Paying the cost to replace a roof can be a large expense for most homeowners. When needing to replace a roof a homeowner may look to their insurance to cover most if not all of the costs. Whether your home insurance covers roof repair or replacement depends on how the roof gets damaged. They may pay for repairs if a tree falls onto the roof or if a section of shingles is blown off by a storm. However, homeowners insurance typically doesn’t cover old roofs or damage caused by normal wear and tear.
Roof Insurance
Under the homeowner’s insurance policy roof damages are typically covered under dwelling coverage. For example, if a hurricane damages a person’s roof a home insurance policy is likely to pay for the repairs or a new roof. Usually, you don’t need to purchase a special type of insurance for roof repair and replacement. There also may be the option of a roof warranty and/or home warranty that may help with costs not covered by your homeowner’s insurance.
Your roof is fundamentally important to your home, therefore home insurance companies put a great weight on the roof of a home. The roof is the primary defense against the elements, such as rain, hail, and wind. The integrity of your roof is important to avoid certain home insurance claims.
The Types of Roof Damage
The are many scenarios that cause roof damage. Home insurance doesn’t cover all damage, they usually only cover sudden and accidental roof damage caused by a problem covered by the home policy.
Your home insurance will likely cover the cost of repairs or a new roof:
- Wind and hail
- Lightning
- Fire and smoke
- Vandalism
- Falling objects
However, your insurance policy likely will not pay for damage caused by these situations:
- Gradual wear and tear
- Normal roof aging
- Homeowner neglect
- Animals, including termites and mice
- Earthquakes
- Rot or mold
If you need to use a home insurance claim for roof repair as a result of damage you typically will have a deductible to pay. The type of deductible depends on how the damage was caused. A roof damage claim may result in the homeowner’s standard deductible.
