A large, steep roof in Prior Lake had hail damage, but the homeowners' insurance company denied the claim outright, citing a prior claim on the property. Getting the roof covered took two rounds with adjusters and a stack of documentation before the homeowners could move forward with repairs.
The customer was a repeat client of Sharp Exteriors, and the home itself was custom-built on a large lot in Prior Lake, Minnesota, complete with a horse barn. The roof and gutters were eventually approved for a full insurance-covered replacement, and the following year the same homeowners returned to Sharp Exteriors to upgrade their aging siding to steel, this time paying out of pocket for the retail project.
Key Takeaways
- THE CHALLENGEAn insurance company initially denied a hail damage claim on a steep, three-story roof, and a later siding tear-off exposed hidden water damage behind the walls.
- THE INSTALLSharp Exteriors documented the roof damage for a successful appeal, then installed steel lap siding using pump jacks after replacing rotted sheathing.
- THE RESULTThe homeowners received a fully insurance-covered roof and gutter replacement plus a durable steel siding upgrade with corrected flashing details.
Full insurance coverage mattered here because the roof and gutter damage was extensive and the home is large and steep, making a partial repair impractical. Once the roof claim was settled, the homeowners chose steel siding as a retail upgrade for its durability, and Sharp Exteriors' approach centered on thorough documentation for the insurance side and careful substrate inspection on the siding side.
Project Summary
| Client Profile: | Repeat homeowner with a custom-built home and horse barn |
| Project Location: | Prior Lake, Minnesota |
| Primary Objective: | Secure full insurance coverage for hail-damaged roofing and gutters, then upgrade the exterior with Storm Damage Restoration |
| Material Selection: | Standard lap steel siding with a board-and-batten metal accent installed through Steel Siding Installation |
| Key Outcome: | Full roof and gutter claim approved after a second adjuster meeting; steel siding installed in just over a week with corrected flashing details |
Denied Hail Claim Gets Reconsidered
The insurance company denied the roof claim on a prior submission that Sharp Exteriors was not involved with. A later hail storm added further damage to the same roof, giving the team a second opportunity to document the full scope of deterioration.
Sharp Exteriors wrote detailed estimates and compiled documentation to support the claim, then met with adjusters on two separate occasions. The first adjuster did not agree with the scope, but the second adjuster approved full coverage after reviewing the additional evidence, resulting in a complete roof and gutter replacement for the homeowners.
Steel Siding Goes Up On Pump Jacks
The following year, the same homeowners requested bids to replace their siding with steel and selected Sharp Exteriors after seeing the quality of the roofing work. Crews used pump jacks instead of scaffolding, a foot-powered lift system that raises a work platform along the wall as needed, to install standard lap metal siding across the home along with a board-and-batten metal accent on the garage gable.
"Sharp Exteriors did an excellent job handling a difficult hail damage claim under a very compressed timeline. The project involved a late-filed claim, a custom box-gutter roof, along with unexpected framing issues. Despite the complexities, they managed the entire process professionally from start to finish." - (Nathan, Homeowner)
During the tear-off, the crew found water intrusion at several roof-to-wall areas caused by a lack of kickout flashings, damage that predated the roof replacement. The team removed the affected sheathing, rebuilt the surface with OSB and a vapor barrier, and made sure the homeowners understood the additional cost before proceeding, a standard step for any work discovered outside the original Free Quote scope.
Steel lap siding installation using pump jacks along the home's exterior wall.
Durable Results For A Custom Home
The finished project gave the homeowners a fully insurance-covered roof and gutter system along with a steel siding upgrade built to withstand Minnesota weather for decades. The board-and-batten accent on the garage gable broke up the monotony of the lap siding and gave the custom home a distinct look.
Because the property's architecture included bumpouts and a large amount of trim work, the siding portion of the job took slightly over a week to complete. The homeowners, already familiar with the crew's roofing work from the year before, reported a smooth process from start to finish.
Need Roof Or Siding Help In Prior Lake?
We have handled hail claim disputes, hidden water damage repairs, and full exterior upgrades for homeowners throughout our Twin Cities Service Area. Our team knows how to document storm damage thoroughly and how to spot problems that other contractors might miss.
Do you need help with a similar roofing or siding project in Prior Lake? Reach out to our team today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my insurance company denies my Prior Lake roof claim?
A denial is not always final. Sharp Exteriors documents damage thoroughly, writes detailed estimates, and meets with adjusters directly to advocate for full coverage, which resulted in an approved claim on this Prior Lake project after an initial denial.
Why did this Prior Lake homeowner choose steel siding?
The homeowners wanted a durable, low-maintenance exterior upgrade and paid for it as a retail project separate from the insurance-covered roof work. Steel siding resists the wear that older siding materials often show over time.
What happens if hidden damage is found during a siding job?
On this project, crews discovered water intrusion from missing kickout flashings once the old siding came down. The damaged sheathing was replaced with OSB and a vapor barrier, and homeowners are always informed of any added cost before that work proceeds.