Should I call my insurance or let the roofer try and repair the H20 damage from the rain?

Question

The licensed roofer tore off half my roof before the rain set in. He tarped it well, but not well enough because at 4:00 AM, my pregnant wife and I awoke to puddles of streaming water coming in the closet ceiling. The house was built in 1964. I'm not sure if asbestos or lead paint is an issue. Now there is damage in master bedroom closet, bedroom, hallway, bathroom and downstairs living room. The big questions are: is mold and mildew a concern? Can he just paint over the water stains or should he replace all the drywall, texture and paint? Or should I call my home insurance and let them make sure it done correctly? The contractor says he'll fix it all, but where do I draw the line? Dry cleaning bills for my wife clothes that got soaked? Wet carpet? Soaked floorboards? Will water stains come back if they're just painted over? Help!!!!

Answer 1

I'm a roofer. It's never good to tear off more than you can roof if you can help it. if it looked like rain, he should have torn off small sections at a time. If it's a straight roof (no valleys or walls), it shouldn't be hard to tarp so that it doesn't leak, unless the tarp has a hole in it. You can easily get a hole in a tarp without noticing it. Chimneys and other obstructions make it difficult to tarp properly. Once I had a leaky tarp. I went straight to a hardware store, bought another tarp, and put it over the other one. The roofer should be responsible for all damages. As little as I know about the law, you are expected to mitigate (do your best to minimize them) the damages if you can. If you don't trust that roofer maybe you should call around, get advice from other companies. A reputable roofer would be happy to help you, especially if they're honest and considerate) because it makes a good name for them. I've worked for a number of roofing companies, and there diligence and concern for their customers can vary a lot. Ask around, get advice from people you know who have had roofers. Hope it works out.

Answer 2

A foot of snow on the roof, isn't going to cause a leak on a roof that's undamaged and not worn out. I'd call the roofer first, get them out here today, do a temporary repair or patch on the roof - if they can find the damaged section. Then you've complied with the policy conditions to mitigate your loss. Then, you file the claim on Monday - assuming that the roofer says, yes, this is hail damage, and not, oh, this roof is so old you should have replaced it five years ago.

Answer 3

Get in touch with attorney just in case there are legal issues. Then get in touch with the roofer as he is liable for your problems, The Roofer should have his own insurance all contractors do. However some may not be real? Also you need to call your insurance company, Why because the roofer may try and hide things I.E Water Damage in your walls,attic and so on. Your adjuster will take pictures. Someone needs to take pictures, Just in case things are have been missed. Cause trust me things will get nasty. And in case this goes to a court you need evidence!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

Contact the insurance. They will guide you. Take pictures, videos, and any other form of recording this situation. Save all receipts, including possible hotel bills, receipts for cabs, things like that, as this may end up in litigation. You are correct in assuming that this may result in asbestos/lead/mould exposure. Never paint over water-stained anything, as the residual moisture will not allow paint to adhere, and you're setting yourself up for mould inside the walls as you are sealing in the moisture instead of removing it. And the source of the moisture must be dealt with and removed prior to fixing the finished product (drywall, floors, etc.), or you will only have to fix that again later. Your wife and future baby are of the utmost importance right now, and she must be protected from the stress and possibly toxic physical agents that are being produced by this situation; you may have to have her and you stay with a friend or relative while this is attended to. If mould results, don't even allow her in the building; it could be most dangerous, especially for a pregnant woman, to breathe the spores present in the air that is infected with mould. You have quite a hurdle to surpass in your life right now. Hopefully you will acquire the help you need to fix it and move on. Don't be afraid to ask for help from family and friends that will probably form your support group in your time of need. And some day you will likely reciprocate. Good luck to you.

Answer 5

First step, document everything (if you haven't already cleaned up) with photographs, any written agreements with the roofer, including his offer to repair.

Yes, mold and mildew will be a concern if not dried out well. And painting over it, unless it's with a mildew-killing paint, is a bad idea.

Do contact your insurance company to see about coverage. If they're sure of the roofer's liability, they may pay for repairs and go after him themselves. (However, water damage is sometimes excluded depending on the cause.)

Good luck.

Answer 6

First get in touch with your attorney just in case there are legal issues arrising with your problems. Then get in touch with the roofer as he sounds liable for your problems, then tie in with the insurance company to cover anything the roofer doesn't or cannot repair.

It aint going to be easy.

Answer 7

That's a lot of damage and work to fix it. Let the insurance cover it. AND DON'T LET THEM PAINT OVER WATER DAMAGE!!! Re-do it the proper way. That's why you have insurance in the first place.