Hail Damage to Roof?

[aknapp]

In May, there was a severe hailstorm that hit where I live - far west Chicagoland.

Many homes in the neighborhood to the west have had their roofs replaced.

The HOA (I have a side-by-side duplex) had a local roof inspect about half the houses in our association. His assessment for all houses was - damaged enough to warrant replacement.

I was going to file a claim with my insurance company, until I went on the roof myself. I'm not a roofing expert, but I saw ZERO damage - no pits, no loose shingles, nothing.

The roofer selected by the HOA as their "preferred repair company" claims the damage "is much more subtle and if not replaced, the UV rays will deteriorate the shingles over time, and the roof will start to leak."

HOA is pushing hard for every homeowner to file a claim with their insurance to have the roof replaced.

Anyone care to comment on the roofer's claim or what my next step might be? Call a home inspector? Another roofer?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

EDIT TO ADD: HOA roofing sub-committee feels that it's "not possible" to not have damage when "all of the house at their end had damage. My sub-division is kidney-bean shaped, All but 6 units are in the north half of the kidney bean; I'm in one of the 6 unit in the south half. My next-door neighbor had an insurance adjustor come out and found no damage. HOA's roofer was at that inspection and had nothing to say. Roofing sub-committee stated in the latest update that the adjuster was "new and didn't know what she was doing". Other adjustor who denied claims were claimed to be "not fair".

[mathman]

It can definitely damage a roof, but whether your roof was damaged would require looking at the roof.

two links that have good descriptions of what to look for.

http://www.trinityexteriorsinc.com/957/how-to-identify-hail-damage-asphalt-roof

http://www.nelsonforensics.com/Downloads/2012-Guideline_to_Assess_Hail_Damage.pdf

[Ralph]

Hell, your insurance will cover it. Have a new roof put on.

[Jakeboy]

What Ralph said. The insurance adjusters will determine what if any damage is there. They are the experts, let them do their job.

Roofing damage can indeed be subtle and hard to detect in some cases.

Doesn't hurt to file a claim, if it isn't damaged, it will be denied.

[Studio Custom]

Who else smells a kickback?

[Jakeboy]

What are you insinuating? Graft or corruption exists in Chicago???????

[alantig]

We had a pretty bad hail storm here about two years ago. Heard a few hard hits on our roof, but not a great number. Damage was pretty bad about a mile or two west of us. Didn't give it a thought until my neighbor across the street had his roof replaced a week or so later, but he's pretty fanatic about that (he's up on the roof at least 7-8 times a year with a leaf blower cleaning everything). He said I should have my roof checked out and replaced, but I'm not nearly as picky about that stuff, so I kind of brushed it off, even though he said a couple other folks on the street were having theirs done. Plus, we saw a lot of out-of-town and out-of-state trucks driving around, so I was a tad suspicious about some of those folks.

Then I started seeing roofs up and down our hill being replaced. So, right before the deadline to file a claim, we called a roofer and got an inspection. He said we needed a replacement. Called the insurance company, and they agreed. So we ended up having it done earlier this year.

So, IMHO, it's worth calling someone else out to take a look, whether it's the insurance company or another roofer. But I'd be a bit leery of the HOA's "preferred" guy - but I hate HOAs to begin with, so my opinion is a tad tainted.

[cmatthes]

Either the Insurance company adjustor will deem it a repair/replacement or they'll deny the claim. As pointed out above, they are truly the experts, and it is in the company's best interests to pay for repair or replacement rather than to pick up the tab for a condition that deteriorates into something far more catastrophic as a result of negligence or inaction.

I would also be suspicious of a "preferred" vendor where an HOA is requiring replacement. That doesn't smell right to me at all.

[aknapp]

Thanx for the replies, everyone.

A couple points of clarification

- I live in an "active adult" community - 80% of homeowners must be over 55. I'm in the 20% who is under 55. The HOA may be trying to help out those who maybe can't get around as well as others (or it may be something else, too).

- At the HOA meeting last night, I talked with one of the roofing sub-committee members - hail in the north end of the community was golf-ball to tennis-ball size; on the south side, where I live, no bigger than marble sized. I don't think they were aware of the difference in hail size (and my neighbor has video to prove it!).

Still don't want to file an insurance claim, but I might need to, to satisfy the HOA that I did my "due diligence".

[Steve Haynie]

Salesmen go through neighborhoods around here selling new roofs based on hail damage. There does not have to be a recent hail storm. It is more about sticking it to insurance companies. Roofs are ruined, but the cars in the driveways have no damage.

[The Shark]

There are more petty dictators in the HOA's in this country per square foot than anywhere else. The human condition on display.

Call your insurance company and explain the situation. They won't pay for an undamaged roof. That's for sure.

[aknapp]

There are more petty dictators in the HOA's in this country per square foot than anywhere else. The human condition on display.

Call your insurance company and explain the situation. They won't pay for an undamaged roof. That's for sure.

BOY, did I see that last night....

[cmatthes]

Insurance fraud is also highly illegal.

[The Shark]

Insurance fraud is also highly illegal.

That's the reason to alert the carrier. They're finely in tune with this kind of bullshenanigans. And they'll protect you from any collusion, if present. One of the few times an insurance company will be your friend!

[cmatthes]

I can think of a lot of other times, but then again that ALL depends on your Insurance company.

[Armitage]

I specifically hate hail, being bald... it makes a lot of noise.

[Tres Aardvarks]

I'm amazed this hasn't been posted yet (and it's non-constructive) but: "fuck HOAs"...I hated our HOA in Boulder County. They had some pyscho driving around at least once a week looking for anything they could possibly cite you on. They threatened to put a lien on our house because we couldn't get it repainted fast enough. Nevermind the National F'ing Disaster Area we were in after the floods last year!!! There were ZERO crews available for a repaint as they were all repairing houses (for insurance money).

So I'll say it again: fuck them fucking HOAs...

[cmatthes]

I will NEVER live under HOA rule.

[alantig]

Nope. Whenever we've been house-hunting, I've told our agents, no HOAs. Told them I will not sign if that's part of the deal.

[aknapp]

My last HOA, for sure.

Thanx for all the replies.

[Ralph]

I've never had any problems with HOA's except you have to pay them. It keeps the neighborhood looking good. I hate when people just put junk in their yard and leave it. Cars, trash etc.

[Studio Custom]

I've never had any problems with HOA's except you have to pay them. It keeps the neighborhood looking good. I hate when people just put junk in their yard and leave it. Cars, trash etc.

That doesn't happen in good neighborhoods. I'd be calling town hall three times a day, and so would my neighbors, if someone did such a thing around my home. The town would give them a few days, then begin fining them, eventually the DPW would resolve and throw a lein on them if necessary. HOAs have no more power than a determined municipal government to keep property values up.