When you’re dealing with a catastrophic event that affects your roof, the last thing you want to worry about is red tape from your insurance company. Understanding your insurance coverage can make a stressful process much more manageable. What kind of roof damage is covered by insurance?
What Kind of Roof Damage Is Covered by Insurance?
Have you ever been in a situation where you were unsure whether you could file an insurance claim? Believe it or not, this can be a common dilemma for homeowners after a catastrophic event affects their property. Unfortunately, insurance companies can delay and deny insurance payouts in some circumstances if a homeowner doesn’t make an adequate case for the damage to be covered by their policy. Understanding what kind of damage your insurance covers before you file a claim can save you an additional headache during a stressful time. So, what kind of roof damage is covered by insurance?
How Does an Insurance Company Decide What Damage Is Covered Under a Policy?
When you think about insurance, you may think about it as a way to cover the costs of certain kinds of damage to your home. For example, if your policy includes wind damage, you may think that any issues on your roof caused by wind are automatically covered. However, when determining whether your policy covers the damage that occurred, your insurance company will look at several different factors:
- The structure that the roof sits on may make a difference regarding what is covered. Homeowner’s insurance typically covers your home dwelling’s roof, but detached structures like garages and sheds may or may not be covered. Check your insurance policy to see what coverage is included, and consider investing in additional coverage if needed.
- For damages to be covered, they must be caused by a “covered peril” named in your insurance policy. Covered perils typically include fire, wind, hail, storms, and other catastrophic events affecting your home.
- There are catastrophic events not commonly covered by homeowners insurance, such as earthquakes and floods. If you live in an area where damage from these events is likely, talk to your insurance agent about what kind of additional coverage is needed for your roof.
- If the contents of your home are harmed when the roof is damaged, they will not be covered by the roof’s policy, but they may be covered by personal property coverage. Talk to your insurance agent for details.
- Insurance companies do not cover damage that occurs due to a lack of homeowner maintenance. This is why homeowners need to have their roofs inspected and maintained annually. Among other benefits, it will be easier to establish that a catastrophic event caused damage if your roof maintenance is up to date.
If My Roof Is Damaged, What Should I Do?
If your roof is damaged and you want to make an insurance claim, you should protect it from further damage before it can be inspected. Cover the damage on your roof with a tarp or other waterproof structure, if possible, then contact your insurance company to file a claim.
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Dealing with insurance companies can be stressful, but working with a trustworthy roofer can make it much more manageable. If you’re in need of a roof estimate for a roof installation or repair, turn to Taylor-Made Roofing. A family business proudly serving families and businesses in southwest Missouri for more than 20 years, we’re fully licensed and insured and happy to provide references. We’re committed to providing quality service with top-notch integrity. Our experts can help you explore new roofing options, maintain an older roof, perform emergency repairs, complete tear-offs and recovers, and perform remodeling services. For more information, please give us a call at 417-326-8778 or contact us online. We look forward to hearing from you!