Severe weather could mean higher out-of-pocket costs for Omaha homeowners needing roof repairs

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - The cost of everything is on the rise. It costs more to buy groceries, it costs more to fill cars with gas, and now it could cost more to get through severe weather season.

Don’t let the sunshine fool you — severe weather season is here, and this year the season could be more costly for homeowners who need to replace a roof because of high winds or hail.

Higher deductibles catching homeowners off guard

Marc Rollag is with Pyramid Roofing. The family-owned company works with insurance companies when replacing roofs.

Rollag says many homeowners are not ready to deal with new policies and new deductibles.

“Some people will, like today, have an $8,000 deductible and they’ve never been planning on that. It used to be — back in the day, because I’m old enough to know — it used to be $500 and that was it,” Rollag said.

Rollag says the cost of roofing materials, like everything else, is also on the rise.

“All the shingles are good today, really good, but you can buy shingles that have a higher level of hail protection and that offers some advantages on your insurance rates,” he said.

Storm damage adds up over time

Rollag says every time high winds or hail move through the area, it takes years away from the life of a roof.

“You don’t really see it, and a lot of people say, ‘Well, it’s not leaking.’ It’s not that. Instead, that roof that you put on five years ago was going to last another 15 — will only last another year or two,” Rollag said.

“I mean, Omaha — we get hailed on every three years. You know, that’s a fact of life,” he said.

Financing options available

“It always depends on what the insurance is covering, what are they paying for — and literally we can finance the difference to upgrade,” Rollag said.