Depreciation?!? Why did my insurance company not send me all of the money to repair or replace my roof??

What is depreciation?
Over time your home and most of its contents lose value over time due to factors like age, wear and tear, etc.  This loss in value is called Depreciation.

If it costs me more to replace the depreciated item(s), why didn't my insurance company pay that amount?
Under most insurance policies, claim reimbursement begins with an up-front payment for the Actual Cash Value of your damage, or the value of the damaged or destroyed item(s) at the time of loss.

If you have coverage included in your policy, you may be able to receive money to cover the Depreciation of these items.  If this is the case, reimbursement (which may involve two or more payments) comes once you repair and/or replace the damaged or destroyed items and provide your insurance company with documentation, or proof.

How do you know if you have Replacement Cost coverage?
Your insurance settlement statement should include a line item on the totals page that states something to the effect of Total Recoverable Depreciation OR Total NON-Recoverable Depreciation.  If there is an amount listed at Recoverable, then you may be entitled to the depreciation amount...If there is an amount listed at NON-Recoverable, then there may be some money that will not be applied to the claim.  The BEST way to know if you have Recoverable Cost coverage is to call your insurance company and ask.

Another fabulous install from Carolina Shingle!!

Congratulations to the Pizzuto Family
on their new roof!!!

AFTER!!

before

Congratulations to the White Household on their new roof!!  Check out the before and after pics below!!

After!

before

Carolina Shingle uses GAF Starter Strip Shingles on all their jobs.

Starter shingles are pre-cut shingles designed specifically for the roof edge.  They incorporate a factory-applied adhesive strip to help prevent blow-offs.

Starter Strip

Looks Better…
Straighter roof edges and no messy black cement dripping onto your new white edge metal
 

Best Performance… 
Factory-applied Dura Grip™ Adhesive helps to lock down the roof edges at the eaves and rakes

Peace Of Mind... 
GAF tests show that using starter strips at the eaves and rakes helps to prevent blow-offs and potential leaks

Superior Warranties… 
GAF offers increased wind coverage on many shingles when you use starter strips. They are also covered by up to a Lifetime ltd. warranty when installed on Lifetime Shingle roofs.

More about proper attic/roof ventilation...

Poor attic ventilation can ruin your insulation, destroy your shingles, and raise your energy bills!

Typical household activities can wreak havoc on a roof and attic if proper roof ventilation is not provided:

• In the summer, heat build-up encourages the premature aging and cracking of wood and other roofing materials.  Unwanted heat can also transfer back down into living areas - which reduces energy efficiency.

• In cold weather, warm air generated by laundry, showers, dish washing and cooking can linger in the house and cause moisture build up.

More specifically, in the winter, various household appliances, bathtubs, showers, and cooking vapors can contribute to excess moisture build-up.  Improperly ventilated attics will allow this moisture to collect and cling to the underside of the roof.  The moisture will condense and fall, soaking the attic insulation and reducing its efficiency.  In the summer, improper ventilation can cause attic heat to build in excess of 160F.  This super-heated air eventually penetrates the ceiling insulation into the living area below.  A properly ventilated attic can help reduce the load on your air conditioner by moving the super-heated air out of your attic before it builds up and causes damage.  Ultimately, proper ventilation - along with attic insulation - helps maintain a comfortable temperature inside a home, increase energy efficiency, prevent moisture damage and contribute to the longevity of a roof.

The only way to combat these problems is with a balanced ventilation system.  That means it's important to have proper ventilation, plus the appropriate amount of attic insulation to maximize performance.  In a balanced system, wind blowing over the ridge creates negative pressure that draws the warmer are out of the attic.  Replacement air then enters through the under-eave or soffit vents, bathes the underside of the roof, and exits at the ridge cap (ridge vent), roof or gable vents.  Even without the wind, the natural convection action of rising warm air maintains a continuous air flow along the underside of the roof.

In summary...

Proper ventilation ensures a healthier, more durable roof!!  So when you get that new roof installed, check out your ventilation to protect it.

Selling your house: which 'fixes' are worth it to lure buyers? 

(NewsUSA 05/20/2012)

If you're one of those homeowners who's been moaning about how hard it's been trying to sell your house, your bargaining power -- you remember that concept, right? -- hasn't been completely devastated just because a flood of new foreclosures is expect to hit the market as a result of the recent $25 billion "robo-signing" mortgage settlement.

In fact, while studies have shown your own property value could take up to another 4 percent hit if your within a quarter mile of a foreclosure ultimately snapped up at auction or taken back by the lender, the thing to remember is this:  Most buyers today are only interested in homes that are "move-in-ready," so if yours isn't...well, there's your problem.

"Buyers generally look at 'as-is' properties that need work, and say 'I'll pass,'" says Patsy O'Neill, a sales associate with Sotheby's in Montclair, N.J.  "That's why I tell clients it's worth making certain strategic fixes if they're looking for quicker and more profitable sales."  So, which "fixes" are worth it, and which aren't?  Read on:

Worth It:  Addressing major maintenance and safety issues.  Would you buy a house with faulty electrical wiring?  Enough said.

Not Worth It:  Major bath renovations.  "Whatever you do might not suit the buyer," says O'Neill, "and meanwhile, you'd have spent as much as tens of thousands of dollars."  Meaning, stick to things like repairing cracked shower doors, and save your visions of a modern-spa for your own new abode.

Worth It:  Ripping up old carpeting.  Whether you replace it with new carpets or refinish the underlying wood floor is less important than getting rid of an eyesore.

Not Worth It:  Major kitchen renovations.  Same "taste" issue as above.

Worth It:  Anything that enhances "curb appeal."  If the first thing prospective buyers notice even before exiting their cars is that your roof looks like it's been whipped by a tornado, say, chances are you've already lost the sale.  "It's a huge turn-off,"  says O'Neill, "and makes buyers predisposed to find even more things they don't like."  So, if your roof needs replacing, check out the Timberline Shingles from GAF (the largest roofing manufacturer in North America), which have the look of luxury shingles but at very affordable prices (www.gaf.com).  If you think your roof needs replacing, call Carolina Shingle today to get an inspection from one of our representatives.  704.230.4386

Not Worth It:  Anything that screams clutter.  The less of "you" there is, the more likely prospective buyers are to imagine themselves happily living there.