Can I Get My Insurance Company To Pay for a New Roof?

It is possible for your homeowners insurance company to pay for a new roof if your current roof was damaged by a covered peril and you file a claim promptly. Your roof is often the most exposed element of your home to weather and other deteriorating or damaging factors, so ensure you understand the limits of your homeowners insurance if your roof is damaged and needs repair.

Keep reading to learn more about how to get insurance to pay for roof replacement, what is typically covered and what mistakes to avoid if you need to make roof damage insurance claims.

Does Home Insurance Cover Roof Replacement?

Most homeowners insurance policies will cover roof damage due to several types of causes, including fire, windstorm, lightning, vandalism, hail. Keep in mind that your homeowners insurance will only cover you after you’ve paid your deductible, so you may have to pay a portion or all of your roof repairs out of pocket, depending on your costs.

What Kind of Roof Damage Is Covered by Home Insurance?

A roof damage insurance claim will typically be covered by your homeowners insurance if it was caused by one of the perils covered by your policy. For example, you’ll typically be covered if your roof is damaged due to extreme weather, such as hail knocking off shingles or a windstorm blowing a well-maintained tree into your home. Similarly, accidents outside your control that cause roof damage, such as a house fire.

What Isn’t Covered?

Roof damage is unlikely to be covered if it results from regular wear and tear. For example, an asphalt-shingled roof will typically last 15 to 30 years, and you might not receive coverage for a replacement if your roof was damaged and was already due for a replacement.^[1] In addition, if the damage was caused to your roof due to a lack of maintenance, you are unlikely to receive coverage.^[2]

You also likely won’t be covered for perils specifically excluded in your policy, such as an earthquake, and may require additional policies or insurance riders to cover certain events. Additionally, if your roof was installed or repaired incorrectly, your insurance company may deny a claim that occurs afterward, citing that it isn’t their responsibility to cover damage for something that wasn’t adequately secured.^[2]

How To Get Insurance To Pay for Roof Replacement

Below, we’ll cover the steps you should take if you discover you have roof damage and want your insurance to cover getting your roof replaced or repaired instead of paying out of pocket.

1. Confirm the Cause of the Damage is Covered

Before making a claim, you’ll want to ensure that your homeowners insurance policy covers the damage to your roof, as some policies may have exclusions. For example, states like Florida that are at high risk for some severe weather events may exclude coverage for windstorms and hail, requiring a separate windstorm policy.^[3] Ensure you don’t assume all damage will be covered by reading up on your policy to know what type of roof damage you’ll be responsible for covering out of pocket.

Additionally, you’ll want to ensure it’s worth filing a claim, as a high deductible could negate any repair reimbursement. For example, if you received minimal damage to your roof through a windstorm and found it would be roughly $5,000 to repair, but your homeowners insurance deductible is $5,000, you would need to cover the entire repair cost.

Even if your deductible is low enough to receive some benefit from your insurer, a single claim could cause your insurance rates to increase, costing you more in the long run.

2. Document Any Roof Damage

You’ll want to take extensive photographs of your roof damage, including any loose or broken shingles that have fallen off your roof or become dislodged or fallen trees and branches that may have landed there. Ensure your photos are time-stamped so you can notate when the damage occurred when you submit a claim. If the damage was caused by extreme weather, it may help to get a copy of the weather report to provide evidence for the cause of the damage.

If you have the option, it may be worth using a drone to gather aerial footage of your roof, which can be a much safer option than climbing it yourself.

3. Be Wary of Storm Chasers and Scammers

If your roof was damaged by a storm that just passed, you might receive a knock at the door from non-local companies, often called “storm chasers,” looking to scam homeowners with the promise of a low-cost or free roof repair. While some may be legitimate businesses, many are scammers who use aggressive sales tactics to get you to agree to a repair that your insurance company may not cover and could be low quality, resulting in even further roof damage. Always verify the legitimacy of any company offering services by asking for certification, their company’s physical address and online reviews.

4. File a Roof Replacement Claim

Get in touch with your insurance company as soon as you have the damage documented to inform them of your potential claim. Don’t put off getting the claims process started, as waiting as little as a year or two could result in your claim being denied.^[2] Your insurer will tell you the next necessary steps you need to take before filing a claim.

Once you have enough documentation, you can file a claim. Your company may go back and forth with you in requesting further paperwork or clarification on the damages or any roof warranties.

5. Get a Home Inspection

You should hire a roofing contractor to inspect your roof to indicate the depth of any damage. Ensure you find a reputable roofing company to perform the inspection or use one recommended by your insurance company if they offer any, as not all inspectors are of equivalent professional ability. The inspector may also offer estimates for repair, but be wary of gathering too many as your insurance company may request to see all estimates and choose the lowest option for how much coverage they’ll provide.^[4]

6. Meet With an Insurance Adjuster

Regardless of whether a roofing contractor is requested to inspect, your insurance company may also send out an in-house or independent claims adjuster to verify the extent of damage made in a claim before approving it. Ensure you comply with the adjuster and provide any documentation. You may be able to negotiate with your insurance company if the initial settlement they offer is lower than your expected repair costs, so don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself if necessary.

7. Appeal a Denied Claim if Necessary

If your claim was denied, you may be able to submit an appeal to your insurance company. This will usually involve a re-inspection by the claims adjuster, so if there were any aspects they missed initially, this would be the time to point them out. Consider hiring a roofing contractor to assist you during the adjustment process, advocate for you, and point out areas where the claims adjustor may have missed something.

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Filing a Roof Replacement Claim

Certain mistakes do you no favors when looking to submit a roof repair claim and could result in a lower claim amount or denial. Avoid the following when you’ve received roof damage to help increase your odds of a successful roof replacement insurance claim:

• Delay making a claim
• Forget to document the roof damage or not document it well enough
• Inadequately protect and prevent additional damage to your home
• Misunderstand your policy and its limitations
• Not get an independent roofing inspection to assess the damages
• Accept the first settlement offer from your insurance company
• Get a Free Homeowners Insurance Quote Today!