Insurers Told Not to Skimp On Roof
Repairs
They Must Pay For the Removal of
All Shingles Damaged During Storms
By Terrence Stutz
Austin Bureau
of The Dallas Morning News
Austin—State Insurance Commissioner
Robert Hunter on Monday ordered insurance
companies to pay for all shingle
removal—including multiple layers—when
replacing Texas roofs damaged by
hail and other storms.
Mr. Hunter’s order, issued
after homeowner complaints to the
Texas Department of Insurance, means
that insurers refusing to pay for
removal of all layers of shingles
could face disciplinary action.
Consumers have a right to be treated
fairly. To deny payment for the removal
of all roofing materials after a
storm is an unfair practice," the
commissioner said.
"The purpose of insurance coverage
is to make an insured whole again
after a loss. The settlement of any
claim for damage to a roof with multiple
overlays of roof coverings should
include the cost to remove those
multiple layers of roof coverings."
An Insurance Department spokesman
said complaints arose when some companies
refused to pay for removal of all
shingles on roofs with multiple layers.
Those companies contended that they
were obligated to pay only for the
removal of one layer.
Problems also have arisen with homes
needing a new roof that had composition
shingles laid over wood shingles.
Some companies have balked at paying
for new roof decking in such cases.
Mr. Hunter said insurers are responsible
not only for removing both layers,
but also for redecking the roof if
composition shingles are being used
as a replacement.
Insurance companies also have been
prohibited from using roof overlays
to settle claims instead of removing
the damaged shingles.
An insurance industry spokesman
said most companies already pay for
removal of all shingles form a roof
damaged by hail and storms.
"Not paying for the removal
of all layers of shingles would affect
only a handful of insurers because
companies want a satisfied policyholder
and quality work when roof damage
does occur," said
Jerry Johns of the Southwestern Insurance
Information Service.
"This is simply not a common
practice among insurers writing homeowners
business in Texas.
Rick Gentry of the Insurance Information
Institute said that although there
has been some confusion about coverage
of roofs, he has seen nothing to
indicate that the problem is widespread.
Thousands of roofs were replaced
in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in
1992 after the most destructive hailstorm
in Texas history struck the area
April 28.
Total insured losses from the storms—mostly
from damage to autos and roofs—were
nearly $750 million. |
