It is the worst nightmare for many homeowners. A storm blows through, and your roof takes the brunt of the damage from wind, hail, or worse, a fallen tree or tornado. This scenario is all too familiar for residents of Mid-Missouri. Sometimes the damage can be so severe that your roof no longer protects your home and family. Many homeowners are left wondering, “Will insurance repair or replace my roof?”
Once it is safe to go outside, be sure to document the roof damage to your roof thoroughly. You will need several photos of the exterior of your home. You will also need to document any damage to the interior of your home due to roof damage like leaks or cracks in the ceiling or walls. If you are not comfortable getting up on a ladder, you can call in a roofing professional to perform a roofing inspection and they can do a complete survey of the damage. Before you schedule any work to be done, check into your homeowner’s insurance policy to see what kind of coverage you have for roofing replacement or repair.
When you’re dealing with a roofing issue that warrants making an insurance claim, you want to feel confident that you are working with professional roofers. If your insurance company can find any reason to deny your claim, they will. Use a Certified and licensed roofers to document the damage. A professional assessment, submitted with your claim, increases the likely hood of roof repairs being covered by insurance.
Take some time to dig into what your homeowner’s insurance covers for roofing repairs and roofing replacements. You won’t know whether you need your roof repaired or replaced until you have it inspected by a roofing professional, but it’s important to be familiar with your coverage. Some homeowners insurance will reimburse you for a specific percentage of the repair costs. Insurance must deem that your roof is damaged beyond repair and the only solution is to replace it. Then file a roof insurance claim to start he claim process as soon as possible.
It is hard to be certain whether or not your specific insurance policy will cover a roofing replacement since there are plenty of exceptions and limitations that come along with the question, “Will insurance replace my roof?” The amount of damage may also be a factor in whether or not your insurance will cover a full roofing replacement or just the necessary repairs. It might be a surprised that you don’t need to get multiple estimates. Insurance may only except the lowest one and lower estimates may not be the best in quality repairs.
Keep in mind that after a big storm roof scam statistics increase.
Not all types of roof damage is covered by insurance, but weather-related damage is often likely to be covered. Again, this will depend on your specific policy, but some of the most common types of covered “perils” related to weather are damage caused by:
If the damage from one of these weather events is severe enough, you may be able to get a roof-replacement covered by insurance.
Home owners insurance typically does not cover maintenance issues. Roof maintenance is the responsibility of the homeowner. If normal wear and tear maintenance is neglected, the resulting damage and repairs from a storm could be out of pocket. For example, if you fail to replace a few damaged shingles and it causes other damage to your roof and home, your insurance may say you are at fault.
Squirrels can wreak havoc on your roof. Similar to the normal wear and tear, this is something a homeowner is responsible for preventing. As soon as you notice damage from squirrels or other types of pests, you should take the necessary steps to put a stop to it. However, if pests cause sudden damage, for example, a squirrel chews through an electrical wire, you may have coverage. The chance of needing a total roof replacement from pest damage isn’t likely.
Ice can be bad news for your roof. When too much ice accumulates, it can form barriers around your gutters, cause water to overflow, create a leak, and potentially cause your roof to collapse. Roof insurers might cover roof collapse damages however, if damage occurs to the home’s interior, insurer’s have been found not to cover further damages.
If you need a roofing inspection, roof repairs, or a roof replacement, Manor Roofing Contractors has a team of skilled professionals ready to assist. We want to remind you to keep a log of all correspondence with your home owners insurance agent. What starts as a simple claim can turn into a big ordeal. Keep records from the first day including what they told you and photos of the damage. We have experience working with insurance adjusters to help you make an insurance claim accurately and quickly. Contact us today if your roof has been damaged.