[MassHistPres] Slate Roofs and Insurance Issues

Wed Jul 15 11:47:11 EDT 2009

Diane,

The realities here are:

1) Owners of slate roof have been forced (otherwise we can cancel policy
language) to install measures to reduce the snow mass coming off the roof.
2) Snow builds up more on and slate roofs and then lets go more in mass than
asphalt shingles. Additionally, the slate transfers heat more evenly under
the mass of snow so that larger areas release at the same time and are
allowed to "run free" on a layer of water left on the slates surface.
3) All of the insurance companies are in business to mitigate their (not the
homeowners) losses, yes they cover us, but they still try to stay in
business. So you have to be careful what you ask of them too...

Good luck to the homeowner in this situation...

Garrett

On Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 11:03 AM, <jdianeol at aol.com> wrote:

>  I agree with Garrett on this.  The house & slate roof were likely there
> long before the neighbor or the neighbor's car.  Now that the neighbor knows
> that snow (and possibly ice) can fall off the slate roof and onto the
> aforementioned car, it would behoove the neighbor to park a little farther
> forward or back.  However, if the owner of the slate roof is concerned about
> this, they should take the letter from the neighbor's insurance company to
> their own insurance company (homeowner's liability coverage) to get their
> advice & input.  I'm guessing that one of several scenarios will play out:
> A) homeonwer's insurance provider will say that auto insurance provider is
> full of %^$#%$# and can just TRY to get payment on a claim like that (in
> other words, go stuff themselves)
> B) the insurance company's will work out a compromise on their own
> C) the homeowner's insurance provider will offer an alternate solution that
> does NOT involve removing a perfectly good & solid slate roof which is of
> greater value to the insurance company since it has a much longer lifespan
> and much lower fire risk than asphalt.
>
> By the way, asphalt shingles would NOT result in reduced snow
> drop/potential for damage but would more likely INCREASE the problem. The
> asphalt, with a rougher surface than slate, will hold MORE snow on the roof
> until such point & time as the coefficient of friction has been met or
> exceeded and the snow drops onto the neighbors car.  Because this will take
> more snow/more weight to achieve than would be the case on slate shingles,
> the potential for damage to the neighbors car will be INCREASED with asphalt
> shingles, not decreased.
>
> Diane Oliver-Jensen
> West Brookfield
>
>
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: Garrett Laws <copperandslate at gmail.com>
> To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
> Sent: Tue, Jul 14, 2009 8:04 pm
> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Slate Roofs and Insurance Issues
>
>  A) The owner of the slate roof (the insurance company for the owner of the
> slate roof) is and always has been liable for damage from the snow sliding
> off the roof. B) The neighbor should now consider themselves informed and
> warned about the potential for snow to slide off of the slate roof and not
> park their car under the roof if there is a large snow fall. Sorry, this
> just seems obvious.
> C) If the insurance company is interested in paying for the installation of
> snow guards or snow loops, the owner of the roof should pursue the
> installation.
>
>  1) The slate roof should not be removed because it is doing the correct
> job that it has been doing for the life of the roof, and if it is truly
> Munson black slate, it will be doing for at least another 100 years!
> 2) It would be a sensible thing for the owner of the slate roof to
> investigate the quality of the insulation (if any) under the slate roof,
> having this correct will save them money and reduce the potential for icing
> and heavier masses coming off the roof.
>
>  Lets all try to think longer term here...
> Garrett
>
>  PS Heating cables have the ability to cause ice dams if the melting water
> is not properly directed from the roof and kept melted.
>
> On Tue, Jul 14, 2009 at 3:39 PM, Kristi Chase <KChase at somervillema.gov>wrote:
>
>>  I have received a call from a homeowner whose neighbor would like him to
>> remove his Munson slate roof because it sheds snow where the neighbor parks
>> his car.  The property is not listed as an LHD but retains much of its
>> original character.  The homeowner has received a threatening letter from
>> the neighbor's insurance company stating that he is liable for any damage
>> done to the neighbor or his car and requesting that he replace the roof with
>> asphalt.  Does anyone have the names of lawyers who might deal with this
>> type of issue or have any advice I can pass on?
>> Thanks to all,
>> Kristi Chase
>> Preservation Planner
>> Historic Preservation Commission
>> Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development
>> City Hall
>> 93 Highland Avenue
>> Somerville, MA  02143
>> 617-625-6600 x2525
>>
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>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Cheers,
> Garrett
>
> Garrett Laws, Manager
> The Copper & Slate Company
> Fine Roofing and Exterior Finish Carpentry
> 238A Calvary Street
> Waltham, MA 02453
> Ph: (781) 893-1916
> Fax: (781) 893-2041
>
> Copperandslate at Gmail.com or
> GLaws at hbuilders.net
>
> ******************************
>
> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact
> Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO THE WHOLE
>
> LIST.
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-- 
Cheers,
Garrett

Garrett Laws, Manager
The Copper & Slate Company
Fine Roofing and Exterior Finish Carpentry
238A Calvary Street
Waltham, MA 02453
Ph: (781) 893-1916
Fax: (781) 893-2041

Copperandslate at Gmail.com or
GLaws at hbuilders.net
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