Investing in homeowner’s insurance means protecting yourself from high-cost repairs and unexpected damage. When it comes to roof damage, how does homeowner’s insurance cover it? Coverage for roof damage varies widely depending on the policy, age of the roof, and how the roof was damaged.
Does Homeowner’s Insurance Cover Roof Damage?
Yes, homeowner’s insurance will cover most instances of unavoidable damage, like harsh weather conditions that tear off shingles or create holes and cracks in the roofing materials. As long as the damage was caused by natural occurrences like lightning, hail, and wind storms. Additionally, most policies will cover damage caused by falling trees or large branches.
Most policies will cover roof damage caused by vandalism.
If the resulting damage caused a roof leak, then homeowner’s insurance will usually cover the cost of fixing the leak (depending on the policy). However, your insurance may not cover any water damage that resulted from a roof leak if it’s not specifically included in your policy.
Overall, if your homeowner’s insurance is comprehensive, most incidents of accidental damage, or damage you couldn’t avoid, will be covered.
What Usually Isn’t Covered
- Water damage and mold growth caused by a roof leak
- Normal wear and tear
- Roofs close to reaching or at the end of their lifespan
- Damage caused by the homeowner’s pets or children
- Damage caused by D.I.Y roof repairs
- Roofs that weren’t installed correctly
- Damage caused by neglect
- Roof damage that was done intentionally
- Pre-existing roof damage from before you got insurance
Will Homeowner’s Insurance Cover a Roof Replacement?
Your homeowner’s insurance can cover a roof replacement if the cause of damage falls under your policy’s terms, and if a roof repair will not be enough to solve the issue.
Roofs that are over a certain age (20-25 years) may not be eligible for replacement. Any payout related to an old roof will usually only cover the actual cash value of your roof, rather than covering the full cost of the replacement.
When It’s Time to Make a Claim
When accidental and/or unavoidable roof damage happens, it’s important to document everything and get a professional opinion for a successful claim. Take clear photos of the damage, note when the damage happened, and try to identify what caused it.
Photos taken before the damage occurred can help your case significantly. If you had a roof inspection before the damage happened, that can also be used as solid evidence to make your claim.
Get a Free Roof Inspection
We can help you make an insurance claim with a free roof inspection to identify the full scope of damages and find the best solution to keep your roof in its best condition. What we find in our inspection can be used as evidence to support your claim.
Get a Free Roof Inspection and Estimate!
When Your Roof Isn’t Covered: Quality Care’s Roof Warranty
If your homeowner’s insurance policy doesn’t include roof damage, or coverage is extremely limited, trust in our comprehensive roof warranties to protect your investment long-term. Work done by Quality Care is covered by a craftsmanship warranty and GAF warranty.
GAF is North America’s largest roofing manufacturer. GAF warranties can only be offered by roofing contractors certified and trusted by GAF.
Only 7% of North American roofing companies are certified by GAF, and we’re proud to be part of this percentage!
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