Wind Damage in Austell, Georgia: Is It Covered By Insurance?

5/5/2021 (Permalink)

Contact SERVPRO of South Cobb for wind damage repairs!

Wind damage in Austell affects many property owners each year.

Windstorms are natural occurrences that we all have to deal with; however, wind damage in Austell is not. When the wind becomes too strong, and it damages your Austell Georgia home, you may be wondering if the damage will be covered by insurance or not. 

In this blog post, we will help answer some of your questions about what's considered wind damage in Austell, Georgia, and how much coverage you can expect from the insurance company for wind type of events.

Austell, GA, is known for its occasional wind damage.

There is no ambiguity regarding the drastic weather forecasts when it comes to Austell, Georgia and the risk of wind damage in Austell is much higher than the Georgia average and the national average. 

Within the last 60 years, Austell has experienced more than 2000 extreme thunderstorm winds and more than 3000 extreme events of hail, strong wind, and winter storms. Therefore, it is not surprising that property loss from heavy winds and hail is one of the leading causes of homeowners' insurance claims amongst Austell, Georgia. 

Is wind damage in Austell covered by homeowners insurance?

Homeowners insurance is put in place to protect your homes and belongings from various types of weather damage, such as wind damage. Thus, homeowners insurance typically covers wind damage due to hail or windstorms. However, specific exclusions to these rules, such as damage to personal property within the homes by rain or snow, may not be covered. 

Still, if wind damage has caused rain or snow to enter your home, then the damage is most likely covered by homeowners insurance. Austell wind damage to roofs, fences, and windows of a home and the damage to property caused by fallen trees due to high-speed winds are also covered. Most insurance companies pay for tree removals from driveways and garages if these trees fell due to windstorms. 

What damage can wind do?

High-speed winds can lead to severe structural damage to the exterior and interior of your properties. The wind itself can lead to roof and exterior damage caused by loose shingles, displaced pipelines, blocked chimneys, and obstructed gutters and drainage systems. 

Sometimes the wind can cause uprooting trees or flying branches to land on the property and leading to storm damage. High wind speed paired with rain on an already damaged roof can cause them to start leaking and allow seepage to appear within the homes and result in significant structural damage.

Additionally, wind can cause damage to the windows and doors of commercial and personal property. Windstorms result in the breaking of windows and loosening of old doors. Broken tree branches or flying debris with high-speed winds can break windows, fences, chimneys, sheds, etc. 

How to identify roof wind damage

Mild wind damage typically begins to occur at a speed of 45mph or higher. To identify roof wind damage, you should start by thoroughly inspecting the surface of the roof for signs of any missing shingles or granules. 

The most apparent sign is entire shingles missing from the roof and finding them around your property. Furthermore, granules pile up within the roof's gutters, so look within your gutter system to find any missing granules. 

Peeled shingles can cause roofs to sustain more significant damage and result in leakage and water damage. In addition, wind can cause cracks in the roof's fascia and lead to water leakage problems. 

Lastly, a displaced chimney can be highly suggestive of extensive damage to your property due to high wind speeds. However, identifying the extent of the wind damage might not be possible without a professional to assist you. It is highly recommended that you seek consultation from a professional restoration company, such as SERVPRO, to analyze and restore the damage caused by wind. 

SERVPRO helps with wind damage insurance claims

The professional team at SERVPRO of South Cobb can analyze and pretest the damage caused by high-speed winds. When a SERVPRO hero arrives at the scene of a wind damage claim, they will give you a greater understanding of the claims that need to be made to the insurance company. 

SERVPRO is the ideal restoration company as it aims to help you and your property recover to its fullest. Our team ensures that our clients are always well-informed regarding the extent and costs of the damage reparation and recovery.

If you are currently experiencing wind damage to your property, contact SERVPRO of South Cobb by calling (770) 739-2355 or filling out our contact form on our contact page. A dispatcher will send an IICRC certified SERVPRO professional to come out and perform a thorough inspection and design a wind damage repair plan.