Laguna Niguel, CA
Storm damage, insurance and what to do first
Storm work attracts two kinds of contractor: the ones who live here, and the ones who followed the weather in. Only one of them will answer the phone next spring.
Or call (949) 658-0036Describe the storm damage job
Three questions, then the address. Up to three Laguna Niguel contractors who do this work.
Your request is in.
We are matching it now against roofing contractors working in Laguna Niguel 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.
- A written scope you can put in front of an adjuster
- Whether the contractor is licensed and insured in this state
- Photographs of the damage before any work happens
- What the emergency tarp costs, separate from the repair
- 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.
If the adjuster and the contractor disagree, ask for the contractor to be present at the re-inspection. It changes the conversation.
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 thing roofers see most often in this market is underlayment giving out while the tile above it still looks new. Concrete tile outlives the felt beneath it by decades. The tile is fine, the roof is not, and the only way to fix it is to lift, re-felt and re-lay. Homeowners are consistently caught out by this one.
About storm damage here
Do I need a permit?
Almost certainly, for a full replacement. The contractor should pull it, and the fee should be a visible line on the quote rather than a surprise.
Are the contractors licensed and insured?
We require a licence number and current insurance from every contractor in the network. Verify it yourself anyway. Your state licensing board has a free lookup, and it takes two minutes.
Can I just put a new roof over the old one?
Codes in most places allow two layers. That does not make it wise. You lose the chance to see the deck, and the next roofer has twice as much to remove.
Do I need association approval?
Very likely, and it usually takes longer than the roof does. Get the approved colour and profile list before you gather quotes, or you will price options you are not allowed to install.
Ready for a real number?
It is free, and nothing obliges you to hire anyone.