I am often asked, "Which insurance company is the best?". While I do not have an answer to that question, I would like to give high marks to a member of Allstate's CAT team. His name is Greg (last name removed).
Greg was especially professional and gave the homeowner the kind of attention and respect you would expect from a company that uses the slogan "Good Hands". I was impressed at his desire to help.
No, I can't tell you who the best insurance company is... I'm sure it is all relative anyway. It depends on who you get to work with. On this day we worked with one of Allstate's finest. Thank you Greg.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Hardishake - Corner chips and breaks
Many Hardishake roofs here in North Texas were installed using the varying width shingles of 6", 8", and 12". Seldom do I see a Hardishake roof where every shingle is the exact same width. There are a few (usually 12") but they are uncommon.
As a result, corner chips and breaks can be a significant problem. Some concrete roofs (Not usually Hardishake or Maxishake) are "Half Bonded" meaning the shingle above and the shingle below are spaced halfway between each other. Please see the picture below for an example of "Half Bonded". The picture is actually of paving tiles but you'll get the idea. The tile below is halfway across the tile above:
By lapping the shingle above halfway across the shingle below you have quite a bit of water protection if a corner was to chip or break off due to small hail. In other words, half the shingle would need to break off in order to over expose the shingle below.
However, when you have a Hardishake roof with varying widths, a corner chipped away could easily cause overexposure to the shingle below. The shingle beneath is vulnerable. If there's a way for water to get into your home, it will eventually find it's way inside. Here's an example of a chip in a varying width installation...
Often Hardishake corner chips are as small as 1/2"... but not all of them are! Many are 2"-3". It isn't unusual to see a roof with several smaller corner chips AND a few shingles that are also chipped in half.
Anytime your roof is falling off in pieces, you need to be concerned. If your roof has corner chips and breaks, pick up the phone and call me (817) 781-9982.
As a result, corner chips and breaks can be a significant problem. Some concrete roofs (Not usually Hardishake or Maxishake) are "Half Bonded" meaning the shingle above and the shingle below are spaced halfway between each other. Please see the picture below for an example of "Half Bonded". The picture is actually of paving tiles but you'll get the idea. The tile below is halfway across the tile above:
By lapping the shingle above halfway across the shingle below you have quite a bit of water protection if a corner was to chip or break off due to small hail. In other words, half the shingle would need to break off in order to over expose the shingle below.
However, when you have a Hardishake roof with varying widths, a corner chipped away could easily cause overexposure to the shingle below. The shingle beneath is vulnerable. If there's a way for water to get into your home, it will eventually find it's way inside. Here's an example of a chip in a varying width installation...
Often Hardishake corner chips are as small as 1/2"... but not all of them are! Many are 2"-3". It isn't unusual to see a roof with several smaller corner chips AND a few shingles that are also chipped in half.
Anytime your roof is falling off in pieces, you need to be concerned. If your roof has corner chips and breaks, pick up the phone and call me (817) 781-9982.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Hardishake Claim Denied for Poor Installation
Recently, I reviewed a Hardishake Claim where the shingles were blown off, chips and pieces missing, and with extensive interior water damage. Although there was identifiable hail damage to the gutters, valleys, and a/c unit, the engineer attributed all of the shingle problems to "foot fault" and "poor installation".
If your Hardishake Claim has been denied for any reason, please call me for a second opinion.
If your Hardishake Claim has been denied for any reason, please call me for a second opinion.
Membership Fort Worth
Covenant Roof Construction is pleased to announce their membership in the Fort Worth bureau dedicated to providing consumer protection.
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Low threshold of hail size for damage to Hardishake
I am often asked if an insurance company is responsible for a "defective" product. While that topic is the subject of great debates, one thing concerning Hardishake damage is beyond debate:
"3/4 inch hail size... [the] threshold size for damage to... deteriorated gray-black slates (especially at corners)- chipped." HAAG ENGINEERING
A Hardishake shingle that is deteriorating is especially susceptible to hail damage (even small 3/4" sized hail). When the corners are chipped the exposure can be dangerously increased.
Back in 1995 I learned a very expensive lesson... An increase in exposure of even 1/2" (the size of most Hardishake corner chips) is in fact over-exposure and can cause serious water damage to the interior of a home. Corner chips are therefore not "cosmetic damage". They speak directly to the integrity and life expectancy of your Hardishake roof.
"3/4 inch hail size... [the] threshold size for damage to... deteriorated gray-black slates (especially at corners)- chipped." HAAG ENGINEERING
A Hardishake shingle that is deteriorating is especially susceptible to hail damage (even small 3/4" sized hail). When the corners are chipped the exposure can be dangerously increased.
Back in 1995 I learned a very expensive lesson... An increase in exposure of even 1/2" (the size of most Hardishake corner chips) is in fact over-exposure and can cause serious water damage to the interior of a home. Corner chips are therefore not "cosmetic damage". They speak directly to the integrity and life expectancy of your Hardishake roof.
Monday, April 04, 2005
Lawsuit claim denied
I was recently contacted by a gentleman in Ft. Worth, Texas who made the following Hardishake lawsuit claim report:
[Paraphrased]
"I filled out the paperwork for the Hardishake claim. The inspector came out to look at my roof in December 2003. Although my roof has lost its original color, looks dirty, and is breaking apart my claim was denied."
You have to meet the "terms" of the settlement if you want to be paid through the lawsuit. Those terms are extremely hard to meet. Even though the roof had a 50 year warranty that covered algae, the "terms" do not cover algae. There are (3) major hurdles to overcome if you are going to be paid in the lawsuit.
The 3 Hurdles:
1. The roof is no longer "servicable". Note: Servicable as a word can be defined much too broadly. Does that mean that as long as your roof is shedding water it is still servicable? If you wreck your car but it still drives, is it servicable?
2. "Damage" to 10% - 25% of the entire roof. Note: Damage is defined as a crack in the Hardishake that covers 25% or more of what you can see on each shingle. However, you cannot start measuring the damage until you get at least 1" away from the bottom (butt). Unfortunately, many (if not most) damage to the shingle will be visable within that 1" restricted area (i.e. broken corner or delaminating at the bottom edge). I have seen hailstorms in Texas rip apart an old, fragile, worn-out wood roof but the "damage" would never meet this degree of difficulty.
3. Damage by "Severe Hail". Note: What is the chance of hail in Texas? According to the latest statistics I've heard, you can count on damaging hail at least every seven years. The city of Grapevine itself was hit with 3 hailstorms inside a two year period not so long ago. So, if you've had hail, forget about the lawsuit!
There are several other hurdles for you to cross before getting paid. I've only made mention of the (3) because that disqualifies everyone I have ever worked with. If you would like to read the report yourself, here's the link.
[Paraphrased]
"I filled out the paperwork for the Hardishake claim. The inspector came out to look at my roof in December 2003. Although my roof has lost its original color, looks dirty, and is breaking apart my claim was denied."
You have to meet the "terms" of the settlement if you want to be paid through the lawsuit. Those terms are extremely hard to meet. Even though the roof had a 50 year warranty that covered algae, the "terms" do not cover algae. There are (3) major hurdles to overcome if you are going to be paid in the lawsuit.
The 3 Hurdles:
1. The roof is no longer "servicable". Note: Servicable as a word can be defined much too broadly. Does that mean that as long as your roof is shedding water it is still servicable? If you wreck your car but it still drives, is it servicable?
2. "Damage" to 10% - 25% of the entire roof. Note: Damage is defined as a crack in the Hardishake that covers 25% or more of what you can see on each shingle. However, you cannot start measuring the damage until you get at least 1" away from the bottom (butt). Unfortunately, many (if not most) damage to the shingle will be visable within that 1" restricted area (i.e. broken corner or delaminating at the bottom edge). I have seen hailstorms in Texas rip apart an old, fragile, worn-out wood roof but the "damage" would never meet this degree of difficulty.
3. Damage by "Severe Hail". Note: What is the chance of hail in Texas? According to the latest statistics I've heard, you can count on damaging hail at least every seven years. The city of Grapevine itself was hit with 3 hailstorms inside a two year period not so long ago. So, if you've had hail, forget about the lawsuit!
There are several other hurdles for you to cross before getting paid. I've only made mention of the (3) because that disqualifies everyone I have ever worked with. If you would like to read the report yourself, here's the link.
Important changes to the website
Changes to the website
I am of the same opinion as many of the other experts and engineers in my field. That is, the Hardishake shingles have a "fatal flaw" in their design. James Hardie Building Products has not made this admission of a "fatal flaw". In fact, their opinion is quite the opposite in spite of the class action settlement. As a result, I have edited my comment to read "alleged fatal flaw" with an asterisk pointing out the following clarification at the bottom of the web page:
* James Hardie Building Products (JHBP) has denied all charges of wrongdoing or liability of any kind whatsoever asserted or which could have been asserted in litigation and has asserted and continues to assert various defenses to various claims.
I am of the same opinion as many of the other experts and engineers in my field. That is, the Hardishake shingles have a "fatal flaw" in their design. James Hardie Building Products has not made this admission of a "fatal flaw". In fact, their opinion is quite the opposite in spite of the class action settlement. As a result, I have edited my comment to read "alleged fatal flaw" with an asterisk pointing out the following clarification at the bottom of the web page:
* James Hardie Building Products (JHBP) has denied all charges of wrongdoing or liability of any kind whatsoever asserted or which could have been asserted in litigation and has asserted and continues to assert various defenses to various claims.
Why a blog about Hardishake?
I get calls regularly from all over the country asking about Hardishake. Insurance adjusters, Homeowners, and Home Inspectors need information to help them make important decisions.
I want to provide this free resource for everyone. Hopefully, the information shared here will help you in your decisions and will serve to help me remember more by using this blog as a personal reference... you know what they say about getting older!
I want to provide this free resource for everyone. Hopefully, the information shared here will help you in your decisions and will serve to help me remember more by using this blog as a personal reference... you know what they say about getting older!
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