Storm Damage Restoration
Houston is notorious for dangerous weather that regularly damages residential homes and commercial properties in the area. Our Techs and project managers are able to assist you with repairs and restorations. Orion’s techs can help homeowners navigate through the often confusing insurance process, and work quickly to ensure repairs in a timely manner.
Insurance FAQ
How Much will Repairs Cost Me:
Costs may vary depending on the extent of the damage. Orion typically makes insurance repairs according to the scope of work agreed upon with the insurance cost, so actual costs may vary. Our customers typical out of pocket is their deductible only. We highly recommend contacting your insurance company to be aware of your deductible before filing any claim.
My roof is not leaking. How do I know if I have hail damage?
In a hailstorm, most hail that hits your roof and house may be too small to cause any damage. However, a percentage of the hail may be large or irregularly shaped, which can cause severe damage that may not be readily apparent and may not start to leak for some time. It’s best to have your roof inspected by a state licensed roofing contractor to determine if you need to file an insurance claim and have an insurance adjuster assess the total amount of damage incurred.
The insurance company withheld depreciation on my roof. Will I get that money?
Yes. Most all homeowners’ policies cover full replacement value. The first check the insurance company gives you is the Actual Value (AV), i.e., what the roof is worth today with its useful remaining life. The money that was withheld is called the depreciation, or technically, the Replacement Value (RV) and will be paid to you when the work is completed or most times upon the submission of a signed contract with a licensed contractor for the work specified in the insurance adjuster’s summary report.
Why did the insurance company withhold depreciation?
There are two reasons that the insurance companies hold some money back. The first reason is to make sure that you get the work done. Past experience has shown them that, if they give the customer all the money up front, many people end up spending it on something else. The second reason is that they wish to make sure that you pay your full deductible. The insurance companies reason that, if you are given all the money, to begin with, many people would naturally try to find a contractor who would perform the job for the dollar amount in hand. By holding a retainage amount, they can adjust the amount of the final payout based on the roofing contractor’s invoice, thus assuring that the customer does pay the deductible.
No two houses receive the same amount of damage in a storm. Your neighbor may have sustained extensive damage, and you may have received none. The insurance company will only pay for the actual damages incurred. If the entire roof was not damaged, unfortunately, the insurance company cannot pay for the whole roof. However, if is it borderline, it always helps to have your roofing contractor inspect the roof with your insurance adjuster to accurately assess all damage to the roof. Sometimes insurance adjusters may not be able to see all the damage if they’re not able to walk on a step roof and photograph certain areas. Orion Roofing & Construction is a helpful presence that will look out for your best interest and assist the insurance adjuster, if needed, with damage assessment, photographs, and measurements.
What if your estimate is greater than the insurance company’s estimate?
Usually, this is because of something the insurance adjuster missed in the scope of work to be completed. We can almost always work out something with the insurance company. We will submit what is called a “supplement” with documentation in the form of pictures, measurements and paperwork. The insurance company will review the supplement and upon approval, send a check for the additional monies needed to make the repairs.
Has my insurance company has already deducted my deductible from the check they sent me? On my paperwork, it looks like they did.
When most people look at their insurance paperwork they are confused, because they think the insurance company deducted their deductible from the money the insurance company has sent them. However, the deductible is the amount that the homeowner is responsible for paying directly to the contractor. The insurance company subtracts the homeowner’s deductible amount on the paperwork from the total amount the insurance company allows for the claim, since the homeowner will pay their deductible directly to the contractor. The balance, after subtracting what the homeowner will pay directly to the contractor as a deductible, is the total amount the insurance company will actually pay for the claim.
How can I avoid paying the deductible?
Legally, you can’t. Of course, a roofer in collusion with a homeowner can submit falsified invoices. However, doing so is insurance fraud. Please don’t ask us to do this.
But my Neighbor/friend/Relative got a roof with no deductible!
Orion will not lower it’s ethics or commit insurance fraud. We value our relationship with insurance companies and our commercial clients. We will not do anything to damage our reputation or our business. Insurance fraud is a felony in the state of Texas. Please refer to the following Sections of the Texas Penal Code. Section Chapter 35 and Texas Business and Commerce Code Chapter 27.02
Sec. 35.02. INSURANCE FRAUD.
(a) A person commits an offense if, with intent to defraud or deceive an insurer, the person, in support of a claim for payment under an insurance policy:
(1) prepares or causes to be prepared a statement that:
(A) the person knows contains false or misleading material information; and
(B) is presented to an insurer; or
(2) presents or causes to be presented to an insurer a statement that the person knows contains false or misleading material information.
(a-1) A person commits an offense if the person, with intent to defraud or deceive an insurer and in support of an application for an insurance policy:
(1) prepares or causes to be prepared a statement that:
(A) the person knows contains false or misleading material information; and
(B) is presented to an insurer; or
(2) presents or causes to be presented to an insurer a statement that the person knows contains false or misleading material information.
(b) A person commits an offense if, with intent to defraud or deceive an insurer, the person solicits, offers, pays, or receives a benefit in connection with the furnishing of goods or services for which a claim for payment is submitted under an insurance policy.
(c) An offense under Subsection (a) or (b) is:
(1) a Class C misdemeanor if the value of the claim is less than $100;
(2) a Class B misdemeanor if the value of the claim is $100 or more but less than $750;
(3) a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the claim is $750 or more but less than $2,500;
(4) a state jail felony if the value of the claim is $2,500 or more but less than $30,000;
(5) a felony of the third degree if the value of the claim is $30,000 or more but less than $150,000;
(6) a felony of the second degree if the value of the claim is $150,000 or more but less than $300,000; or
(7) a felony of the first degree if:
(A) the value of the claim is $300,000 or more; or
(B) an act committed in connection with the commission of the offense places a person at risk of death or serious bodily injury.
Sec. 27.02. CERTAIN INSURANCE CLAIMS FOR EXCESSIVE CHARGES.
(a) A person who sells goods or services commits an offense if:
(1) the person advertises or promises to provide the good or service and to pay:
(A) all or part of any applicable insurance deductible; or
(B) a rebate in an amount equal to all or part of any applicable insurance deductible;
(2) the good or service is paid for by the consumer from proceeds of a property or casualty insurance policy; and
(3) the person knowingly charges an amount for the good or service that exceeds the usual and customary charge by the person for the good or service by an amount equal to or greater than all or part of the applicable insurance deductible paid by the person to an insurer on behalf of an insured or remitted to an insured by the person as a rebate.
