Historic St. Louis Slate Roofs Suffer Hail Damage That Goes Undetected by Repair Companies and Should Be Replaced
The damage to the slate tile in this picture is consistent with similar damage found in many historic neighborhoods including Compton Heights, Carondolet, University City, Clayton, Tower Grove, Holly Hills, Central West End, Bel-Nor/Normandy and Pasadena Hills. Over the past two years there have been two severe storms (May 25, 2011 and April 28th, 2012) that have done significant damage to numerous homes in these neighborhoods.
Serious Storms Hit Historic Neighborhoods
According to the NOAA archives, during the storm on May 25, 2011 there were reports of hail of between 2.5 and 2.75 inches in diameter reported at the intersection of Grand and Highway 44 (less than ½ mile from the Compton Heights neighborhood). In many cases this hail was large enough to completely destroy the roof that protects your home. The Compton Heights and other historical neighborhoods were hit particularly hard from this storm.
Because most homeowners are not comfortable inspecting their own roof and because the damage is not easily observable to the untrained professional, many homeowners wait far too long before having their roof inspected. In many circumstances the first inspection does not occur until the homeowner observes watermarks or some other type of internal damage. This long wait usually results in much more serious and costly long term problems such as wood rot, mold and interior damage which the insurance companies view as neglect of routine maintenance instead of “an Act of God.” The end result is that the homeowner becomes responsbile for these repairs.
While many homeowners are entitled to a full replacement of their roof at little or no expense (from their insurance company) many contractors fail to recognize the extent of the damage and recommend routine maintenance which may fix the problem in the short run but fails to correctly fix the problem long term, and ultimately leads to the homeowner spending significantly more money than necessary.
In the past two years Innovative Construction and Roofing has assisted over 200 homeowners in St. Louis’ historic neighborhoods replace their roofs at little or no out of pocket cost. In addition to providing peace of mind, this helps to preserve the historical landscape of the community while also increasing the overall market value of the property. After roof replacement, the average increase in home value in the St. Louis area is $65,000.
How To Determine If Your Roof Qualifies for Replacement
If you live in any of these areas, your roof may qualify for full replacement paid for by insurance. This requires a 30-45 minute inspection of your roof by a certified slate and tile roof inspector to determine if your roof qualifies. To schedule a convenient time to have one of our experts conduct a thorough inspection of your roof please call 314-546-4047 or complete the inspection request form on this website.
There is no cost for the inspection and there is no obligation for you to follow any of our recommendations, or use our services.
Regardless of whether your roof is still structurally sound, is in need of repairs, or needs to be fully replaced, every homeowner in the path of this storm should have a thorough inspection done by a HAAG certified engineer. This will protect you from any surprises down the road and you are always covered due to the fact that you proactively handled the situation. This will help ensure that small problems don’t become big problems, which your insurance company will view as neglect instead of an “Act of God”, thus holding you responsible for the expense after 12-24 months.
