Will My Insurance Company Pay for a Roof Replacement?
Roof repairs are often overlooked by homeowners. Even the most durable materials are subject to wear and tear as time passes, leaving this once neglected task to become a top priority.
Harsh weather conditions can decrease the lifespan of your roof. A single bad weather event such as hail, severe rains or strong winds can tear the roof shingles off in a single day. If nothing is done to repair within a certain time, the storm damaged roof can become exposed to further damage.
The good news is that since every homeowner must purchase insurance on their home. When disaster strikes most insurance companies will pay for the entire cost of your roof replacement or at the very minimum half of it. Boss Roofing has more than 16 years of experience as well as thousands of satisfied customers who have been able to replace roofs using their own homeowner’s insurance.
Truth be told, homeowner’s insurance does not always cover all kinds of damages. Many homeowners believe that the insurance company they have will be able to cover any damage that occurs to their property. However, this isn’t always the case.
One thing to know is that, an insurance company can deny a claim. For this reason it is important to fully understand how your policy works. In this article, you’ll find out what homeowners’ insurance may cover when it comes to roof replacements.
Roof Replacements That Homeowner’s Insurance Pays For
The purpose of homeowner’s insurance is to cover the cost of damages to your home if an something unexpected happens, such as a fire or burglary. Also it covers extreme weather damage like hail storms, snowstorms, and tornadoes, all of which causes different types of damage.
Missing Shingles
Windstorms can cause you to lose shingles, which can lead to serious water damage if not addressed immediately. As the shingles blow off it may take the tar seals along with it. Based on the severity of damage, certain insurance companies will pay for an entire roof replacement, while others will cover just a quick patch job. When there is an expert roofer involved, they can assist in determining whether the damage is critical enough for the insurance claim to justify a claim.
Hail Damage
A lot of roofing repair demands are linked to hail damages. Hailstorms can cause severe damages to roof materials. The impact of hailstones can cause cracks or bruises to asphalt shingles, cause gutters to fail and cause damage to things like chimneys and skylights which can lead to water damage to your home.
How Do You Know if You Have Hail Damage on Your Roof?
3 common signs of hail damage include, bruising, cracking and missing asphalt granules. You may also want to check any shingle that has black substrate exposed. If you are able to spot any of these, it could mean that your roof has been compromised.
One of the best ways to be certain in what state your roof is after a storm, is to have a professional roofing company involved. Since hail tends to fall in random patterns, it may only affect a few houses in your neighborhood. All the while, it is better to play it safe and call your trusted roofing contractor for a free inspection.
Snow and Ice
Ice and snow can also affect your roof’s condition. In the winter months, the weight of ice and snow will put stress on your roof, if the weight is greater than that of the roofs load capacity, your roof could fall down or even collapse.
Additionally, rainwater will naturally flow towards the bottom of your roof, and then form massive ice blocks when temperatures drop below freezing temperature. Snow and ice build up can create barriers that block the water from draining effectively, causing moisture damage.
Furthermore, if melted snow or rain does not drain off the roof, the water may get underneath the shingles and cause damage. If this happens continuously with no proper attention, it could result in bigger issues. A trusted professional can assist you in identifying problems and determine whether your insurance policy will be able to cover the cost of replacing or repairing your roof.
Other Common Roof Replacement Claims the Insurance Will Pay For
Besides roof damage, there could also be damage to your gutters and flashing due to severe winds. One thing to know is that, the flashings main purpose is to protect the structure of the roof; however, harsh winds could tear these flashings off and leave your home exposed to more damage. In these instances, your homeowner’s insurance can cover these type of damages.
Another roofing repair claim that the insurance company will pay for is when branches or trees fall onto your roof as a result of severe weather. This can result in missing shingles or create huge holes on your roof. Based on the severity, you may replace the entire roof or only a part of it. When damage to your roof is not severe, it is possible that the insurance company will simply just patch the damaged area or pay a portion of the repair.
Roof Replacements That Homeowner’s Insurance Won’t Pay For
Although homeowners’ insurance can be very useful when needed. It also must be said that insurance does not cover all types of damages that may occur. For instance, roof leaks are covered in specific situations. Most insurance companies take care of leaks that are caused by a risk that is covered in the policy. In addition, the leak must have occurred suddenly and did not accumulate over time but you may or may not be able to get insurance to cover your home with that kind of damage.
The condition of the roof, could be a deciding factor in determining if your insurance will accept your roof replacement claim. In general, insurance companies will decline your claim when the roof is between 15 and 20 years old. Unless your roof was well-kept and passed the inspection criteria, other companies may pay you the actual cash value of the roof. That means, if the roof has only some minor damage and has past the 20-year mark, you’ll get what your roof is worth at the end of 20 years’ depreciation.
If damage is caused by pests such as squirrels, that may not qualify for severe or adverse impact on your home, therefore your insurance provider might deny your claim. In any case, you must talk to a roofing company because there may be certain exceptions.
Will My Homeowner’s Insurance Pay for My Roof Replacement?
At the end of the day, you wont know whether your homeowner’s insurance policy will cover the cost of replacing your roof until you consult with an experienced roofing professional.
After an experienced contractor inspects your roof, take into consideration of the things that your insurance can and wont be able to pay for the replacement.
Boss Roofing Experts appreciate each and every one of our clients, and we listen to their concerns. Are you in need of a contractor to check your roof for damage, or need a better explanation of what your homeowner’s insurance would cover
Call us today at 815-590-2677
We’re here to help you!