Whether your roof has been damaged in a storm or is in disrepair, you may wonder how you will ever pay to fix it. Your insurance company may help. Dealing with your insurance company may seem complicated, but don't worry.
In this article, we offer five simple steps to filing a claim with your insurance company, tips from insurance pros, and information on how to keep your roof damage-free in the future.
Step 1. Check your homeowners' insurance for coverage
Reviewing your home insurance policy is the first step in filing an insurance claim. Unfortunately, not all roofing problems are covered by any given insurance policy. "Wind damage isn't covered (in a basic homeowner's policy) in Florida, and wildfires aren't covered in California," says Colleen Parsons, client advisor at World Insurance Associates in New York. "Coverage for those events is extra and costs more money," she adds. When you’re gearing up to battle for your roof, knowing exactly what you’re up against is essential.
If your homeowner’s insurance policy clearly states that your roofing situation is not covered, you may be out of luck. However, if you find there’s room to read between the lines, you have a better chance of getting your insurance company to cover at least part of the damage. Before constructing your claim, understand exactly what your insurance coverage will pay for and determine your deductible.
"Sometimes it's not worth filing a claim," says Ben Guttman, a North Central Insurance Agency broker in Maryland. "It depends on what the deductible is and the possibility of future rate raises."
Make sure you have a replacement cost policy. For a total loss, it will give you enough to rebuild, and for a partial loss, it will be a depreciated claim.
What homeowners insurance typically covers
A damaged roof is stressful, especially if a natural disaster causes it. When reviewing your homeowner's insurance, note what your roof coverage includes. Here is a list of those items typically covered:
Damage due to recent severe weather
Fire damage
Hail damage
What homeowners insurance typically does not cover
Unfortunately, there are instances where your insurance provider won't cover a roof repair or replacement. Here is a list of those items typically NOT covered:
Damage due to neglecting proper maintenance
Normal wear and tear
Improper installation
Mold, mildew, or moss growth
When purchasing a new homeowner's policy, have the agent explain everything in the policy so you know what it covers before signing.
Step 2. Document the damage to your roof
Without putting yourself in danger, take photos of everything. Are shingles scattered about the yard? Take pictures. Is there a tree branch on the roof? Take pictures. There’s no better way to prove storm damage than with plenty of before and after photos.
If you don’t have any before pictures, don’t worry. Photos of the damage are just as helpful during the claims process. Make sure each image has a timestamp as well. Providing timestamped photos with a weather report you download offline is the best way to show that a significant weather event caused the damage.
Step 3. Check your roof's age
Knowing the age of your roof is vitally important during the claims process. Your roof’s age will impact the payment you receive from your insurer. Roofs less than ten years old are usually fully covered under warranty. However, if your roof is a decade old or more, you'll receive a depreciated value of the roof, not an actual cash value. Unfortunately, the amount your insurance pays for roof repair or replacement will reflect that depreciation.
Keep all your documents in a safe place. Then, when you have a claim, you can provide the age of the roof, recent inspection reports, material specifications, manufacturer's warranty, and cost.
Step 4. Call a roofing contractor
Depending on whether the damage creates an emergency, i.e., rain is coming into the home, you will next call either a contractor or your insurance agent. Most homeowners opt to call a roofer first, and if there's a need for an emergency repair, that can happen sooner. "Also, if there is a storm, everyone will call the local roofing companies, so it helps to call early," says Parsons.
If there is no emergency, the roofer can still assess the damage and give you documentation to present to the insurance adjuster when they come to inspect. The roofer's assessment will aid in your claim process by showing the extent of the damage and providing an estimate for local repair costs.
It's wonderful to have a roofing company you've worked with in the past and trust. But if you don't, you'll want to get a couple of estimates. Material defects and consistent repairs are sometimes traced to poor installation or workmanship. Finding the right roofer for your roof replacement or repair is one of the most important steps you can take. Always compare quotes and check references.
Also, beware of low offers, waived deductibles, or promises of a "free roof." These are common scams. It is illegal for a roofer to waive a deductible.
Partial damage doesn't mean you'll get a full roof replacement. If only a small portion of the roof is damaged, your insurance provider may opt to repair the damage, doing everything they can to match the roofing materials.
Step 5. Call your insurance agent
Guttman says that before dialing 1-800 to reach the claims department. You'll want to weigh items like the roof's age, the policy language, the extent of the damage against the estimate, the amount of your deductible, and the possibility of future rate hikes. This discussion will help you decide whether filing a claim is in your best interest or if you should pay out of pocket.
If you decide a claim is warranted, the agent can file it. However, if it's after hours or the weekend, and you have an emergency, you may have no choice but to call the company's claims number, says Parsons. Just make sure you do it promptly, typically within 30 days. "If you wait too long to file a claim," says Parsons, "you could be denied coverage because the adjuster can't tell whether waiting caused further damage."
Keep your roof in tip-top shape
It’s essential to take the necessary steps to protect your roof from damage in the future. It’s also vital to routinely clean your roof when necessary and keep it free of excess water or debris after a windstorm.
Knowing the age of your roof, scheduling regular roof inspections, and performing consistent roof maintenance are three relatively simple measures to ensure your roof stays standing for years to come.
But what about what they said?
You know how it is. A tree fell on your neighbor's roof, and they've been going on and on about how the insurance company treated them. You want to know: are all insurance companies that bad? Or is he exaggerating?
We wanted to know, too. So, we found a few real-life complaints on Reddit and asked our insurance pros if this sounded legit and what the homeowner could've done differently.
The insurance company could drop your insurance
"That could absolutely happen," says Parsons. She explains that the claims adjuster comes out and sees an old, worn-out roof, and they think, "This is going to happen again if they don't replace it." So, they require a replacement to renew the policy. "They are looking for pride of ownership in the home," she says. "Insurance is not a maintenance program."
The insurance company could raise your rates, whether they cover it or not
Parsons says that, unlike auto insurance, homeowners insurance doesn't typically surcharge for claims, unlike auto insurances. "But rates do go up yearly anyway because of rising costs," she says.
But Guttman says it depends on the company. That's why he recommends consulting your agent before filing a claim. "Once underwriting is alerted that your home is more likely to have a future claim, then yes, they could raise your rates," he says.
Are storm chasers really a thing?
"Storm chasers are real," says Guttman. Always work with a local company recommended by someone you trust.
Keeping covered
If a storm's done a number on your roof, these steps will help you get things back to normal in no time. But first, you'll need the number of a roofing company to assess the damages. Let us help you to find one in your area.
Frequently asked questions
No. But if you file a claim that's denied, and underwriting is alerted that your roof isn't up to the task, they could require you to replace it or non-renew your policy.
According to Remodeling's Cost vs. Value Report, a roof replacement brings a 48-57% return on investment. However, a new roof always makes a home more attractive to potential buyers.
Broken or missing asphalt shingles, shingles that flap in the breeze, granule loss, and divots from falling tree branches are sure signs that your roof has suffered damage from wind.
Missing shingles, a sagging ridgeline, roof leaks, blistered or peeling paint, water damage or rot on the fascia, and damaged or missing flashing are all signs that your roof needs replacement or repair.
Carol J Alexander is a home remodeling industry expert for Fixr.com. For more than 15 years as a journalist and content marketer, her in-depth research, interviewing skills, and technical insight have ensured she provides the most accurate and current information on a given topic. Before joining the Fixr team, her personal clients included leaders in the building materials market like Behr Paint Company, CertainTeed, and Chicago Faucet, and national publications like This Old House and Real Homes.