leak now in the attic. I've never had to deal with insurance for something like this before, and honestly, I'm dreading the paperwork and back-and-forth. Is it usually worth it to go through insurance for roof repairs, or am I better off just biting the bullet and paying out of pocket? Curious if anyone's been through this recently.
"I've never had to deal with insurance for something like this before, and honestly, I'm dreading the paperwork and back-and-forth."
Totally get why you're hesitant about the insurance route—paperwork can be a real headache. But have you considered getting a quick estimate first? Sometimes the damage looks worse than it actually is, and if the repair cost ends up being close to your deductible, it might not even be worth filing a claim. I had a similar situation last year after a nasty hailstorm. Thought my roof was toast, but after getting a couple of quotes, it turned out to be manageable enough that I just paid out of pocket. Saved me from dealing with higher premiums down the road too.
Have you checked your policy details yet? Might be worth seeing exactly what your deductible is before making any decisions...
"Sometimes the damage looks worse than it actually is..."
Haha, ain't that the truth. Roofs can be drama queens after storms—mine looked like a disaster zone last spring, but turned out to be mostly cosmetic. Hang in there, paperwork sucks but you'll get through it.
Haha, roofs do have a flair for the dramatic sometimes. Last summer, I got called out to a place where the homeowner was convinced the roof was toast—shingles scattered everywhere, looked like a war zone. Climbed up there expecting the worst, but turned out most of the damage was superficial. A few shingles replaced, some minor patching, and it was good as new. Insurance can be a headache, but it's worth at least getting someone who knows roofs to take a look first...could save you hassle down the line.
