Be aware: 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 programs on industrial, industrial, and residential properties, and has been certified in courtroom as an knowledgeable relating to roof testing and evaluations. His firm is an authorised 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, outfitted with specialised coaching in roof harm investigations, had been entrusted with the important job of evaluating roof damages. When structural points had been suspected, Engineers with a background in structural assessments had been introduced in. Nonetheless, the panorama of roof harm evaluation has shifted over the previous three a long time, 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 Examine 1: Questioning Experience

Throughout an insurance coverage appraisal, I encountered a scenario the place the insurance coverage provider’s appraiser, an Engineer, was additionally appearing as an knowledgeable. Regardless of noticeable unfastened roof tiles, the Engineer shunned 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 turned evident that the Engineer lacked the specialised information essential for an intensive roofing evaluation, highlighting a disconnect between perceived and precise experience.

Case Examine 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 “knowledgeable,” 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 important oversight by the insurance coverage provider in assigning a professional particular person for the duty.

The Essence of Specialization

These anecdotes underscore a important level: the significance of deploying people with related experience and expertise in roof harm evaluation. Credentialed and skilled Roof Consultants are specialists of their discipline, focusing solely on roofing. Their function shouldn’t be conflated with that of a structural engineer or a roofer. Dismissing the worth of a Roof Marketing consultant’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 situation 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) convey beneficial expertise to the desk, their {qualifications} don’t inherently equip them for particular duties akin to roof harm evaluation. It’s crucial for each insurers and policyholders to acknowledge the significance of specialised experience and expertise in guaranteeing correct and truthful assessments. Hiring a named engineering firm is just not the identical as choosing a professional individual to do the job. The proper 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.