Your roof has been damaged. It’s possible that the wind ripped off part of your roof, or maybe heavy snow was to blame. Now that your roof is pierced with holes, you’re wondering if home insurance will be enough to cover it?
Insurers will not pay for roof repair or replacement unless the damage is an insurable loss, which means that there are a variety of things to consider. The most crucial consideration is simply whether the harm is a covered peril. That implies it must have been caused by a covered hazard. Today, we’ll look at when insurance is likely to reimburse you for your losses and when you might have to pay out of pocket.
How to File an Insurance Claim
It’s easier than you’d think to get your roof replaced. To submit insurance claims for roof damage, here are the stages that homeowners should go through:
Document the Damage
Take photographs and/or a video to document the damage to your roof. If possible, get close-up pictures of each damage as well as wide, panoramic views of all damages in one shot, if you can.
Whether it’s shingles torn off your house in the high winds or shingles that have cracked and fallen as a result of violent hail, get video or pictures of it all. When insurance claims adjusters investigate the damages and file insurance claims on behalf of homeowners, this documentation can come in handy.
Verify Your Policy Coverage
Call your insurance provider to determine what kind of losses are covered by the policy. Some insurance policies, for example, cover hail damage but not wind damage. A phone conversation with your insurance company or a look at your homeowner’s insurance policy agreement is the best approach to figure out what’s covered.
Fill Out Insurance Claims Forms
Fill out insurance claim forms. Insurance companies give policyholders insurance claim forms to fill out when claiming on their policies; these papers require homeowners to describe what was damaged and how much coverage they require for roof repairs or replacements. You may also need to provide information such as your insurance policy number, name, address, contact information for your insurance provider, etc.
File Your Claim and Wait for Coverage to Kick In
File insurance claims through e-signing or mailing in insurance claim forms to insurance carriers. If you have trouble filling out insurance claim forms, don’t worry; adjusters are available by phone or email to assist homeowners with filling out insurance claim forms. Insurance claims adjusters will process your claims forms on your behalf after they receive them.
Find a Reliable Roofing Contractor
Now, some insurance companies will have suggestions for roofing companies they prefer, but usually, you can hire your own. Make sure you look for a company that is reliable, reasonable, local, and willing to work with your insurance. The more hands-off you can be, the better. Make sure you get multiple quotes from different roofers before committing to one.
How To Find Local Roofing Contractors
When your roof starts to show signs of wear and tear, it is time to call in a professional roof repair service. But with so many companies out there, how do you know which one to trust? Here are a few tips to help you find the best roof repair service for your needs:
Get Referrals From Friends and Family
If someone you know has recently had their roof repaired, ask them which professional roof repair service they used and if they were satisfied with the results. This is a great way to get an idea of what kind of company to use.
Do Some Research Online
Once you have a few names in mind, take some time to read reviews about each company. This will give you an idea of what other people have said about them, and it can help you to see which company might be a good fit for your needs.
Contact the Company
Once you have narrowed down your list of potential companies, call each one and take some time to discuss your situation with the representatives that you speak with. This will give you an idea of how knowledgeable they are about roof repair services. Get quotes from at least three companies, so you know what local repair costs are averaging.
Choose Someone Local
Often, after a big storm, swarms of out-of-town roof repair crews will flock to the area to offer roof repair services. While they may be able to do a good job, it is always best to choose someone local so you can build a rapport and have someone that you can trust should any problems arise.
When Can You Expect Coverage?
There are times when homeowner’s insurance will cover repairs to your roof. Roof insurance is generally used for storm damage and other disasters, as well as damage caused by unusual and unpredictable events.
Storm Damage
If you have had a severe storm and several tiles have fallen off, or if your shingles need to be replaced, your insurance company will most likely reimburse the actual cash value of the missing shingles plus roofing contractor labor. This is particularly true if you have comprehensive insurance coverage, which is usually part of a standard homeowners policy. The most common kind of roofing insurance claim we see is damage caused by storms.
However, if your roof damage is due to a covered hazard but you do not take action as soon as possible, your insurance company may not cover the repairs or roof replacement cost. If there’s a major storm and the shingles fly off your roof but you don’t enter the insurance claims process right away, for example, the licensed insurance adjusters might be hesitant to pay for these charges because the lingering damage could have been preventable.
Unpredictable Events
Sometimes, roofs are damaged by unpredictable events that are out of your control. If a tree falls on your home and causes substantial damage to your roof, for example, the replacement cost would likely be covered by your insurance adjuster. The same is true for some situations where a fire damages your roof. These types of events are typically covered during the roof insurance claim process because they are not something that you can reasonably be expected to predict or prevent.
It’s not uncommon for an insurance company to deny coverage for certain types of damage, such as mold or rot, even if they are caused by an event that is covered by the policy. It’s important to read your policy carefully to understand what is and is not covered by the insurance claims process.
What Isn’t Covered by Insurance?
Not every damaged roof is eligible for labor and actual cash value reimbursement. There are numerous circumstances when roofing insurance claims may not cover the cost of roof damage, or it might simply cover a portion of the cost of a full replacement or repair job in the case of an emergency. Faulty building and repairs, committing insurance fraud, coverage restrictions, high deductibles, questionable claims, and homeowner neglect are all factors that can influence your policy.
Poor Workmanship
For example, if building codes were not followed by the roofing company when the structure was built, but you discover this only after, you may not be compensated by your insurance adjuster because it would not be considered a covered loss. It’s conceivable that homeowners and contractors violate building codes or illegally build additions to homes to save money all the time. In such a situation, your insurance may not cover your losses.
Furthermore, your homeowner’s insurance company is unlikely to cover roof repairs or replacements that have already been attempted in some manner. This may be due to an initial repair attempt that failed or simply because a hole wasn’t immediately filled following a covered peril.
Your Contractor Matters!
We can’t stress enough how important it is to hire a reputable roofing contractor to make repairs after damage occurs, or if you notice some shoddy workmanship going on from the previous owner. You could be denied coverage in the future if your roof is not in good order.
Peak to Peak Roofing & Exteriors is a local roofing company that provides exceptional service to its clients. They’ll walk you through the roofing insurance claims process step by step and teach you along the way. Roof insurance claims can be complicated, so they’ll explain common roofing insurance claim terminology and processes. And, if your insurance covers roof damage, they’ll collaborate with them to handle the specifics and get you back on track.
Coverage Limits
It’s possible that the losses occur outside of your policy’s parameters. If your shingles aren’t considered normal and you live in a region where strong winds and significant rains are common, such as the Midwest, you might want to consider purchasing additional coverage for wind damage.
Keep in mind that some homeowners’ insurance policies may place a limit on how much they will pay for roof repairs. For example, if you have $10,000 of coverage but the damage costs $20,000, you would only get up to $10,000 in compensation.
High Deductibles
It’s also worth noting that homeowners insurance typically only covers damages above and beyond your deductible. Anything before this must be paid by you until you reach the deductible amount specified in your policy.
Homeowner Neglect
Finally, if the cause of your roof damage is a covered peril that has not yet occurred and your roof is in poor condition, homeowners insurance may not cover it. For example, if you have a deteriorating roof and the underlying stucco is a fire hazard, this might be considered an “incident” by your insurance company and they may refuse to pay for those damages.
If you’re buying a house, make sure the inspector you employ (they inspect the property before you actually acquire it) does a thorough roof inspection from inside the attic as well as a visual examination of the outside of the home.
Don’t Sleep on Roof Repairs!
In general, homeowners insurance will cover some or all of the cost of repairing a roof disaster if everything was done correctly according to local building codes and the damages fall within your policy’s limits, such as storm damage and unpredictable occurrences.
That’s really the intended purpose behind insurance. It’s for the unpredictable and unpreventable accidents in life. Even most regular homeowners insurance policies should provide some sort of roof repair or replacement coverage.
If you live in the Denver area and your roof has recently been damaged, call Peak to Peak Roofing & Exteriors to get a free roof inspection now. They’ll work with your insurance provider throughout the whole insurance claims process to get your roof repaired or replaced quickly.