Uncovering Hidden Damage for a Full Roof Replacement

Project Type: Residential Roof Insurance Claim (Hail Damage)
Location: Tampa, FL
Challenge: Insurance company dismissed significant hail damage as “minor cosmetic issues” not warranting a claim.

The Situation: The Unseen Threat

After a severe thunderstorm rolled through Tampa, the Davis family didn’t notice any immediate problems. There were no visible leaks or missing shingles. However, a neighbor suggested they get their roof inspected for hail damage. On their neighbor’s advice, they called their insurance company.

The Setback: “It’s Just Wear and Tear”

The insurance adjuster came out, walked the roof for ten minutes, and delivered the bad news: “It’s just some minor granule loss, consistent with normal wear and tear for a roof this age. It’s not enough to justify a claim.” The insurer officially logged the damage as being “below the deductible” and closed the file. The Davis family was left with a false sense of security and a roof that was secretly compromised. Unconvinced, they called us for an expert second opinion.

Our Solution: A Scientific and Methodical Approach

We knew that hail damage is often invisible to the untrained eye. Our job was to prove the functional damage that the insurer’s adjuster had missed or ignored.

Step 1: A Deep Forensic Inspection
Our licensed public adjuster conducted a detailed, on-roof inspection. We didn’t just walk the roof; we analyzed it. We chalked out a 10×10 “test square” on each slope of the roof, a standard industry practice. Inside these squares, we identified and documented dozens of distinct hail-impact marks (“bruises”) on the shingles, which are soft spots where the shingle has been weakened.

Step 2: Building an Evidence-Based Case
Our findings proved that the damage was far from “cosmetic”:

• Compromised Integrity: We demonstrated how each hail bruise had fractured the shingle’s underlying mat, voiding the manufacturer’s warranty and drastically shortening the roof’s lifespan.

• Photographic Proof: We took high-definition, close-up photographs of the impact marks, granule loss, and bruising, creating a visual record that was impossible to dispute.

• Collateral Damage: We also documented hail dents on the home’s soft metal components—gutters, downspouts, and ventilation caps—which served as further proof of the storm’s intensity.

Step 3: Expert Negotiation
Armed with an irrefutable evidence package, we re-opened the claim. We submitted our detailed report, which contrasted the insurer’s superficial assessment with our scientific findings. We explained that while the roof wasn’t leaking yet, its ability to protect the home had been critically compromised, constituting a direct physical loss covered under their policy.

The Result: From $0 to a Brand-New Roof

Our meticulous process and unwavering advocacy completely changed the outcome for the Davis family.

• Initial Insurance Assessment: $0 (Claim closed as “below deductible”)

• Final Settlement Secured by Our Team: $29,500

This settlement provided the full amount needed for a complete roof replacement with high-quality architectural shingles, ensuring the home was protected for decades to come. We transformed a dismissed claim into a full recovery by proving the true scope of the damage.

Client Testimonial:

“We almost accepted our insurance company’s word that our roof was fine. Thank goodness we called Property Damage Claims Experts. Their inspector was on our roof for over an hour and showed us photos of damage we never would have seen. They built a professional case and got us a settlement for a whole new roof. We had no idea we were even entitled to it. Their expertise is priceless.”

– The Davis Family, Tampa, FL