That “cosmetic” thing bugs me too—if water can get in, it’s not just about looks. Did your insurance actually cover any of the rot, or did they call that “maintenance”? I keep hearing mixed stories about what’s covered and what isn’t.
That “cosmetic” thing bugs me too—if water can get in, it’s not just about looks.
Honestly, I hear this a lot, but I think some folks are missing how insurance companies look at it. They’ll almost always call rot “maintenance” unless you can prove the storm directly caused it. Even then, if there’s any sign it started before, they’ll push back. Did you have any photos from before the storm? That’s usually what makes or breaks a claim in my experience. It’s frustrating, but I get why they draw the line—they’re not gonna pay for old leaks you never noticed. Still, if water’s coming in, it’s definitely not just cosmetic... that’s how mold and bigger problems start.
Yeah, insurance can be a real headache with this stuff. I had a rental where a tree branch punched right through the roof during a storm, and even then the adjuster tried to say the water damage “looked old.” Luckily, I had pics from a couple months before—otherwise, I’d have been stuck paying out of pocket. It’s wild how fast water can turn a small issue into a huge one... mold popped up in less than two weeks. Definitely not just cosmetic at that point.
That’s wild about the adjuster trying to call it “old” damage—how are you even supposed to prove otherwise unless you’re constantly snapping pics? I’m kinda paranoid now, honestly. I just bought my first place and storms here are no joke. Did you end up having to replace the whole roof, or just patch it? And how much did the mold cleanup run you? I keep hearing horror stories about that part being way pricier than people expect...
Yeah, that “old damage” thing gets tossed around a lot—makes it tough if you don’t have before pics. I’ve seen some folks just patch, but if the decking’s soaked or there’s mold, you’re looking at bigger work. Mold cleanup can get wild price-wise, especially if it’s in the attic or walls. Sometimes insurance covers less than you’d think... kinda depends on your policy and how fast you catch it.