This is in response to “New Roof Rip-off” letter to the editor by Erica Murdock. She writes to complain about her homeowner insurance premiums going up because of roof damage in the area. She goes on to write that this is due to her neighbors unnecessarily replacing their roofs.

My first warning that my roof was damaged in the monumental hail storm of 21 May 2014 was that most of my north facing windows were shattered. My first phone call was to my insurance company whose adjuster said the roof needed to be replaced. As you may know about insurance companies, it is in their best interest to deny claims. I dealt with an excellent Colorado owned company who used labor that they employ year round. While I have no doubt there are unscrupulous roofing companies, I would like to remind you that in a recent survey half of Stapleton residents have a graduate or professional degree (versus the national average of 11%). Ms. Murdock, your neighbors are not chumps. I would wager that less than 5% of the roofs you have seen going up are because a gullible neighbor opened their door to a roofing company.

I, too, am upset about my insurance premiums going up. Instead of being irritated with your neighbors about this, I suggest you be irritated with those who deny that climate change is causing severe weather events.

Thom Dunn, Stapleton