New roof needed on house in Iowa

[dmunders]

I have a 20 year old roof on my house. It needs replacing within the next 5 years. The total roof estimate was for $3000. I had $1000 worth of wind damage done to my roof recently.

I have homeowners insurance. My insurance company is willing to cut me a check for $1000. My contention is the check should be for $3000 to pay for the entire roof as you can't replace 1/3 of a roof w/o replacing the entire thing. The insurance company is only willing to pay for the wind damaged part.

My policy has the 'replacement cost' meaning there would be no pro-rating due to age.

Do I have a case against the insurance company or am I just being greedy?

Thanks!

 

[The Legal Shoppe]

If you have a licensed roofing contractor that will state in writing that the entire roof must be replaced as a result of the windstorm, then the entire roof replacement should be covered under your homeowners policy. Stick to your guns. Your insurance company is bluffing. If they won't pay, take them to small claims court. Most state laws provide that the parties cannot be represented by lawyers in small claims court. That will hamstring the insurance company adjustor.

Good luck! By the way, in what state are you located, and with what insurance company are you dealing?

 

[dmunders]

The state is Iowa. The rest of the roof did NOT need replacing right away, other then the fact it was 20 years old and have to go within a few years. The wind damaged part did need replacing ASAP.

My contention is how can you replace a 1/3 of a roof when the rest of it is 20 years old. Its not like they can match to it.

Thanks for the advice!


<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, Verdana">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by The Legal Shoppe:
If you have a licensed roofing contractor that will state in writing that the entire roof must be replaced as a result of the windstorm, then the entire roof replacement should be covered under your homeowners policy. Stick to your guns. Your insurance company is bluffing. If they won't pay, take them to small claims court. Most state laws provide that the parties cannot be represented by lawyers in small claims court. That will hamstring the insurance company adjustor.

Good luck! By the way, in what state are you located, and with what insurance company are you dealing?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

[HomeGuru]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, Verdana">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by dmunders:
The state is Iowa. The rest of the roof did NOT need replacing right away, other then the fact it was 20 years old and have to go within a few years. The wind damaged part did need replacing ASAP.

My contention is how can you replace a 1/3 of a roof when the rest of it is 20 years old. Its not like they can match to it.

Thanks for the advice!


<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Partial roof replacement is done all the time on insurance claims due to wind/fire damage. Read the fine print in your insurance policy. On a replacement cost settlement, the insurance company is required to replace new only the damaged section/area. The policy does not state that the roofing material has to match, and most likely will not even if the exact same type. True the roof will not look the same but at least it will be fixed. The roofing contractor is obligated to use the same or similar material though and can not repair with wood shingles if you have a Monier tile roof. Since your roof is 20 years old, I would recommend talking with the roofing contractor to get the price on completing the entire roof and paying the difference to get an entire new roof that looks good and will last.