Under an insurance claim I had my roof shingled. The shingles were faulty and blew off. My insurance company says the problem is mine to deal with shingle company. Whos problem is it?

Answer 1

Your Homeowners Insurance Policy provides coverage for the perils listed on your insurance policy. Covered perils are typically, Fire, Wind, Hail, falling objects, etc. Poor workmanship by a contractor is never a covered peril. If the shingles are blowing off the roof in light to moderate winds, it would initially appear that they were not installed properly.

If you have an issue of poor workmanship from your chosen contractor, You should contact the roofing contractor who did the work. With your due diligence before hiring the contractor, you will have a copy of his or her Contractors General liability insurance policy which will cover the work performed. If you failed to verify that the contractor was properly insured, you may have no choice but to work with the contractor to have the faulty installation repaired or alternatively, hire a lawyer to file suit against the contractor and enforce your rights as a consumer.

The first Hallmark of "Professionalism" in a contractor is that they are "insured" for the work they do and will readily provide you with a copy of their insurance policy on request prior to beginning work. If the contractor will not provide you with references and or verifiable proof of coverage, you should not allow the work to begin and look for another contractor.

It is always a good practice before you hire a contractor, to check on their references so you can know if other customers have been satisfied with their work. If your state has a contractors licensing scheme ( Many do not ), you should also make sure they are licensed for the work being offered. And last but not least, you should "Always, Always" make sure the contractor is properly insured. In the event the work performed is faulty or substandard you will be able to file a claim against the contractors insurance to pay for any additional costs of bringing the work up to code.

Bear in mind that the your homeowners insurance will only pay for the repair job once. It's up to you to choose a reputable contractor to perform the work. The insurer is not liable for our poor choice of contractors and does not pay for damages that result from perils ( poor quality or workmanship ) not listed on the policy.

Answer

If the shingles were faulty, you should let the roofing company that installed the shingles know that there is a problem. The installers should notify the shingle manufacturer, whose responsibility it is to warranty their product against defect. The insurance company should not be responsible for faulty shingles, only the damage caused by a leaking roof ( and after the initial claim, you will have to prove that you took steps to prevent further damage).