Posts Tagged ‘certified inspector’

Should I File Alone or Leave It to the Pros-Pressed Wood Siding

Friday, July 24th, 2009

In our last post we went over how to go about filing a pressed wood siding claim.  On average, the claim period can take between 3- 6 months.  Then, of course, there is the possibility of appeals.  Between the collection of records, samples and getting through the paperwork, filing a pressed wood siding claim yourself may not be the best job for you and you may decide to hire a professional to do the shuffle work for you. 

Whether you are going to file the claim on your own or hire a pro, read through our list of important questions (and answers) to make sure you are up for the challenge of filing a pressed wood siding claim.  

  •  Can you afford to wait 6 months for the claim process, and 4 additional months if there is a 2nd inspection or appeal? 
  •  How much of your siding qualifies as “damaged”? (It’s up to the inspector)
  • Can I reject an offer and appeal it if I don’t think it’s fair? (Yes)
  • How do I know if my siding qualifies? (Sample and Inspection)
  • How much are typical damage awards? ($4/square foot on average)
  • My damage award seems small, why is that? (Various reasons)
  • What are the claim filing deadlines for the various manufacturers? (Too many to list)
  • Is this a siding recall or an actual damage award? (Cash damage award)
  • How much will this cost me? (Free if you do it yourself, percentage to hire a service)
  • Can I do this without removing a sample from my house? (Maybe)
  • What if I already replaced/painted or repaired my siding? (See next question)
  • Can I file again if I’ve replaced or repaired some of my siding? (Yes)
  • How long must I wait before I repair or replace my siding once the claim is filed? (An average of 60-90 days).

Hopefully, you can make a better decision on whether you’d like to file a claim.  If you are interested in talking with a certified inspector, please don’t hesitate to call River City Referrals.  We work with the best inspectors in Richmond. They’re skilled, responsive and can save you the hassle.