How roof claims go wrong
Roof estimates are measured, counted and priced, and every step leaves room for error. A carrier may approve the slopes facing the storm and deny the rest. It may price repairs on shingles that are no longer made, or ignore the drip edge, ice-and-water shield and ventilation that the Uniform Construction Code requires when roofing is replaced. On older homes with two layers already in place, removing the extra layer can be left out entirely.
New Jersey roofs we see
- Architectural asphalt shingles on most homes built or re-roofed since the 1990s.
- Slate in older parts of Essex, Morris, Union and Mercer counties, where a repair needs specialized labor and salvaged or matched stone.
- Cedar shake on shore homes and some Somerset and Hunterdon County properties.
- Low-slope roofs on rowhouses, two-family homes, additions and commercial buildings, often modified bitumen, EPDM or TPO.
- Standing-seam metal on porches, newer custom homes and agricultural buildings.
Our roof process
We measure every slope, record pitch, layers, valleys, penetrations and flashing, and test-square slopes where hail or wind damage is in question. Then we price the roof the way it would actually be built: tear-off, underlayment, ice barrier at the eaves, starter, ridge, ventilation, steep and high charges where they apply, dumpster and permit.
Frequently asked questions
The adjuster said my roof damage is just wear and tear. Can appraisal fix that?
Possibly not. Whether damage was caused by a covered storm is often treated as a coverage question. Some panels decide causation as part of the amount of loss, but it depends on the policy and the facts.
Why does pitch matter so much?
Steeper roofs have more surface area for the same footprint, and they take more labor and safety equipment. Our roof squares and pitch calculator shows how quickly area and cost rise with pitch.
Do you appraise slate roof claims?
Yes. Slate repairs need skilled labor and suitable replacement stone. Estimates that price slate like shingles are a common source of large gaps.