Expensive hail damage may not be obvious
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The hail pounded a wide swath of our area, from Tomball to Pinehurst. Now homeowners are cleaning up what's left.
Kathy Warren, a homeowner, only has a few more scoops of debris to collect from her yard, but she's worried enough about her roof to get an inspector out to look for damage.
"I think we will call them and have them come out and it would ease my mind just to have it looked at," Warren said.
Insurance agents say it's wise to have your roof checked even if you do not see any obvious damage from hail.
It's advice Jerry Greenhaw with Braun's Roofing seconds.
"We're looking for damage to the shingles, the vents, (and) the matting of the shingles," Greenhaw said.
Insurance agents say if there is damage, homeowners may only have a few months to file a claim depending on their insurance company, but it could be a year or more before a problem develops.
Another tip is be sure to research any company offering to do the work. Dan Parsons, President at Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Houston and South Texas, says homeowners should see someone who has been around and has a decent history.
"Even if they're not accredited with us but they've got a decent history, they resolve complaints (and) they take care of things. Also talk to your insurance company...they may have a vetted list that they've done on their own too," Parsons explained.
In some cases, the damage caused by the storm will not be greater than a homeowner's deductible. In that case, do not be surprised if you have to pay for the repairs out of your own pocket.
