Eight questions Middle TN homeowners ask first.

If the damage is from a covered storm event (hail, wind, falling tree, fire), almost always — yes. Carriers in Tennessee pay on actual cash value first, then the recoverable depreciation once the work is done. We file the claim, document every shingle with drone photos, meet your adjuster on the roof, and negotiate to full scope. In 21 years we have never had a denied storm-damage claim we couldn't successfully appeal. You pay your deductible; carrier pays the rest. If the wear is age-related (not storm-driven), insurance won't cover it — and we'll tell you that up front, before the claim, so you don't burn a denial on your record.

Most single-family Middle TN homes (2,000–2,800 sq ft, walkable pitch) are one day for tear-off and install. Larger homes, steep pitches, or homes that need deck repair go to two days. Cedar shake tear-offs add a half-day. We protect landscaping with tarps, run magnetic sweeps for nails twice during the day and again at the final walk, and leave the driveway and yard cleaner than we found it. We never start a tear-off we can't finish dry-in the same day — if weather rolls in, we tarp and resume the next clear morning.

For 90% of Middle TN homes, architectural asphalt (GAF Timberline HDZ, Owens Corning Duration, CertainTeed Landmark) is the right answer: 30–50-year life, $11k–$18k installed, looks like wood shake from the ground, and the manufacturer warranties are strong. Class 4 impact-resistant asphalt is the move if you've been hit by hail more than once — many insurers give you a 10–28% premium discount that pays back the upgrade in 5–8 years. Standing-seam metal makes sense for modern farmhouses, cabins, and homes you'll own for 40+ years — $24k–$38k, 50+-year life, and basically immune to hail and wind. Concrete or clay tile is rare here (humidity + freeze-thaw is hard on tile), but works on Mediterranean and Spanish-revival builds.

Two warranties on every full replacement, both in writing. (1) Manufacturer's shingle warranty: GAF Golden Pledge is 50 years on the shingle itself plus 25 years on labor — only Master Elite installers like us can offer it. (2) Ironclad's lifetime workmanship warranty: if anything we touched fails because of how we installed it — flashing leaks, nail pops, ridge-vent issues, deck-screw pull-out, anything craft-related — we fix it free for as long as you own the home. The workmanship warranty transfers one time to the next homeowner (a real selling point at resale). What's not covered: tree damage, secondary storm events, leaks from skylights or HVAC penetrations we didn't install. We don't hide those in fine print.

From the ground, you usually can't — hail bruising looks like nothing for the first 12–18 months, then starts shedding granules into the gutters and downspouts. The tells: dark spots the size of a quarter on darker shingles, bent or torn fins on AC units and gutters, dimples in soft metals (gutters, downspouts, garage doors, siding), and granule buildup in gutter splash blocks. If your neighbors had hail damage from the same storm, you probably do too. Our free inspection includes a drone flyover, a hand-walked sample area, and a marked report — we don't 'find damage' that isn't there. About 30% of hail-inspections we do come back as 'no insurable damage' and we tell the homeowner that directly.

Storm chasers roll in from out of state after a hail event, knock doors, sign you up before you've had time to think, get the insurance check, and disappear before the warranty matters. Tells: out-of-state license plates, a brand-new LLC formed within the last 30 days, no Middle Tennessee street address on the contract, no GAF/Owens/CertainTeed Master Installer credential, pressure to sign 'today only.' Local tells: we've been on Middle TN roofs since 2003 with the same crew, the Halvorsens answer the phone, our office is on White Bridge Pike, our trucks have permanent decals (not magnets), and our warranty is honored by us — not by a faceless 800 number two states away. Look up any roofer on the Tennessee Secretary of State business search before you sign anything.

Yes, through two channels. (1) Promotional 0% APR for 18 months on approved credit — soft pull only, no impact to your score to check. Most replacements paid off inside the promotional window cost the homeowner the same out-of-pocket as paying cash. (2) Fixed-rate plans 5–10 years, typically 7.99–11.99% APR depending on credit. We also help homeowners think through PACE financing (Tennessee's property-assessed clean energy program, attached to the property tax bill) for impact-resistant or solar-ready upgrades, and GoodLeap for solar-integrated roofs. We don't earn referral fees that affect what we recommend — financing is a tool, not our pitch.

A real inspector (not a salesperson) shows up within 48 hours of your call. We walk the perimeter, fly a drone for the high-pitch sections, then hand-walk the accessible areas with a pad, camera, and moisture meter. 21 checkpoints: shingle condition, granule loss, flashings at every penetration, ridge and hip caps, valleys, drip edge, gutters, fascia, soffits, attic ventilation, deck soundness, ice & water shield (where visible), nail pattern, plus six interior checks for water staining. You get a written PDF report with photos, marked-up drone shots, and a one-line verdict: repair, replace, or 'leave it alone for X more years.' Free, no obligation, no high-pressure sales after. About one in three free inspections we do ends with us recommending no work.