It goes without saying that insurance companies consider roofs to be one of the most critical components of a home. They protect the occupants, property and house itself from catastrophe, and prevent the insurance company from having huge payouts from flooding.
If a roof is already damaged, it’s more likely that they’ll have to payout less to fix it now than they will in the future. However, it’s now more common for insurers to restrict their coverage, and many won’t cover aging roofs. This may have you wondering if your roof will be covered should you need a new one.
WHAT TYPES OF DAMAGE DOES INSURANCE COVER?
In terms of residential roofing, dwelling coverage included in homeowners insurance is meant to protect the entirety of your home’s structure from normal damage from hail, fire and wind. This means that a lightning strike that causes a fire or damage from severe hail will, most likely, be at least partially covered.
WILL THERE BE A DEDUCTIBLE?
There usually is. While each policy is different, there’s typically a deductible that has to be paid out prior to your insurance covering repairs or replacements. Additionally, there is a coverage limit, so it’s crucial that you understand your insurance policy completely in order to know what to expect. It’s possible that your insurance excludes hail or wind, so you want to be sure you know what’s in your policy prior to committing to anything.
WHAT ABOUT A LEAKY ROOF?
Barring any explicit exclusions in your policy, homeowners insurance should cover all leaks stemming from natural incidences such as hail, wind or fire.
WHAT IS NOT TYPICALLY COVERED?
Again, each policy is unique, but homeowners insurance usually does not cover damage resulting from neglect or normal wear and tear. It’s typically only sudden or accidental damage that is covered, so it’s important that you be sure of the cause prior to reaching out to your insurance company.
The Roofing Center uses advanced roofing software and does in-depth roofing inspections for this very reason, so contact us today if you’d like to know the state of your roof!
