Arkansas Hail Damage Gutter Claims: Document It, File It, Fix It

That depends on your policy, and only your insurer can answer it. The Arkansas Insurance Department points out that if the damage is below your deductible, you pay for the repairs, and if it is much larger than your deductible, you turn the claim in to your carrier. Ask your agent how your policy treats gutters, downspouts and guards before you sign any repair contract.

Start the day of the storm. Take wide photos of each side of the house, then close-ups of every dent, crushed downspout, bent hanger and torn guard with a tape measure or coin for scale. If you can, photograph hailstones next to a ruler before they melt. The Arkansas Insurance Department also says to save receipts for temporary repairs and not to throw anything away unless your insurer tells you to.

Make only the repairs needed to prevent further damage, such as clearing a blocked downspout or securing a hanging run, and keep the receipts. Hold permanent replacement until your insurer has inspected and agreed on the scope. The Arkansas Insurance Department notes that replacement cost policies require the work to be completed within six months of the date of loss to receive withheld payments.

The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board says a home improvement license is needed to do specialty work on a single-family residence if the project is more than $2,000. You can check any contractor with the Board’s Find A Licensed Contractor search, and the Insurance Department suggests confirming they carry liability insurance. Our franchise holds Arkansas Contractor License #0475791126.

Follow the Arkansas Insurance Department’s advice: get more than one estimate, check references, never let a contractor talk you out of calling your insurer or interpret your policy for you, and never sign a contract with blanks. Do not pay in full until the work is done. The department also notes that under Act 1360 of 2013 you may cancel a repair contract if your insurer says the loss is not covered.