Hello World! Welcome Friends! Homeowners insurance protects the home structure – your roof included from dangers covered in your policy. If heavy winds, fire, snow, or ice buildup severely damage your roof, you’ll likely be compensated for the damage after filing a claim.
Tiny leaks will also be covered, provided an insured risk causes them.
But, if it is revealed that the roof damage was due to general wear and tear or lack of maintenance, chances are your insurer will not honor your claim.
Coverage may also exclude roofs older than twenty years. Such a roof is usually insured based on the actual cash value, which means you’re compensated the roof’s value after 20 years of depreciation.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Roof Damage Due to Wind and Hail?
Wind and hail are the most common causes of roof damage and many times these hazards are included in the standard homeowners insurance coverage. But, if you live in states prone to wind and hail damage – like Oklahoma and Kansas – you’ll be required to pay more for homeowners insurance due to the higher risk involved and the tendency of insurance claims.
Also, there are limitations and exceptions to roofing insurance, depending on damage severity. For instance, if after a hail storm, you have minor damage on your roof, your home insurer might consider it a “cosmetic damage” – a common exclusion in the home coverage.
It is not practical to demand compensation for aesthetic roof damage as the deductible may end up being higher compared to the damage amount.
Wind and Hail Deductibles
It is now common for insurance companies in tornado-prone states to charge wind and hail deductible separately before covering those hazards. In such a case, if a bad storm blows your roof off, and you have a wind deductible, you’ll be required to pay that as opposed to your regular deductible.
If you didn’t include the wind deductible in your policy, you would be required to pay for a new roof from your pocket as it won’t be covered.
How to Reduce Wind and Hail Damage Costs
An excellent way to keep your home insurance down is to make your roof stormproof. To achieve this, install impact-resistant shingles to prevent both cosmetic and functional damage.
Not only will this reduce the number of claims you file, saving you money and time, but you’ll get a discount for having impact-resistant roofing.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Roof Leaks?
Homeowners coverage will only cover leaky roof under the following conditions:
- The leak was due to a peril contained in the policy
- The damage was sudden and didn’t accumulate over the years
But, it is not always easy to determine the cause of the leak, and so it may be challenging to know whether the roof fracture was sudden and not due to wear and tear. A leak that gets the homeowner by complete surprise may be seen as neglect on the claims inspector’s side.
Will My Home Insurance Cover Older Roofs?
Your insurer might send an adjuster to verify your application, inspect your home, and check whether any adjustments are needed in your policy.
During the inspection, your insurance company is trying to find out whether your property is worth insuring based on the likelihood of filing a claim.
Insurance adjusters will look into your roof’s age and quality. If your roof is over 20 years old, most home insurance companies will require it to undergo inspection first before insuring it.
Other insurance companies won’t renew policies for homes with 20-year roofing. If they do, they only cover it at its actual cash value.
Roof replacement is costly, but you might not have many options if your roof is old, as failure to take action could make it hard to insure your home.
Roof Coverage Limitations
Besides excluding roof damage due to wear and tear, earthquakes, flooding, and mudslides are also not covered without separate insurance policy. Here are some roofing coverage limitations you should keep in mind:
Hurricane Damage
Roof damage due to hurricane winds is typically covered, but just like wind and hail damage, insurers might require you to have a separate hurricane deductible.
Squirrel Damage
While squirrels are small, they can cause costly damage to your roof.
Since damage caused by squirrels is preventable with proper home maintenance, homeowners insurance will rarely cover it. However, if the squirrel damage is sudden, for instance, if they gnaw your home wiring, causing fire, most home insurance companies will cover it.
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