Minn. Homeowners Combat Insurance Companies over Storm Damage Claims

The repair vs replacement debate continues

The below is from the article;

"Wirth said a contractor quoted him $32,000 to repair the entire roof. But his insurance company, American Family Insurance, offered $8,000, telling him it would only repair the shingles that were actually damaged.

"They feel that it can be repaired and new shingles can be blended into old, which is entirely wrong," Wirth said. "I don't think you see any house with one type of shingles on one part, and a different on another. That's not acceptable in the United States of America."

Wirth is certainly not alone, and a similar case is currently before the Minnesota Supreme Court.

In that case, Cedar Bluff Townhome Condominium Association, Inc. vs. American Family Mutual Insurance Company, a condo association is fighting American Family, in the wake of a storm in 2010. The insurer offered to pay to replace only damaged siding on 20 buildings, even though the new siding wouldn't perfectly match the old siding -- replacing all of it would double the costs of the claim."

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