FYI for Ida victims: Roof-Tarp and Water Intrusion info for the next few days

Tarp your whole roof even if you think some of it doesn't need a tarp. If you only tarp a portion of it, then insurance will only try to pay for repairs to that portion if they can say the rest of the roof doesn't meet their damage requirements. If you tarp the whole thing they will most likely replace the whole thing. Not only that but there may be debris impact areas that are not fully visible without a full roof assessment.

Had this conversation with many adjusters after Laura. I know there are a few adjusters that post here so tell us if they were wrong.

16 years ago after Rita and Katrina, all you had to do was argue about wind lift. That doesn't work as easily this time around. They are denying claims and making you work hard for it because they are hoping the majority of people just accept the first estimate or partial half-arse repairs.

Also, be careful with tarping companies. They will try to hit your insurance for a ton of money counting against your policy limits. $2 per sq ft isn't bad. Xactimate has it at about $1.87 per sq ft this morning. It varies by zip code but that is what insurance will payout no questions asked. Keep in mind that is roofing sq ft which will be more than under roof sq ft. Anything more than $2 is robbery and you will most likely be denied by insurance.

Also, only a few non-profit organizations offer free tarps and they have a waiting list and sign-up sheet on their site.

A private business offering free tarps will make you sign a contract that promises they also get to replace your roof. Then if they do replace your roof they jack the price as high as possible to the point some people here in LC have liens on their houses because insurance refuses to pay the amount billed.

If they tarp for free, and you don't let them install the new roof, they then lien your house for the tarp and send in a ridiculously high bill to insurance. Some people have had $15K tarp bills for an average 2500 sq ft roof that the insurance won't pay and wind up in court to fight it.

Also, no one can do repairs over $7500 in LA unless they are licensed. That means they carry general liability and comp and are regulated by the contractors board which means you have recourse if something happens. The unlicensed out-of-state guys....well good luck when your roof is leaking and they are back home in Ohio.

Any mold remediation over $1 has to be licensed. Mold remediation is not the same as water intrusion and drying out a house.

Be sure to ask for estimates before allowing in a dry-out company like Serv-Pro. There are a ton of nightmare stories about people getting $30 to $40K dry out bills after the fact which hits their policy limits then not having enough money left on their limit for repairs.

Any company offering to deal with your insurance for you is a scam artist and not there to help you. Get a bill from them, review it, then send it to your insurance. Giving a company access to your insurance will result in them ripping your policy limits off.


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