Roof Damage Insurance: What is an ITEL Report and Why Would You Need One?

If you need to claim on your insurance for damage to your roof the repair could turn out to be a substantial sum of money.

It is really important that you know exactly what work needs doing and what all the materials are going to cost. Your insurance company might even dispute your claim or even refute that the roof needs repairing or replacing if your estimate is not accurate.

That is where an ITEL report could make all the difference.

Here is a look at what an ITEL is all about and why you need one.

Understanding what an ITEL report is

ITEL is designed to provide an independent evaluation of your damaged roof, together with an assessment of the work and materials needed to put it back to how it was before the damage occurred.

This third-party organization creates a report to identify the materials needed to repair your roof.

An ITEL report will provide an accurate identification of the color and manufacture of the shingle on your roof. They use lab data to match the shingle. If your shingle is no longer available due to being discontinued, the report will help confirm to your insurer that a full replacement may be required.

Help with getting your insurance claim agreed

Insurance companies always tend to try and find a way to deny your claim or reduce their liability in some way.

An ITEL report can help you to validate your claim and provide supporting information that demonstrates the accuracy of what you are asking to replace or repair.

It is feasible that your insurer might claim that damage is due to wear and tear and not caused by a recent storm, for instance.

An ITEL report could provide the vital intelligence that concludes in your favor that your roof has been damaged unexpectedly and you have a valid insurance claim.

Matching like for like

Some states require you to replace your damaged or missing roof shingles with exactly the same ones when having repair work done.

If you are in a state where it is a legal requirement to match like-for-like it will be even more essential that you use an ITEL report. This is because you may need to replace your whole roof covering if you are no longer able to source supplies of your existing color, thickness, and style of shingle.

A report will provide confirmation that this is your only viable option to your insurer.

Working with your roofing contractor

It is best to work with a roofing contractor who knows how to liaise with your insurer and understands what an ITEL report involves.

Providing accurate information to your insurer will make all the difference when it comes to making a successful claim. If any details are missing or incorrect it could result in your claim being denied.

That is why it is always a good idea to get an ITEL report if you need to make a claim for repairing or replacing your roof.