Hey everyone, I’ve got a bit of a situation with my gutters. After a hailstorm, I noticed some damage on my gutters that I swear happened during the storm. Allstate already recorded the tree branch damage and included it in their estimate, but they’re saying they need proof of the hail damage before they can cover it. None of the contractors I spoke to took pictures of the hail dents either… Anyone dealt with something like this? Is it worth pushing back with more proof?
Yeah, you definitely need the contractors to take pics of the hail damage. Insurance companies will want to see evidence that the damage is affecting the performance of your gutters. I had to do the same thing with my roof after a storm last year.
@Nuri
Good call. I’ll have to reach out to the contractors again. Do you think it matters if they didn’t notice the hail damage the first time?
@Nuri
Not really, as long as they document it now. You might need to find a contractor that’s more thorough with storm damage claims. I had to switch contractors myself to get everything covered properly.
I had the same issue with hail damage not being included in my estimate. My gutters weren’t performing properly afterward either, but my adjuster didn’t catch it until I showed them pics from the contractor. Definitely push back with proof!
@Cameron
Glad I’m not the only one. How long did it take for your insurance to reassess after submitting the photos?
@Cameron
Once I sent in the pics, it took about a week for them to update the claim. I’d say the sooner you get the photos, the better.
One thing I noticed is if you don’t catch the damage early, insurance companies might argue that it’s just wear and tear. So, yeah, definitely get pics ASAP.
Emil said:
One thing I noticed is if you don’t catch the damage early, insurance companies might argue that it’s just wear and tear. So, yeah, definitely get pics ASAP.
That’s what I’m worried about. I didn’t get to check everything right after the storm, so I hope they don’t try to use that against me.
If your gutters have leaf guards or other enhancements, make sure the contractor notes that the dents are affecting their functionality. Insurance might not cover cosmetic damage, but if it’s messing with how they work, that’s a different story.
@Quinn
That’s actually a really good point. My gutters do have leaf guards, and the dents are right on those areas. I’ll definitely make sure to highlight that.
Yeah, I agree with everyone here. Insurance won’t do much without solid proof. Make sure the contractors document everything and maybe even get a second opinion if needed. Sometimes insurance just needs a little more push.