South Gate, CA
Storm damage, insurance and what to do first
Most storm claims are lost on documentation, not on damage. Photograph everything before anybody touches the roof.
Or call (323) 328-8546Describe the storm damage job
Three questions, then the address. Up to three South Gate contractors who do this work.
Your request is in.
We are matching it now against roofing contractors working in South Gate and the surrounding area.
- Today, usually within the hour. The first contractor calls or texts the number you gave us. ASAP requests go out first.
- Up to three of them, no more. We cap it at three so you can compare without your phone melting.
- They come and look. Estimates are given after somebody has been on the roof, not over the phone.
- You decide, or you do not. There is nothing to cancel and nothing to pay us.
If you do not hear anything today, check your voicemail and spam folder — contractors often call from a mobile number.
Before you let anybody on the roof
The things worth pinning down on a storm damage job. A contractor who has not raised them has not looked properly.
- What the emergency tarp costs, separate from the repair
- Photographs of the damage before any work happens
- A written scope you can put in front of an adjuster
- Whether the contractor is licensed and insured in this state
- A local address you could actually drive to
Photograph the outside, the inside, and the date. Then get a tarp on it. An adjuster can work with photographs of the original damage; they cannot work with your description of what it looked like before the repair.
Keep every receipt, including the tarp and the emergency call-out. Reasonable measures to prevent further damage are usually recoverable, and usually forgotten.
A local contractor who inspects and documents properly is more use to your claim than a fast one who is already on the roof.
Locally
The second problem is shaded slopes that never really dry out. The north side of a house here ages years faster than the south side, and almost every roof gets replaced because of it.
About storm damage here
Is this really free?
Yes. You pay nothing, now or later. Roofing contractors pay us for the introduction, which is why the service costs you nothing and why we are upfront that it is how we make money.
I have solar panels. What happens to them?
Panels have to be detached and reset. Budget for it separately and coordinate the two trades. Never put a new solar array on a roof with under ten years left.
What warranty should I expect?
Ask for both in writing: the material warranty from the manufacturer and the workmanship warranty from the contractor. The second one is the one that matters in year three, and it is only as good as the company behind it.
How long does a re-roof take?
A straightforward asphalt roof on an average house is one to three days. Tile, slate and complex rooflines take longer, and weather stops work more often than anything else.
What is it going to cost?
No cost, no obligation, and never more than three contractors.