Will My Homeowners Insurance Cover My Roof Replacement Costs?
Homeowners insurance is a must upon owning a house! Your homeowners insurance offers immense benefits, such as protection against the elements, guest medical protection, and other coverages. However, one question many homeowners have question is, ‘will my homeowners insurance cover my roof replacement costs?’
When talking about insurance, things can get a bit confusing. To help you out, we’ll be tackling homeowners insurance and roof coverage, so read on!
Will My Homeowners Insurance Cover My Roof Replacement Costs?
Roof replacement would cost between $25,000 to $40,000, depending on:
- Roofing material used
- Your location
- The roof size
This is very expensive, which is why you’d want to make sure your insurance covers these costs.
The typical all-perils home insurance would cover your roof and its replacement costs in case it gets damaged. That’s awesome, but remember it’s only covered if the damage was caused by acts of nature or sudden accidents.
Meaning, problems that ensued from general wear and tear or roofs exceeding intended lifespans won’t be eligible for reimbursement. Why? Because they are part of the homeowner’s general maintenance responsibility.
So, how does roof coverage work, exactly?
Among all the parts of a house, the roof would have the most direct exposure to weather and harsh elements.
For those living up north, roofs are exposed to the weight and harsh cold of heavy snow, ice storms, and hail. For those in Midwest countries, common problems will include tornadoes and cyclones. If you’re from tropical climates the there is a risk of gales and hurricane-like winds.
However, Mother Nature doesn’t only do direct damage! The harsh weather can also result in other consequences and damage that cause your roof to break. For instance, there may be:
- Violent windstorms that would topple trees on the roof
- Wildfires
- Other unlikely incidents such as debris crashing down on your roof.
Because roof’s importance and direct exposure to the elements, your homeowners insurance will protect you from these perils. Damage and destruction from events mentioned in your policy will qualify homeowners for either a partial or complete roof replacement.
Take Note: Homeowners Insurance
Take note that you’ll need to pay the policy deductible before the roof replacement coverage will kick in. There are policies, particularly from high-risk areas, that impose higher deductibles for damages that occurred from hurricanes, hailstorms, among others.
Those from high-risk areas that want to protect their home will need to purchase additional coverage. You can also purchase a separate insurance policy for extra protection or more coverage.
About Roof Replacement Coverage
If ever dramatic events have caused a lot of damage, such as:
- Your roof crashing down
- The roof gets torn off entirely
- There is a major hole,
Then coverage will be more likely.
Situations that end up being a headache are when damage isn’t as dramatic, even if acts of nature caused it.
For instance, a harsh rainstorm nicked some of the roof’s shingles. Your insurance company might classify this as cosmetic damage, choosing not to cover it.
Or, after that storm, your roof begins leaking. Even if rain triggered the leaks, insurers may claim it came from general wear and tear, not covering the damage.
Ironically, water damages caused by leaking roofs or other parts of your home would be covered based on your policy. What isn’t covered is your roof repair.
Furthermore, your roofing materials may cause you to pay more for homeowners insurance, or be rejected for some roof coverage. For instance, if you have wood roofs, you’ll have to pay more for homeowners insurance because it’s weaker. Or, if you have a metal roof, then cosmetic damage coming from hailstorms might not have coverage.
Homeowners Insurance: Be Reimbursed
Age isn’t a friend to roofs unless made of materials known for strength and durability, like tile roofs. If not, expect your roof to depreciate yearly, and insurers won’t want to cover roofs over 24 years old. There are other possible exclusions on your insurance policy, such as:
- Neglecting and improperly maintaining your roof
- Using expensive roofing materials
- Roofs that have over 2 layers of roofing material
Before anything else, review your insurance policy before making a roof claim and assess the damage. Don’t only inspect the roof, but your entire home to know the scope of damage done.
You may even want to get an estimate for the roof repair or replacement. This ensures you get a fair estimate from the insurance company, rather than depend on the adjuster.
For higher chances of the insurers paying for your roof replacement and other damages, call for a roof inspection ASAP. Before they arrive, collect all the documents you can, such as:
- Your current home insurance policy
- Home inspection reports
- Any receipts you have related to roof repair work
- Photos of the damage occurred. You will want before and after shots, taking photos of your roof when it was still in optimum condition.
Before, during, and after the inspection, keep logs of correspondence. You never know when the claims process can end up being a total nightmare!
Keeping records of everything can help you keep track of the entire process. It also makes sure you are doing what needs to be done in getting your claims.
Preparing ahead will be very helpful when going through the claims process. Your insurance company sends out an adjuster for them to inspect the damage, offering their assessment.
Wrapping It Up
Hopefully, this article answers your question, ‘will my homeowners insurance cover my roof replacement costs?’ Look into Stradling Roofing to learn more about repair, replacement, and other roof-related information to keep yours in great condition.
If you are still looking into your homeowners insurance, review the insurance policy and inquire about its roof coverage. This helps you stay aware of everything included and what you are able to claim in case of any accidents.