"Steve" wrote in message
...
I have noticed that in the last three or so years that about 20 percent of
the houses in my subdivision in northwest suburban Chicago have gotten new
siding and roofs. The houses here are about 15 years old. Almost all have
been done by the same company that scours the neighboorhood after storms
looking for any type of damage.

My wife said they stopped by our house the other day and wanted to know if
we wanted our roof and siding replace because of hail and wind damage and
that it would cost us nothing more than our deductible or something like
that (my wife often does not get the whole story or ask a lot of
questions) and that they would do most the talking with the insurance
company. I said what damage. She showed me a piece of loose siding by the
side of the garage on the top row. I said that has been like that for
years and I intend to fix it someday - really. Then she showed me about 10
shingles that were elevated ever so slightly which I said that I can fix
that in about an hour with some roofing cement like I used to do on my
first house back in more lean times.

So my question is this legit in that these companies can get the insurance
companies to pay for almost all costs with only what I would call very
minor damage that a handy man would probably fix for $100 ?? Wouldn't the
insurance companies at least want to pro rate the roof replacement based
on the age of the roof?? Why in the world would they replace all the
siding with such little damage. Or maybe there is more to it than that and
the home owners are picking up a percentage of the repairs?


I and several neighbors have had our roofs replaced twice. We live in the
middle of North Carolina. One time was after a hurricane that came way
inland and about 2 years due to hail. I have a $ 500 deductiable and that
was what it cost both times.