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Insurance and Water Damage Utah

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    • Water can cause untold damage to a house or other structure. Accordingly, homeowners who live in areas prone to floods should take proper precautions to both prevent water damage Utah from happening in the first place but also to know what steps should be taken to mitigate and clean up the damage after the fact. One of the most important steps a homeowner can take to mitigate the negative consequences of water damage to a home is to make sure to purchase a homeowner insurance policy with adequate coverage as well as a separate flood insurance policy. A separate flood insurance policy is often required because many homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover damage resulting from a flood as a standard feature.

    When a house has been damaged by a flood or incurs water damage Utah from any source it is important for the homeowner to take action immediately. The first step is to contact all insurance providers with whom the homeowner has purchased coverage policies that could potentially cover the water damage. Usually insurance providers will have people available that will walk the homeowner through the necessary steps in order to repair the damage and provide temporary living accommodations as necessary given the situation. This is especially true if the damage is caused by a catastrophic event such as a hurricane or tornado. Typically the insurance provider will advise the homeowner to contact a contractor to assess and repair the damage. The insurance provider may also dispatch an insurance adjuster to independently assess and appraise the extent of the damage. Furthermore, the provider may also recommend a preferred contractor to fix the damage as well. In this situation the contractor is often in the position to bill the insurance provider directly rather than billing the homeowner and then having the homeowner approach the insurance provider for reimbursement.

    Dealing with Water Damage in Utah

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    • The last thing any homeowner desires is to sustain water damage Utah to their house. There is no end to the frustration that water damage can cause. First of all, when a house sustains water damage it is not uncommon for the homeowner to have to find an alternative place to live while the clean up and repairs are being made. Furthermore water damage will ruin personal possessions and undermine the structure of the house itself in some cases. To top it off, mold will almost always develop immediately after the water abates. When mold grows in a house it will sometimes be toxic rendering the house uninhabitable until the mold can be removed. Certainly this process can be both expensive and time consuming.

    Fortunately there are many companies that specialize in the clean up and repair of houses that have sustained water damage Utah. Typically these businesses will arrive soon after they are notified by a homeowner that water has damaged his or her house. Upon arrival, the company will assess the situation including the extent of the damage inflicted by the water, devise a plan to clean up and repair the damage as well as provide an estimate as to how much their services will cost.

    It is important to note that most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover floods. As such it is very important for a homeowner (especially in a flood prone area) to purchase a separate flood policy to insure their home against this type of water damage. If you are unsure whether your policy covers flood damage it would serve you well to contact your homeowner’s insurance company and ask them. If they do not cover flood insurance you should feel free to ask them if they can write a separate policy. Some insurance companies do not offer flood insurance policies. In that instance you will have to contact a different carrier.

    Preventing Water Damage

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    • Water damage Utah from floods can cause significant property damage. There are many remedial measures that can be taken to mitigate or prevent any potential damages in the event of a flood. Damage to electrical systems can be prevented by raising electrical sockets, switches and circuit breakers, water heaters and furnaces by one foot or more above the projected flood level in the area in which it is located. Similarly, any outdoor equipment including air conditioning units, fuel tanks, and electrical generators should also be placed above the local flood level. Certainly, this equipment should not be sitting on the ground itself.

    Inside the house from a plumbing perspective it is an easy step to install exterior and or interior backflow valves in order to prevent the accumulations of sewage in the house in the event of a flood. In addition, gate valves should be installed on all pipes that enter the house in order to prevent back flow because the have significantly stronger seals than standard backflow valves.

    In many cases it can be informative to observe how any water tends to accumulate in and around a house during and after an average rainstorm. An accumulation of rain water in the street running along the front of a house is something that should be brought to the attention of the municipal or local environmental services department. The local environmental services department will have different titles depending on the particular jurisdiction. Regardless of the title, the service will be able to provide advice as to how to prevent or otherwise deal with an undesirable accumulation of water in order to avoid water damage Utah.

    Finally, many home owners choose to install vents in the foundation of the house in order to allow water to flow in and out of the structure. This adaptation serves to prevent the accumulation of water inside the foundation. Typically two vents are installed in each wall respectively.

    How Much Does it Cost to Replace Your Roof

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    • Various kinds of roofing shingles are available. Asphalt is the most common one which costs $80 to $100 every square. A square is equal to one hundred square feet. The cedar shingles cost $160. Let’s assume the roof is 1300 to 1500 square feet. You will need 13 to 15 squares of shingles.

    Breaking Down All Expenses

    Which means the total cost is $1500. A roofing felt is needed which costs $18 per roll. Total cost of the roofing felt is $90. For attaching the materials together roofing nail gun is required. A roll of 1 1/4’’ galvanized nails cost $65. The roofing cement costs $22 every gallon. The contractor’s fee is $3 per square foot of work. So, overall asphalt shingles will cost $4500.

    Installing wooden roof requires more work. First you need to remove the previous roofing and add plywood. The cost of removing the roof is the contractor’s fee which is $3 per square foot. About 20 plywood would be necessary, each costing $20, which is a total of $800. The cost of re-shingling with wooden material will cost $5 to $7 per square foot. So the total cost will be $10,500.

    How Long Will It Take?

    Time is a major factor that homeowners must consider within the cost of the project. Asphalt shingles are cheap and it is much convenient to install. But wooden shingles will last for 30 to 50 years. Wooden shingles are also more environment friendly and provides better installation.

    If you are very short of budget then you can go for asphalt, else wooden materials are definitely better. The costs of materials vary now and then. You should contact an expert or a local contractor to know the exact cost of the materials so that you can estimate your budget. Hire a good roof expert, tell your budget and they will provide you the best solution.

    Cost Guide

    Source: http://www.aroconllc.com/blog/roofing-cost-guide

    How to Choose The Best Roofing Contractor

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    • When you choose a contractor for your roof, you must choose an experienced one. This is because an experienced contractor will know his or her job well and will protect your home from outside elements. Try to find someone who has years of experience and have a good local reputation.

    STEP 1 – LICENSES

    First you need to verify whether the roofing contractor has all the necessary business licenses for your area. If you are not sure what the licenses are then contact your local licensing board to find out. You can also check out their websites. You need to verify the license of the contractor by verifying the tax identification number and business contact details.

    STEP 2 – INSURANCE

    See whether the contractor has the roofing insurance, including liability and compensation coverage. Ask the roofing contractor to provide you with proof of insurance, including worker’s compensation and liability coverage. Roof installation and repair is a sensitive and risky work. Insurance is a mandatory item to consider in this case.

    STEP 3 – PROJECT DURATION

    Check whether it covers everything within the period of project. You can contact the Department of Professional Regulation to find out the contractor’s reputation. Find out whether the contractor is approved of installing the roof. Some kinds of roofing need special training, licenses and certifications. Check the contractor has all these.

    STEP 4 – BUDGETING

    Get a detailed proposal from the contractor that will include details of all the information regarding the project. It should include the start of the project, when it’s going to end, the materials needed, safety procedures taken, payment method, cleanup schedules etc.

    Research to find out whether the fees, services, warranties, etc. of different contractors and select the one that’s suitable for you. Do not finalize your decision on the lowest bid, as you might not get a good service.