Roof Damage: Here’s What Homeowners Insurance Covers, and What It Doesn’t

The phrase "keeping a roof over your head" is synonymous with the concept of home itself. One of the most expensive aspects of being a homeowner is keeping that roof in good condition and repairing or replacing it when it is damaged.

Snow, hail, rain, ice, and falling branches or debris can all damage your roof, and roofs aren't cheap to repair or replace; according to 2020 data collected by home improvement site HomeAdvisor, the typical range for a roof repair project is between $5,569 and $11,413.

The good news is that most homeowners insurance policies cover roof replacement or repair if the damage is caused by a natural disaster or a sudden accidental event. It is one of the primary reasons why people purchase homeowners insurance.

“If lightning strikes the roof and damages it, that will be covered because you did not cause it,” says Stacey Giulianti, chief legal officer at Florida Peninsula Insurance Company, a Florida-based homeowners insurance company.

Here's how to get homeowners insurance to pay for storm-damaged roof repairs or replacement.

How Homeowners Insurance Coverage Works for Your Roof

Because the roof is an essential component of your home's structure, your homeowners insurance policy will typically cover it against certain uncontrollable events such as fire, hail, falling objects, and more.

If your roof is damaged due to a covered peril in your policy, you can file a claim with your insurance company for total or partial roof replacement. However, your insurance company will not pay to replace or repair a roof that is gradually deteriorating due to normal wear and tear or neglect.

“Homeowners insurance is not a maintenance contract. “You are responsible for maintaining your own roof in the same way that you are responsible for maintaining the rest of your house,” Giulianti says.

If you're wondering what most insurance companies cover when it comes to your roof, here are a few examples:

Fire
Hail
Wind
Vandalism
Lightning strikes
Falling objects
Natural calamities

Roof damage may not be covered by insurance if:

Your roof is older (10-20 years or older)
The roof has been neglected, resulting in roof damage.
The homeowner caused either intentional or unintentional damage.
You live in a state where windstorms or hailstorms are prohibited, such as Florida or Texas, where hurricanes and hail storms are common.

Be Aware of Disaster Deductibles

When filing an insurance claim, you must pay a deductible. It is the amount you pay on an insurance claim before your coverage kicks in and pays the rest.

Wind, hail, and hurricanes are typically covered by homeowners insurance; flood and earthquake policies are typically purchased separately. However, depending on the insurance company and where you live, each of these disasters may have its own deductible rules.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, hurricane deductibles, for example, are typically higher than other homeowners policy deductibles and take the form of a percentage of the policy limits. So, if you live on the coast or in a hurricane-prone area, you may end up paying a deductible that differs from the one you select.

Knowing about the various types of disaster deductibles, from hurricanes to wind and hail, will help you avoid unexpected costs in the future. Check your policy and speak with your insurance provider to learn more about how your deductibles work.

How to File an Insurance Claim for a Damaged Roof After a Storm

There is a standard procedure for filing an insurance claim for a damaged roof. In an ideal world, filing a claim would be a simple process, but dealing with insurance companies can be frustrating and unpleasant at times. To help you prepare for both, here is a step-by-step guide to help you along the way.

Get in touch with your homeowner's insurance provider.

If you suspect your roof has been damaged by a storm, you should contact your insurance company as soon as possible.

Take detailed notes and multiple photos of all damage to the ground level of the house, both inside and out. This documentation will be necessary when you file the claim.

Avoid climbing to the top of your roof to inspect the damage because you could injure yourself.

Identify a Roofing Contractor

It is now time to contact at least three roofing contractors. Each will assess the cost of the repair or roof replacement and provide quotes that you will later provide to your claims adjuster.

According to Ami Feller Wells, owner of Feller Roofing in New Braunfels, Texas, “most insurance companies prefer that a homeowner have a roofer look at it first before filing a claim.” “They don't want to squander the trip if there is no damage.”

File an Insurance Claim

If the contractor confirms that the roof has sustained sufficient damage, the next step is to file a claim with your insurance company. It is usually best to contact your insurer by phone, but depending on your insurer, filing a claim online may be easier.

When submitting a claim, keep in mind that time is of the essence. Homeowners typically have a year to file a claim. Some states give you more time to file a claim, ranging from two to six years. While this varies greatly, in general, the sooner you file the claim, the better.

Keep a record of your conversations with your insurer as well as any important details you learn along the way. Submit photo documentation of the damage as well as any receipts for costs incurred while filing the claim. For example, if a covered incident renders your home unlivable for an extended period of time, your insurer will cover any additional living expenses.

Schedule a meeting with an insurance adjuster.

Your insurance company will arrange for an adjuster to visit your home and assess the roof damage. The adjuster will go up on the roof and assess the damage, determining what is and is not covered for your roof claim, and providing you with an estimate to give to the roofing contractor. Request that the adjuster share any documentation with you.

“Roofers are not permitted to bargain with insurance companies. There is a law governing this. If you want to fight an insurance company as a homeowner, you should hire a public adjuster,” says Feller.

A good roofing contractor, on the other hand, will attend your appointment with your claim adjuster to ensure you receive a fair assessment and estimate. “As a courtesy to our customers, we will go out and represent them up on the roof if they wish,” Feller says. “It usually goes better if you have your roofer up there looking at things as well.”

Roof Replacement or Repair

Depending on the severity of the damage, the roofing contractor will determine whether your roof needs to be replaced or repaired.

Make sure to obtain documentation if there are any changes to the original estimate. According to Feller, replacing or repairing a roof typically takes one day, and the project is considered complete once it has passed a city inspection.

“In most cases, the insurance company pays the customer. If there is a mortgage company, they will be listed on the check as well,” Feller explains. “The homeowner is responsible for endorsing the check, depositing it, and then paying the contractor.”