Bell Gardens, CA
Roof storm damage in Bell Gardens, CA
Storm work attracts two kinds of contractor: the ones who live here, and the ones who followed the weather in. Only one of them will answer the phone next spring.
Or call (323) 328-8594Describe the storm damage job
Three questions, then the address. Up to three Bell Gardens contractors who do this work.
Your request is in.
We are matching it now against roofing contractors working in Bell Gardens and the surrounding area.
- Today, usually within the hour. The first contractor calls or texts the number you gave us. ASAP requests go out first.
- Up to three of them, no more. We cap it at three so you can compare without your phone melting.
- They come and look. Estimates are given after somebody has been on the roof, not over the phone.
- You decide, or you do not. There is nothing to cancel and nothing to pay us.
If you do not hear anything today, check your voicemail and spam folder — contractors often call from a mobile number.
Before you let anybody on the roof
The things worth pinning down on a storm damage job. A contractor who has not raised them has not looked properly.
- Whether the contractor is licensed and insured in this state
- A local address you could actually drive to
- A written scope you can put in front of an adjuster
- What the emergency tarp costs, separate from the repair
- Photographs of the damage before any work happens
Photograph the outside, the inside, and the date. Then get a tarp on it. An adjuster can work with photographs of the original damage; they cannot work with your description of what it looked like before the repair.
Keep every receipt, including the tarp and the emergency call-out. Reasonable measures to prevent further damage are usually recoverable, and usually forgotten.
Damage that matters is often invisible from the ground. Bruised shingles, lifted seals and hairline mat fractures fail years later, long after the claim window has closed.
Locally
The second problem is morning fog that sits on the roof until mid-morning. Damp that arrives every morning and leaves by lunchtime is worse for a roof than rain, because nothing ever fully dries between one and the next.
About storm damage here
How much deposit is normal?
Ten to thirty per cent is ordinary, and is often used to order material. A demand for full payment up front is a reason to walk away.
Is moss on the roof a problem?
Yes, eventually. Moss holds water against the shingle and lifts the edges as it thickens. Zinc or copper strip at the ridge suppresses it. Pressure washing an asphalt roof strips the granules and does more harm than the moss did.
Can I stay in the house while it is done?
Yes, though it is loud, and things will fall off shelves in the garage. Move cars out of the driveway and take anything fragile off the walls of the top floor.
Do I need a permit?
Almost certainly, for a full replacement. The contractor should pull it, and the fee should be a visible line on the quote rather than a surprise.
Get the roof looked at
No cost, no obligation, and never more than three contractors.