Insurance covered most of ours, thankfully, but the deductible still stung a bit.
"sometimes it's really not as bad as it looks"
Definitely true, but the initial estimates can give you a mini heart attack... Did you have to shop around much for quotes?
We lucked out with insurance too, but yeah, that deductible always bites harder than you expect. When we had storm damage a few years back, the first estimate was enough to make me choke on my coffee. I ended up getting three different quotes, and honestly, the range was wild—like thousands of dollars apart.
One thing I learned is that some contractors tend to pad their estimates after a big storm because they know everyone's desperate to get repairs done quickly. I found that smaller local outfits were usually more reasonable and upfront about costs. Also, if you're dealing with roof damage, it's worth considering upgrades like impact-resistant shingles or green roofing options while you're at it. Might cost a bit more upfront, but it can pay off big-time in durability and even lower insurance premiums down the road.
Anyway, glad your damage wasn't as bad as it looked initially... those first glances after a storm can be brutal on the nerves.
You're spot-on about contractors padding estimates after storms—seen it happen plenty of times. But I'd caution against automatically going for the lowest bid. Sometimes those cheaper quotes cut corners on materials or skip important prep work, and you end up paying more down the line. Definitely agree on impact-resistant shingles though; they're pricier upfront but can save you headaches (and cash) later. Glad your damage wasn't too severe... storm aftermath is stressful enough without surprise bills popping up.
"Sometimes those cheaper quotes cut corners on materials or skip important prep work, and you end up paying more down the line."
Exactly this. Had a contractor once who seemed like a steal, but turns out he skipped waterproofing under the siding... ended up costing double to fix the mold issues later. Lesson learned the hard way.
Totally agree with you there—seen this happen way too many times. Did your contractor even mention waterproofing beforehand, or was it just completely skipped without discussion? I've noticed some contractors assume homeowners won't notice missing prep work, especially after a storm when everyone's rushing to get repairs done. Always good to ask upfront about the exact materials and steps they'll take... saves headaches later on. Did insurance help at all with the mold issue, or were you stuck footing the whole bill yourself?