Roof Insurance Claim

What is a Roof Insurance Claim?

Most homeowner insurance policies will provide coverage for roof damage caused by unpreventable reasons such as vandalism or fire, provided you file an effective roof insurance claim. Disastrous “acts of God” such as hurricanes and tornadoes are also usually covered. Although wind, rain, and hail are covered by your home insurance policy, there are many factors that determine if your damage will be covered, and if so, how much you will be reimbursed. The same basics that apply to your roof, may apply to your exterior property as well. Exterior property is considered anything that is attached to the outside structure of your home, such as siding and gutters. Although wind, rain, and hail are covered by your home insurance policy, there are many factors that determine if your damage will be covered, and if so, how much you will be reimbursed.

Factors That Affect Your Roof Insurance Claim

Some policies take the age of your roof into account at the time it is damaged. For example, if your roof is under 10 years old, you may be covered for the full cost of repairing or replacing the damaged section of your roof at the time of the claim. If your roof is over 10 years old, you may only be reimbursed for the depreciated value of the damaged roof. The depreciated value takes the aging and wearing of your roof into account, meaning its value has decreased prior to any damage occurring.

Depending on where you live, some policies will only offer roof damage coverage up to the depreciated value, regardless of the age of your roof. Other policies will cover the full cost of repairing or replacing the damaged section of your roof at the time of the claim, regardless of the age of your roof. In most cases, your insurance company will send an adjuster to your home to investigate and verify your claim. If the damage is determined to be from aging, wear and tear, or poor condition of your roof, it will typically be considered normal maintenance, and will not be covered under your policy.

How to Prevent Roof Damage

Replacing a roof or other exterior property can be a time-consuming and expensive process. That’s why it’s important to take certain steps to prevent damage from occurring.

• Get your roof inspected by a trained professional who can identify areas that may need immediate repair.
• Replace broken and worn shingles. Consider using impact-resistant shingles, which may be more expensive at first, but are designed to resist damage from hail, saving you money in the long run.
• Remove any dead trees from around your property that could potentially fall onto your home.

Has a storm come through and damaged your roof? Are you worried your roof is too old to make a claim? Has your insurance company denied your claim because they believe the damage resulted from last year’s hurricane? We can help you file a roof insurance claim and get the most from your insurance company!