So far in the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, four tropical storms have formed, but none have made landfall or caused damage to Florida houses. While not a guarantee that a hurricane will cause damage to Florida properties this year, there is always the possibility, and many homeowners in Florida are wondering if they should bother with roof maintenance before a storm hits. Roofs are one of the most commonly damaged parts of the home in Florida, and they are also an avenue in which storms can cause permanent damage to a structure. Today, we will discuss whether or not Florida homeowners should repair their damaged roofs before hurricane season gets into full swing.
To Repair or Not Repair – Roof Maintenance vs. Replacement
At first, it seems like an obvious question to ask – why should I repair my roof if a hurricane can damage it again in a few weeks? However, there are very simple reasons why waiting to repair your roof can cause more headaches and stress than choosing to repair now ever could.
To start, insurance providers will likely reject a claim if they determine that proactive roof maintenance from the homeowner could have stopped the damage from occurring. For example, many homeowners insurance policies cover mold that stems from water damage from hurricanes and storms. However, if you had a leaky roof before the storm, your failure to address this issue before the storm that caused the larger mold problem would cause the insurance company to deny your claim. Based on this logic, it is easy to see how waiting to repair a roof can be dangerous and leave you with a massive bill.
So, failing to repair a roof might make you ineligible to file a claim. But how else might it jeopardize your future? To understand why forgoing repairs is so dangerous, we need to look past the simple financial damage to the structure of your house.
99 times out of 100, a roof with previous damage will fair worse than a newly repaired and updated roof. This difference can be substantial, and depending on the added amount of repairs and construction needed, you might be unable to move back into your home for additional weeks or months. Not only does this cause stress and severe hurdles to everyday life, but finding interim housing accommodations can be expensive. A robust insurance policy can help you with these costs, but you must remember that claims might be denied depending on whether or not you took proper precautions to prepare your house for the storm.
When To Repair A Roof
As with anything in life, waiting until the last minute to repair your roof will only complicate the process further. Lowest prices are often found in early spring, when contractors are no longer dealing with the direct aftermath of storms, and major hurricanes are still a few months away. However, if you are reading this blog and currently need roof repairs, there is no better time than the present. Contractors will be much busier in the weeks and days preceding the first major hurricane of the year than they are now. Prices go up after a storm, so it is important to put aside time for proper roof repairs and complete a roof assessment before it’s too late.
Do you still need more information? Anderson & Associates Insurance Group is proud to work with clients in Sarasota, Bradenton, Parrish, Palmetto, and the surrounding areas.
