Scope
Full roof replacement after nor'easter wind damage
Materials
GAF Timberline HDZ — Charcoal
Timeline
2 working days, 6-week insurance process
The Challenge
The homeowner's roof was 22 years old — older than the original architectural shingle warranty period. When the November storm peeled a 12-foot strip of shingles off the rear slope, they assumed they'd be on the hook for the full replacement out-of-pocket because the roof was 'too old.' We were called for an estimate and to document damage they could share with their adjuster.
Our Approach
On the initial inspection we documented sixteen separate damaged areas, not just the visible peeled strip — wind-lifted seal strips on adjacent slopes that hadn't fully torn off but would in the next storm, granule loss patterns consistent with the same wind event, and damaged ridge cap on three of the four ridges. We wrote a detailed scope of damage with photo documentation and the homeowner sent it to their insurance company before the adjuster's site visit. When the adjuster walked the roof with us, we pointed out each documented item; the adjuster's estimate matched our scope almost line-by-line and approved a full roof replacement under the policy.
What We Found On-Site
- Wind-lifted seal strips on three adjacent slopes (would have failed in next storm)
- Granule loss on the impact side consistent with wind-driven debris
- Rotten plywood on a 4-square area of the rear slope (covered as part of the replacement scope after we photographed it during tear-off)
- Failed pipe boots that should have been flagged at the last inspection (not the homeowner's fault — replaced at no extra cost)
- Inadequate attic ventilation — added Cobra ridge vent to spec the install for the full GAF warranty
Outcome
Full roof tear-off, deck replacement where needed, new ice-and-water shield at all eaves and valleys, new synthetic underlayment, drip edge, GAF Timberline HDZ in Charcoal, GAF starter and ridge cap, and balanced ridge ventilation. Two-day install, insurance covered all but the deductible, and the new roof carries GAF's limited lifetime warranty plus our written workmanship warranty.
“We thought we'd have to pay for the whole thing because our roof was old. Tri-State walked us through what insurance would actually cover and got us a check that paid for almost everything. The new roof was finished in two days and the property was cleaner than when they started.”
