[billy-joe]

I have a leaky roof that needs repair. No damage to personal items. The contractor estimated the cost at $1900 to finish the job within 2-3 days. I have a $2000 deductible should I go ahead to fix or replace the roof. My insurance co. is going to send out a guy to inspect it. While I'm waiting, can some explain to me how this all works?

Please tell me as if you were talking to a 5 year old kid.

thanks.
If we were to have work done, does the insurance company require a licensed contractor instead of a handyman?

[onnoonni]

It's not necessarily covered by insurance at all. Homeowner's insurance covers losses from damage due to accidents or natural disaster - not normal "wear and tear" repairs. If the entire job is $1900 and you carry a $2000 deductible, there's no point in making a claim anyway.

[George P. N]

First question: How was the roof damaged. Whether insurance should be involved at all depends on that answer.

Second question: Does the roof need to be repaired or replaced? If the damage is covered, the insurance company will decide this, not the contractor.

Third question: Why would you have anyone work on your roof who isn't licensed and insured? You and the insurance company should want the best quality work done with a guarantee on that work.

Finally, you do not make a repair or replace your roof if the cost is less than your deductible. Deductibles are deducted from the amount of the total claim. In your case: Total claim=$1,900 and your deductible equals $2,000. You don't have a payable claim.

[Pioneer]

When you call an insurance company and they send someone out, that means you "filed a claim". That claim counts against you, even if the insurance company doesn't pay anything out.

If the REPAIR is $1900, I'd want to know what a new roof would actually cost - might not be much more than that, which means it would make sense, to get a new roof.

When you have a $2,000 deductible, that means you pay the first $2,000 of every claim. If the claim is $1900, the insurance doesn't pay anything - but the claim still will "count" against your record, because you already filed it.

The insurance company isn't going to care who does the repair. HOWEVER. If the guy you pick, does a crappy job, they AREN'T going to guarantee his work, or pay for the roof again, until you pay to get it done RIGHT.

[Fred K]

Insurance does not cover "leaky" roofs. Insurance covers sudden damage caused by something hitting the roof, such as hail, wind, or an airplane. A leak that develops slowly because the roof is old is not covered by insurance, and is also a sign that it may be time to buy a whole new roof, if the rest of the roof is just as old and likely to start leaking soon.

If I was talking to a 5-year-old kid, I would say "have your parents take care of it", because a 5-year-old kid should not be talking to insurance companies and roofing contractors.

[LokiPoodleQueen]

You can easily check your quotes in Internet, for example here - home insurance.awardspace.us