Costa Mesa, 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.
Describe the storm damage job
Three questions, then the address. Up to three Costa Mesa contractors who do this work.
Your request is in.
We are matching it now against roofing contractors working in Costa Mesa 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.
- 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
- A written scope you can put in front of an adjuster
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.
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.
Locally
Then, less dramatically: shaded slopes that never really dry out. Nothing dramatic happens. A slope stays damp most mornings for thirty years, and eventually that is enough.
About storm damage here
Can I stay in the house while it is done?
Most people do. Expect noise from early morning, dust in the attic, and a day where the driveway belongs to the crew.
How long should a roof last here?
Rated life and real life are different numbers. Here, salt and sun together tend to take the low end of any rated life. Ventilation and the quality of the installation move that more than the brand does.
Do I need a permit?
Yes, in nearly every jurisdiction a re-roof is permitted work. A contractor who suggests skipping it is telling you something useful about how they work.
What should I do to prepare?
Clear the driveway, protect attic storage from falling dust, and plan for two loud days. Agree in advance where the dumpster goes and who sweeps for nails.