Got an education on current roofing costs!

Dargo · Jul 17, 2011

It's been 9 weeks now since we had 100 mph winds that took out much of my roof, my privacy fence and 87 mature trees. I'm just screwed on the trees. I lost a lot of my 'natural privacy fence' with all those trees going down. If it weren't for having an excavator with a thumb, I'd still be wearing out chainsaw blades. I was surprised that no fence company would even consider fixing my fence. All wanted to replace it with bids ranging from $11.5k to $14k. Since I ordered a huge amount of extra (partly to get a price break and partly to have spare parts since styles always change and matching parts for a vinyl fence over about 5 years old don't seem to exist) fencing left over in the loft of my barn. I did what I thought was the right thing and spent about 40 hours and all of my spare parts and fixed my fence by myself.

In the 9 weeks since, State Farm has only put two blue tarps on my roof, which were promptly blown off by the next storm that came through. It seems that what they figure it ought to cost to have a roof put on and the actual cost varies by 30% to 50%. So, I've now had 8 estimates on replacing my roof not counting what State Farm figured. The least expensive is $6847.50 more than State Farm's estimate. Now I'm starting to get damage to the ceiling on the 2nd floor from the roof leaking. I've patched and tarred and caulked so many times I can't even count. After taking a tumble Thursday, I've decided that I'm no longer going to climb around on a 12/12 pitch 2 story house that's really tall.

Anyway, what do you think the odds of me getting my money out of State Farm is? After my tumble, I hired the company with the 2nd lowest bid (lowest bid company never called back after giving me the bid 6 weeks ago). Yes, it surprises me that it's going to cost about $25k to put a roof on my home, but it is a big roof with different levels, dormers and a steep pitch. I only went with the same type (but different color - the color I had isn't made any longer, of course) of roof that is on my home. The steel roof that looks like asphalt shingles cost more than my first house and was about double the price; and they don't even remove the old roof! So, I contracted with a roofer last Thursday to get in line and hopefully get him out late next week.

Now State Farm wants to come out the week after next and measure my roof again! They measured it first, agreed that it couldn't be fixed and have about 50 pictures of it along with all the measurements their guy spent 4 hours taking. That's besides having all the measurements from the 8 other bids! I'm tired of waiting on them and I refuse to climb up there anymore. In 26 years with them I've only had 1 other claim. That was about 5 years ago from a power surge when an ice storm caused the transformer in my yard to go boom. I ended up almost $14k out of pocket then after they "fine printed" me. I should have left them then, but hindsight is 20/20. So, what's the odds of me getting screwed again? If they try it again, I'll have to hire an attorney this time. I think 9 weeks is long enough along with 8 bids proving that nobody will do the job for anywhere close to what they want to pay.

zzvyb6 · Jul 17, 2011

I'm gonna run this story by my State Farm Agent to see what his hypothetical treatment of me will be. I've had Allstate before this and they came out for some rain damage and cut a check for me right then and there. Enough for the roof, interior painting and more.

brin · Jul 17, 2011

I had to sue an Insurance Co. once for $10K in damage to a rental house which was covered in the policy...It took 3 yrs. for it to come to trial and on the morning of the trial, just as I was getting ready to leave my office and head to court, My attorney called me from the courthouse and said the Insurance Company had just agreed to settle and gave him a check for the $10 K....

My attorney told me Insurance companies were notorious for doing this...they know they owe the money for the claim but take a chance that the policyholder will not sue and if they do sue then they wait until the day of court to settle...that way they get the use of their money for all those years....3 yrs. in my case they got use of the money instead of paying me.

My advice is sue them, you have waited long enough, document everything, paper your file and take pictures and be prepared to wait for them to settle when it finally comes to court....They probably know they will lose in any jury trial. Good Luck

randy41 · Jul 17, 2011

i would call the state insurance commission before retaining a lawyer.

jake98 · Jul 17, 2011

Why go with the 2nd. cheapest, if they're nowhere close to matching the #'s anyway? I'd go with the 2nd. most expensive. 'You get what you pay for' and all that.. and you want it done right.

tungularafishcamp · Jul 17, 2011

If your gonna sue be sure to add the legal fees in too as they will eat up a big chunk of the settlement.

brin · Jul 17, 2011

tungularafishcamp said:
If your gonna sure be sure to add the legal fees in too as they will eat up a big chunk of the settlement.

Good point...I forgot to mention that...you are exactly right..I got my $10K and my attorney had asked for bad faith attorney's fees...in our lawsuit so the Insurance company paid his fee in addition to my damages...Your atty will know how to do it...State Farm has acted in bad faith and you are incurring additional damages as a result of their foot dragging and stalling.

Dargo · Jul 17, 2011

jake98 said:
Why go with the 2nd. cheapest, if they're nowhere close to matching the #'s anyway? I'd go with the 2nd. most expensive. 'You get what you pay for' and all that.. and you want it done right.

I should have been more clear; going with regular dimensional shingles with a 40-50 year warranty, not steel ones, the bids really were not that far apart...other than State Farm's.

FWIW, I hope I don't have to resort to any litigation. If I do, some insurance company somewhere will pickup several pieces of equipment, a large diesel pusher RV, 15 vehicles, three homes and whatever all else I have insured. I've been paying in literally thousands a month and have been screwed in both claims I've had in over 2 decades of paying them. I expect them to make money, and want them to so they will be there for me in the future, but I also expect them to pay what the dec page says they will pay. Them being tens of thousands ahead on me even if they pay what they are obligated to pay should just be icing on the cake for them.

Maybe it's best I'm seeing this now. If I ever had a major claim such as in a fire, tornado or some other major claim I'd hate to have to fight the insurance company along with all the other stress related to such a disaster. This might be my signal to change companies. Even with the well known name and lower premiums, they may not be the best company for me. After all, if the premiums are lower but they don't pay, are you really saving anything?

buckshot721 · Jul 17, 2011

I know what you mean, had a tornado June 1st as of today July 17th we are still living under 5 tarps. 3 big ash trees fell on the roof smashing a corner of it. The Ins want to give me $7000.00 to repair and shingle it. I spent $11000.00 to years ago just to shingle it. We now have squirrels living in the attic. Not to mention all of the mortar damage we have. Basement fills with sand and water every time it rains, lost 22 trees all total. The ins wants to give us 38,000 fix every thing, which includes 2 barn roofs. The contractors bid is $115,000 to repair. Hired a public adjuster, he came out and looked at the house and came up with a $150,000 total. Funny thing is the ins will pay the contractor any where form $500.00 to $700.00 to retarp the roof, (they have been out here 7 times already) but won't budge over $7000. to fix the roof. Someday this mess will be over with, and I'm this #@$% ins company, and my blood pressure will return to normal.

cointoss · Jul 17, 2011

Dargo, I believe I would be telling my State Farm agent to get something done with the ajustor and mention that you are very dissatisfied with the company and that another company would love to have what you pay each year in premiums. After your claim is settled, run don't walk away from State Farm.
I had the same problems you have had with them and dumped then 4 years ago.

sld · Jul 17, 2011

We have had to endure a lot of damage in the Midwest in the last few years. I don't care what the bid is, high or low, if it's a reputable company they will have some kind of relationship with the major insurance carriers. It is been very easy to get stuff fixed and has never cost me a dime either. These big roofing / exterior companies will fix it and then bill the insurance company, despite what some idiot adjuster bids.

These repair companies know what the insurance companies will pay for and they take care of everything. In most cases, if you have enough work done, they even absorb the deductible.

Based on my experience, ymmv, just get it fixed and sort it out later.

Ken · Jul 17, 2011

randy41 said:
i would call the state insurance commission before retaining a lawyer.

I had a insurance co. stall in paying a claim went to State Comm. for answer on what to do
The lady smiled and said I like this type of problem let me call.
That night got a call from insurance co. wanting to know if I would come to there office or have a man deliver the check. They also said please not to call the state office with out checking with insurance first.
Told them what was I doing on the serveral other calls to there co.
All insurance co 's have to register with the state to do business to many compliants and there license can be lifted.
My suggestion is get your bids for the repair and have a friendly discussion with the State office.
ken

clemsonfor · Jul 17, 2011

Dargo, were you ever in the service? USAA in my experience is the best you can get. Although just cause you served dosent mean your able to get it. You have to either have kept it since in retired from service or served only X # of years ago i think?

The next cheapest i have priced has been Farm Bureau, not sure if your business stuff can be run through them though?

My BIL uses travelers and said they were cheapest on his home, although i found out on my farm property they were going to be roughly twice the others going rate?

Get your roof, call the state ins commission and get a free consult with your Lawyer on the matter and pay him to just write a letter expressing "his clients concerns and problems with his recent claim". I'm thinking your gonna come out on top on this one. They cant quote you a 1992 price on a roof in 2011!

Rustyiron · Jul 17, 2011

randy41 said:
i would call the state insurance commission before retaining a lawyer.

Yes Yes Yes
I lost a barn years ago to snow. Called the proper state agency that keeps the ins. co's. in line with the state laws, and they paid for the loss. A whole bunch cheaper and prolly faster than a egg sucking lawyer!

LBrown59 · Jul 17, 2011

sld said:
1*Just get it fixed and sort it out later.

1*What if one don't have the money to do that?
I thought that was one of the reasons for having insurance .

cointoss said:
2*I had the same problems you have had with State Farm and dumped then 4 years ago.

2* State Farm is real bad about that.

greasemonkeyok · Jul 17, 2011

Dargo,

Somethings I learned the hard way.

First, don't talk to the adjuster. Kinda the same thing SLD was saying above.

On the day the adjuster is coming out to measure again, have your roofing contractor there to talk to the adjuster, and stay out of the conversation. Try it. I was told it would work and it worked for me.

Second, note that many "roofing contractors" are not really contractors - they are just brokers who sub the work to independents, usually Latinos. The quality of the installation has more to do with the subs, not the person you deal with. Learned this the hard way. For example, if left to their own devises, the subs will "cut" holes for vents, etc by simply bashing through the osb with a hammer. (Sheet metal benders, and saws? We don't need no stinkin sheet metal benders or saws. We got hammers.) See part three below.

Third, go to the local wholesaler and get the manufacturer's handbook on installing the brand of shingles that are going to be used. Lots of good information in the book. The guy I hired said, with frustration, "wool, I've never had a home owner crawl up on the roof to inspect the instillation before." He had no clue how to properly install shingles. The subs did, and would do it correctly when they knew they were being watched and told to do it properly.

300UGUY · Jul 17, 2011

My wife had a car accident, she got rear ended at a light. The insurance company didn't pay until I called the state insurance commissoner's office. The next morning I had the check. I am not sure it would work as well today, the insurance companies have elected a lot of legislator's the last few years.

Kyle_in_Tex · Jul 17, 2011

Dargo, excuse me why I play devils advocate for a moment....

Why is your roof so stinking high? What kind of shingles did you have?

Should I move up there and do it, I can talk enough spanish to hire some guys and get her done.:thumbsup: Also can order us some cold beers in spanish.

ultrarunner · Jul 18, 2011

Sad to say... but it seems to be part of their business model...

Only one claim with State Farm from storm damage... they had flown in claims adjusters that simply didn't know the area...

When I persisted and finally was able to get the local guy out the situation was resolved.

On big claims an independent adjuster can get the ball going.

My brother was stonewalled when his wife was hit by another car running a red light and had to have bed-rest for the remainder of her pregnancy...

They spoke with lawyers who wanted at least 40% to take the case.

So my brother paid a local lawyer for 2 hours of his time to type up a complaint...

Then my brother filed a lawsuit in superior court and all of a sudden the insurance was calling him to settle... he said fine, when can I expect my check... of course they wanted to settle for less.

Anyway, each call stiffened his resolve... he sent out notices that he would be deposing the parties involved and had a date scheduled... 48 hours later he had a draft in the full amount...

Great advice on having your contractor negotiate for you with the adjuster... that is what I do now... I choose who is doing the work and the material used and let the contractor make it happen.