Notice: This visitor put up is by Steven Thomas. As President and Proprietor of Roof Leak Detection Firm, Inc., Steven Thomas has evaluated over 20,000 roofing methods on business, industrial, and residential properties, and has been certified in courtroom as an professional concerning roof testing and evaluations. His firm is an permitted Testing Laboratory and has held this certification since 1994.

Within the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew’s devastation throughout South Florida in 1992, the realm of harm evaluation, notably for roofing, underwent a major transformation. Initially, Roof Consultants, geared up with specialised coaching in roof harm investigations, have been entrusted with the essential job of evaluating roof damages. When structural points have been suspected, Engineers with a background in structural assessments have been introduced in. Nevertheless, the panorama of roof harm evaluation has shifted over the previous three many years, and never essentially for the higher.

A Shift in Perspective

Upon reflection on two true incidents from my years of expertise within the trade, a worrying pattern emerged: The undervaluation of specialised experience in favor of generic engineering {qualifications}.

Case Research 1: Questioning Experience

Throughout an insurance coverage appraisal, I encountered a state of affairs the place the insurance coverage provider’s appraiser, an Engineer, was additionally performing as an professional. Regardless of noticeable unfastened roof tiles, the Engineer kept away from nearer inspection, asserting that his engineering background alone certified him for the duty. This declare was challenged by an skilled umpire who questioned the Engineer’s particular coaching in roofing. It grew to become evident that the Engineer lacked the specialised information crucial for an intensive roofing evaluation, highlighting a disconnect between perceived and precise experience.

Case Research 2: The Unfamiliar Terrain

Following Hurricane Wilma, I used to be assigned to examine a major loss in West Palm Seaside involving over 200 roofs. The insurance coverage provider’s “professional,” an Engineer from Naples, Florida, admitted to by no means having been on a roof. His reluctance to bodily examine the roofs on account of his inexperience underscored a essential oversight by the insurance coverage provider in assigning a certified particular person for the duty.

The Essence of Specialization

These anecdotes underscore a essential level: the significance of deploying people with related experience and expertise in roof harm evaluation. Credentialed and skilled Roof Consultants are specialists of their subject, focusing solely on roofing. Their position shouldn’t be conflated with that of a structural engineer or a roofer. Dismissing the worth of a Roof Advisor’s specialised information is a disservice to the accuracy and effectivity of the insurance coverage claims course of.

Conclusion: Recognizing and Valuing Specialised Experience

The incidents highlighted reveal a broader problem throughout the insurance coverage claims course of: the undervaluation of specialised experience and expertise. Whereas Engineers and Architects (P.E.s and A.I.A.s) carry beneficial abilities to the desk, their {qualifications} don’t inherently equip them for particular duties reminiscent of roof harm evaluation. It’s crucial for each insurers and policyholders to acknowledge the significance of specialised experience and expertise in making certain correct and truthful assessments. Hiring a named engineering firm isn’t the identical as deciding on a certified individual to do the job. The appropriate experience not solely expedites the claims course of but in addition ensures that assessments are grounded in scientific info and sensible information, finally benefiting all events concerned.