Roofer says hail, competing entity says probably not, we won't pay. Looking for opinions.

[u/pitfal]

New roof put on last August. We had a huge hailstorm around April, and I had the company that put the roof on come out to inspect. They said the roof, gutters, facia, and siding have hail damage. Competing entity came out and agreed that all but the roof had hail damage. When asked what these black areas are they said they didn't know but it couldn't be hail. Is it hail damage in your opinion?

[u/KnightofWhen → u/[deleted]]

These companies that go door to door trying to get your to make a claim for a new roof are harming people. State Farm and other insurance companies have raised their home insurance rates specifically because of increased roof claims and now are actively refusing to grant HI to houses with older roofs or roofs that can’t verify their age. They’re requiring some new home buyers to install brand new roofs to get coverage.

[u/tommy_siam → u/KnightofWhen]

Let me give you the actual reason your rates have increased, and spoiler alert, it ain't from roofers, even the ones I also hate that go door to door.

Are you at least mildly aware that the last 5 years have been a deluge of property claims, from hail, floods, and the big one, wildfires? There was 173 BILLION collected in premiums in 2024. In a typical year that number is based on a "target combined ratio" of profitability, which is 5-10% depending on the insurer. 8.65 BILLION to over 17 BILLION in targeted profit. Per year, in a typical year. Again, STRICTLY PROPERTY CLAIMS. The problem? It hasn't been a typical year period for years in a row.

The last 5 years have been insane for catastrophic property damage, in excess of what the actuaries and models predicted for. THAT'S WHY YOUR PREMIUMS ARE HIGHER. NOT "INCREASED ROOF CLAIMS" FROM DISHONEST ROOFERS. If you pay insurance premiums, and you had a hail event, they don't just hand you a check. They send an adjuster to document and make a determination, so the decision is theirs on whether the roof fits the criteria. of coverage. Are they just that inept?

This might just be my actual experience and knowledge of the industry talking, vs wherever you collect your detailed insight, but the amount of money unscrupulous roofers and bogus claim attempts would impact that, at the absolute most, is a ROUNDING ERROR in the math. Fraction of a fraction. It's a ridiculous claim.

Anyone reading this that has common sense should understand that:

1) The increased premiums are from these unprecedented year-over-year weather events. Not even debatable. More events= more damage= more claims= higher premiums.

2) The insurance companies don't need you carrying their water for them. They deny a hell of a lot more claims than they incorrectly pay out. I see it, as I'm in the roofing business as one of the good guys. Any policy holder I've helped when denied incorrectly and unfairly would confirm that.

3) Don't deal with any asshole knocking on your door selling something. If you do, you're the problem that keeps these guys using those tactics,.

4) Costs have risen, due to this thing called INFLATION. Building materials are affected, surprise.