Advertisement

Hail damage

Error message

  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 133 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to get property 'settings' of non-object in _simpleads_adgroup_settings() (line 343 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 157 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in include() (line 24 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/templates/simpleads_ajax_call.tpl.php).

Robert Baines of Paintless Dent Repair “massages” a dent out of the roof of a vehicle at Phil’s Auto Body of Prairie du Chien recently. (Photo by Ted Pennekamp)

 

Area businesses very busy in wake of June hail storms

By Ted Pennekamp

 

Area auto body shops, roofers and insurance companies continue to be very busy in the wake of two hail storms in June in Crawford County. 

“We’ve done hundreds of vehicles and have many more to do,” said Phil Ohlert of Phil’s Auto Body of Prairie du Chien. “We’ve been very busy. We had eight guys doing just hail damage when we first started on it, and we’re still doing collision in between.” 

There was a big hail storm in 1988, and Phil said that this is the biggest since then. 

Phil said that it has taken about two days on average to repair a hail damaged vehicle. Four of the vehicles that Phil’s Auto Body looked at were totaled. A National Hail Matrix is used in order to calculate the amount of damage and the cost of repair for each vehicle. “We document everything,” he said. 

Phil said people should get their vehicles checked for hail damage and repaired if needed because otherwise the money is taken off of the trade-in value of their vehicle.

Rich Sheckler of Richard Sheckler Construction of Prairie du Chien said that his company has repaired about 20 roofs and has about 80 to go. 

“We’ve hired eight people and are still hiring,” he said. 

Sheckler said that people with hail-damaged roofs should not sign a contract.  They should also make sure to hire a certified roofer who has workman’s compensation for all employees, business insurance and contact information. He said people should check out the company as thoroughly as possible to make sure that it is a legitimate and legal business. People should get help in checking out the company, if necessary.

Some companies use low grade shingles, underlay and other materials and don’t apply the materials properly, which could lead to more problems later on. Sheckler said that his company uses only the highest quality materials.

“I’m from Prairie du Chien and I have a reputation to uphold,” said Sheckler who urges homeowners to get a local contractor to do their hail damage work. “We have enough local contractors to get the job done.”

Sutton Insurance of Prairie du Chien is another business that has been very busy due to the hail storms. Tarah Sutton Marx and Bob Sutton said that Sutton Insurance has worked with a couple of hundred clients so far and has had at least one client per day that has come in due to hail damage.

“Don’t assume, be careful, and don’t panic,” said Bob in giving advice to homeowners. Bob said that people should get their homes checked for possible hail damage even though it may not look as if there is any damage. He said that it was a weird storm and that just because the next door neighbor didn’t have any damage doesn’t mean that you didn’t. Tarah and Bob said other factors may include such things as the pitch of the roof and the age of the roof. 

Tarah and Bob have much advice for homeowners whose homes may have suffered hail damage. 

•Never sign any agreement with a contractor to act as your representative to file a claim. Never sign any agreement that states that a contractor will install your new roof for whatever the insurance company will pay.

•Contact your insurance company agent and let them know of any damages (hail or wind) that you think you may have incurred. Regardless of what any contractor tells you, your insurance company must approve your claim for a hail damaged roof. 

•Go ahead and get a detailed proposal for replacing your roof. Make sure to only contact state licensed contractors in the state where your home is located. They should be certified by the roofing product manufacturer and listed on the manufacturer’s website as such. Be sure to check contractor credibility through sources such as Kudzu.com, AngiesList.com and the Better Business Bureau.

•Schedule a time so that you can personally meet with your insurance adjuster. Make sure that adjuster thoroughly inspects your roof for not only suspected damage but any other damage. Provide the adjuster with your preferred contractor’s detailed written proposal. Your insurance adjuster will provide you with a report detailing all of their expenditures for your claim amount. 

•Provide the insurance company’s report to your contractor for their review to ensure that the quantities of material and the complete replacement value are correct. The contractor can help you determine if you need sub rogation from your insurance company. This can usually be done with a phone call between the insurance adjuster and your contractor. This should be the only time your contractor should speak with the insurance adjuster on your behalf. The insurance adjuster will notify you of any changes to your claim. 

•Remember your homeowner’s insurance adjuster is the only person who can approve an insurance claim. You are in control of the contractor who performs any work on your home. Do not give any contractor any money up front for a roof replacement. Any reputable company can cover the costs of material and labor until the job is complete. Make sure the insurance company makes the claim check payable to you and not your contractor.

•Contractors who follow storms are known as “storm chasers.” Although they may give you a price that is very had to turn down or offer to meet any insurance company’s pay out, even the deductible, they can become the cause of the most expensive roof that you could ever buy.

Rate this article: 
No votes yet