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“Is it worth the time and effort to have my roof replaced before hurricane season, just for it to get damaged during a storm?”
“If I get a new roof, will a hurricane destroy it?”
You may be wondering about these things if you live in a coastal region like Myrtle Beach. Timing a new roof can be difficult. A common goal for homeowners is to find the optimal moment to replace their roof, considering both the season and the most financially advantageous period for the project.
Having been a roofing company in Myrtle Beach for 38 years, we are here to tell you that yes, you should absolutely have a roof replacement before hurricane season hits our area.
While it may seem like a straightforward sales approach for a local roofing company to prompt you to schedule a roof replacement right away, we make this recommendation because we have seen what best serves homeowners in the Myrtle Beach area. In this article we will discuss the reasons why.
Over the years, we have witnessed numerous customers face financial repercussions after a hurricane because their roof could not handle extreme weather conditions. This can cause costly interior damage, which we will discuss in this article. Not only that, but most reputable roofing companies book up quickly after a major storm, meaning you may not have a roof replacement in the necessary timeframe.
The Financial Toll of Post-Hurricane Roof Replacements
The main objective of having a safe and secure roofing system is to protect your home from interior damage. Interior damage can be pervasive, causing an onslaught of necessary repairs to your home.
This can become even more costly for you if you have an older roofing system.
A common misconception is that waiting till after a storm will ensure that your insurance company will pay for the entire cost of a new roof. While it’s possible, it is much less likely than you may think.
It is rare for us to find an “ideal” amount of damage on a roof after a hurricane, speaking from an insurance mindset.
What we mean by that is one of the two below is generally true after a storm:
- Most homeowners have less damage than their insurance company requires for the entire system to be replaced.
Or
- The damage is so severe that there is also significant interior damage, personal items ruined, and significant time spent trying to get your home fixed (Sometimes months of your life you’ll never get back spent trying to fix your home.)
When there is extreme damage to your entire home from a catastrophic event, you could live in a construction zone for a long time. Or worse, you could be required to leave the home entirely until all the necessary repairs are complete.
Not only will you wait for interior repairs, but post-hurricane it is common for homeowners to wait much longer than usual for a local roofer to install a roof replacement.
Why You Might Wait Longer Than Expected for a Roofer Post-Hurricane
After a hurricane it is unlikely to schedule a roof replacement right away. After a major storm, roofing companies can book their schedule weeks to months out. Meaning it could possibly be months before you regain the integrity of your roof.
During this waiting period there could be wind storms and heavy rain that only further damage the fragile state of your roof.
The problem with this is that you run the risk of more damage to your roof and to the interior of your home. Making the final cost much higher than a simple roof replacement prior to a hurricane. Not only that, but shingle manufacturers tend to raise their prices after a major weather event.
Material Pricing for Roofing Shingles Increase After a Hurricane
Over the last 38 years shingle pricing has been on an upward trend. Prices often increase after a storm season.
And we have never seen shingle manufacturers lower their prices, especially not after an extreme weather event.
In this scenario, you may end up paying a premium, and then when it comes to the insurance coverage you have, it may end up costing more than what you expect. As aforementioned, your insurance company may not provide enough funds to replace your roof, meaning that you are left with the remaining costs.
For example, if you have a 15 year old roof and it is damaged during a hurricane, there are certain types of policies that will only pay for the amount that is left of the roof life, which is only a few years. Meaning the majority of the cost is on you as the homeowner.
Conversely, a brand new roof is much less likely to have damage, which only benefits you.
Pre-emptive Roof Replacements Can Provide a Sense of Safety as You Brave a Storm
Finding the right time to replace your roof can cause you unnecessary stress.
Whether you are hoping a storm will come and qualify your roof or you’re hoping to spend a bit less on your roofing project, it can be difficult to balance these challenges. Not only that, but it is difficult to time these things to work out the way you’ve been hoping.
Having read this article, you now understand why you shouldn’t stall on a roof replacement. As you plan ahead for your roof replacement job, it may benefit you to understand how Linta Roofing can help guide you through the insurance process to assess if you have insurable damage that you are unaware of.
At the end of the day, a roofing project can be a large investment, it is key for you to feel knowledgeable and prepared as you move forward.
If you are curious to learn more about cost, the insurance process, or choosing the right materials for your roof, you are in the right place.
We at Linta Roofing are honored to help you make decisions for your home that you can feel confident about.
