What Louisville storm damage looks like
High wind (60+ mph): missing or lifted shingles, fallen trees on structures, damaged soffits and gutters. Hail (1+ inch): dented roof vents, dimpled shingles, broken skylights, damaged siding. Tornado: total loss in direct path, severe structural damage in adjacent lots, roof and window damage up to 1 mile away. Ice storm: fallen branches, ice dam leaks, frozen pipes.
The first 48 hours after a storm
1. Photograph everything before you clean up. Every dent, every missing shingle, every wet ceiling. 2. Call your insurance company and open a claim. Get a claim number. 3. Make emergency repairs only — tarp the roof, board up windows, stop the leak. Insurance will pay for emergency mitigation even if they ultimately deny the claim. 4. Do NOT sign anything from a contractor who shows up unsolicited. 5. Call a Louisville-licensed contractor you trust to come look. They can document the damage for your insurance adjuster.
Working with your insurance company
1. Schedule the adjuster visit for when you AND your contractor can be there. Your contractor can point out damage the adjuster might miss. 2. Get the adjuster report in writing. Read it. If it misses damage, request a re-inspection. 3. Get a detailed contractor estimate that maps to the adjuster report line-by-line. 4. You have the right to a public adjuster if you disagree with your insurance company.
The 4 storm-chaser scams
1. "We can start tomorrow if you sign now" — no legitimate contractor pressures you. 2. "Pay us the deductible and we will waive it" — this is insurance fraud and you can lose your policy. 3. "We are from out of town but we will be here for the season" — they leave in 3 months and the warranty is worthless. 4. "Your insurance will pay for the whole thing, no out of pocket" — only true if the adjuster agrees the damage is covered. Get it in writing.
What we do for storm damage
We do emergency tarping and mitigation the same day you call. We will meet your insurance adjuster on site. We will give you a detailed estimate that maps to the insurance report. We pull all required permits. We finish the work in 2-8 weeks depending on scope. We warranty our work for 1 year on top of manufacturer warranties.
What we will NOT do
We will not waive your deductible. We will not pressure you to sign. We will not inflate the claim. We will not start without a signed contract and a deposit that follows Kentucky law (no more than 30% or $5K, whichever is less).