Category: Field Notes

Insurance Tips One of the sneakiest ways an insurance company shrinks a roof claim is by agreeing to replace only the damaged slope, not the whole roof. Problem is, shingles fade in the sun and product lines get discontinued, so that “matching” repair ends up looking like a patch job forever. Georgia doesn’t have a…

Insurance Tips If your insurer just asked for a “roof certification” before they will renew your policy, here is what that actually means. A roof certification letter is a licensed roofer’s written report on your roof’s age, condition, and remaining life, usually good for 2 to 5 years. Georgia insurers are leaning on these more…

Insurance Discounts Homeowners ask me about this more every year: impact-resistant shingles are rated Class 1 through Class 4 under a steel-ball drop test, and some carriers will knock money off your premium for the higher ratings. Georgia isn’t Texas or Oklahoma, where almost every carrier offers this credit — but a growing number of…

Insurance Tips If your insurer called your hail damage “cosmetic” and denied the claim, you’re not alone. A lot of Georgia homeowner policies now carry a cosmetic damage exclusion — it lets the insurer deny a claim when hail left marks on your shingles but didn’t visibly punch through the roof. Here’s what that misses:…

Warranty Tips Most homeowners think a “lifetime warranty” means the roof is covered no matter what. It’s not that simple — there are two separate warranties on every roof job: the manufacturer’s warranty on the shingles themselves, and the workmanship warranty on the labor that installed them. A crew can use great shingles and still…

Insurance Tips More Georgia homeowners are getting insurance non-renewal notices or steep premium hikes this year, and it’s not because they filed a claim. It’s because their roof is considered too old on paper. A lot of carriers are now drawing a hard line around 15 to 20 years, whether or not that roof is…

Storm Damage If a storm just blew through your neighborhood and you’re looking at missing shingles, a dented gutter, or a tree limb on the roof, don’t panic, but don’t wait either. Stay off the roof yourself, especially if it’s wet, and get photos and video of the damage before anything gets moved or cleaned…

Roofing Scams After a storm rolls through metro Atlanta, you will start seeing trucks with out-of-state plates and guys knocking on doors saying they were "in the area" and noticed damage on your roof. Some of that is legit work. A lot of it is a storm chaser trying to sign you before you can…

Roof Costs Every week somebody asks me why one roof quote is $9,000 and another for the same size house is $16,000. It’s rarely anybody trying to rip you off — it comes down to what’s actually included. Roof pitch, how many layers have to be torn off, and material choice all move that number…