Just got off the phone with a young man named Jonathan. Here's his Hardishake story...
His family just had engineers sent by their insurance company come out and inspect their Hardishake roof for a possible claim today... that's usually your first clue that your insurance company may not want to pay your claim. I only say that because they'll usually tell you it is to protect both of you. However, in my experience, the engineering firm is sent out to help your insurance company deny a claim more often than they help you get your claim approved.
The engineering firm is not the final authority on whether or not you will get your Hardishake roof replaced. Although there are many variables that go into determining whether or not your Hardishake claim is paid, the insurance company would like for you to put more credence into their "findings" than perhaps you should.
Think of the engineering firm as a expert witness in a trial. They are your insurance companies expert witness... you should have your own expert witness too... maybe another engineering company that does not owe a significant portion of their livelihood to your insurance company.
Jonathan went on to tell me that while they were on the roof, the engineers broke 16 tiles while walking around. The engineering firm is suggesting repairing the broken shingles rather than replacing the roof.
Here's 3 Reasons Why This Is A Problem:
#1 Many insurance companies refuse to insure a Hardishake roof. If this family decides to move, is transferred or has to sell - it may cause an undue hardship to get the roof replaced. It could end up eating into their equity. They may have to take out a home-improvement loan or settle with the new buyers on a "as-is" price. Remember, this particular claim is $90,000.00. Do you have that much equity built up in your home?
#2 It is circular reasoning to say you can repair a roof that was the subject of a settled class-action lawsuit using shingles that were the reason for the class-action lawsuit. That would be like taking a recalled toy back to Wal-Mart only to have it replaced with another recalled toy. Thank you very much for your business. What just happened? As they say in the South, "You got took!"
#3 Your insurance company is not responsible for your defective roof - they are responsible for insurable damage to your defective roof. Broken tiles caused by a inspection requested by your insurance company are the responsibility of your insurance company.
Final Analysis:
Nobody likes having a roof that is falling apart, a roof that has been through a class-action lawsuit or a roof that is a liability (to the insurance company and the homeowner). They are expensive to replace, but somebody is going to have to pay for it... who will it be?
That's why it pays to get expert advice from the very beginning. If you have a Hardishake roof, pick up the phone and call the Hardishake Specialist today. Dial (817) 781-9982.
Mike