A large majority of roof replacements in the Denver area tend to be covered by homeowners insurance due to hail or wind damage. Since 2008, these storms have been increasing in size and intensity. If you need a roof replacement it is imperative to work with a company that has a knowledge base and understanding of the relationship between, you the client, and your insurance company. When dealing with an insurance claim your roofer will need to wear many hats both to follow IBC building code standards, manufacturer specifications, and municipality guidelines. Your roofing company will need to communicate those standards to your insurance company to ensure that you are not coming out of pocket for codes put forth. There are a lot of intricacies and examples of this throughout the roof replacement process. Today I am going to point out an example that inexperienced roof installers often miss if they are just abiding by municipality guidelines.

ICE AND WATER should almost ALWAYS BE PAID for by your insurance company in Denver.  Here’s the thing, the Denver building code for whatever reason states the following:

“Ice and Water Shield Requirements:
Self-adhering bitumen installed at the eaves and rakes to two feet inside the exterior wall is NOT required per 2016 DBCA”

We all see snowpack on roofs in Denver, icicles forming due to ice dams, fascia and soffit damage also due to ice dams. We are in a region that should require Ice and Water on all new roof replacements but somehow does not.

How do I get Insurance to cover my Ice and Water installation?

Manufacturer specifications mandate that you follow the IBC building code Installation standards. The specific code states the following:

2015 IBC 1507.2.8.2 Ice barrier: “In areas where there has been a history of ice forming along eaves causing backup of water, an ice barrier that consists of at least two layers of underlayment cemented together or a self-adhering polymer modified bitumen sheet shall be used in lieu of normal underlayment and extend from the lowest edges of all roof surfaces to a point at least 24-inches inside the exterior wall line of the building.”

This code supersedes the Denver Building Guidelines when you can provide documentation of ice build-up, stains on the decking showing water intrusion or fascia/soffit damage. In this case, most insurance companies will be obligated to cover this regardless of municipality guidelines. When considering a company for your roof replacement you want to be sure they are well versed in Code Requirements, Manufacturer Specifications, and Municipality Guidelines. It is our goal at Mountain Reach to ensure you get what you are paying for. Call today for a free consultation. 720-443-5386