How Does A “Free Roof” Paid Entirely By Your Insurance Company in 2021 Sound?

How does this sound..?

“Get a free roof, compliments of your insurance company!”

It probably sounds pretty darn good. You’ve been paying your homeowner’s insurance premium like a good customer, so why not get something out of it? Something like a new roof – and with no out-of-pocket costs for you.

Unfortunately, like most things that sound too good to be true, there’s a catch.

And it’s a big one.

A 100% free roof that waives your deductible is FRAUD. Any roofing company that offers to waive or reduce your deductible is breaking the law – and they are making you a party to it.

Understanding How Homeowner’s Insurance Roof Claims Really Work

There are 3 basic things every homeowner should understand about making an insurance claim on a roof:

#1 For a claim to be valid, there has to be legitimate damage to your roof, not just normal aging.

If a Houston roofing contractor knocks on your door talking about getting a free or discounted roof without you having called them, they are trying to drum up demand for selling new roofs in a way that gets your attention.

It’s not a real offer – and if it is, they are doing something corrupt.

Please know that an aging roof is not a valid reason for an insurance claim and protect yourself from these kind of companies and sales tactics.

#2 If you do have a valid insurance claim for roof damage, you still must pay your deductible.

Let’s say that your roof HAS suffered damage in a storm and filing an insurance claim IS legitimate. That does not mean you should trust a roofing company that offers to “work with you on the deductible” or even goes so far as to promise “your roof will be free.”

It’s this simple: the deductible you pay is your legal obligation under your homeowner’s insurance policy and failing to pay it is fraud.

In fact, a recent state law has been passed to address this issue specifically (more on that below).

#3 You need a roofing company with integrity and expertise to serve as your advocate with an insurance adjuster.

If you do have storm damage to your roof – or suspect that you do – out #1 tip is to have a professional roofing company on your side when meeting with the insurance claims adjuster.

Having an expert looking out for your interests can be the difference between hearing “claim denied” or getting every penny you’re entitled to under your policy.

We can inspect your roof for free if you suspect you have storm damage. Go here to request a free inspection.

Free Roof = Fraud Roof

So… is it truly a big problem? Are there really that many roofing contractors out there willing to commit fraud and put their customers in jeopardy, too?

Well, it’s big enough that it drew the attention of Texas lawmakers.

A new law passed in 2019 makes it unmistakably clear that it is illegal for any roofing company to waive an insurance deductible.

The law came about as a direct result of the behavior of some roofing companies after big storms would hit an area.

Contractors will too often swoop in after a storm (and many of them are ‘fly-by-night’ and after a quick buck). This inevitably leads to homeowners being stuck with shoddy repairs performed by unqualified or sloppy roofing companies.

(Some of the most crooked of these “roofers” even will go so far as to use “take the money and run” fake contracts).

But the problem doesn’t stop with shoddy repairs or missing deposits. Many roofing companies will offer to waive or absorb the deductible.

But now the law is crystal clear. Effective as of September 1, 2019, it states that it is illegal for roofers to offer to waive a deductible or promise a rebate for all or part of a deductible. Violators could get up to a $2,000 fine and up to six months in jail.

The Texas Department of Insurance now has a special fraud unit to combat these problems, so progress is being made. But the bottom line is that homeowners still need to look out for themselves.

The good news is we make that simple. Houston Roofing & Construction is a proven company with real credentials. You can read more about that on our Why Us page.

If you think your roof has been damaged from a storm, you can get a free inspection by a true expert. No worries, no stress.