Roof damage is typically covered by homeowners insurance. If you have storm damage, you may be able to file a claim, and depending on the extent of the damage, your insurance company may pay to replace your roof.
However, this does not always occur. Even if the damage appears to be the result of a storm, which is usually covered, there could be a number of reasons why your insurance company is unwilling to proceed with the replacement. Because the cost of replacing a roof is significant, you’ll want to do everything possible to reduce that risk.
Why would your insurance company refuse to pay for the costs of replacing your roof? Here are a few examples of common reasons.
The roof damage is from wear and tear
While home insurance covers accidental and unavoidable roof damage, it does not cover roofing structure management and maintenance. Normal wear and tear from roof aging isn’t usually covered. Because all materials degrade over time, if your roof is nearing the end of its typical lifespan, you must pay for a replacement.
Remember that improper maintenance and upkeep can hasten the aging of the roofing material. That means your roof may fail sooner than expected due to a lack of cleaning or patching holes that form. This is not typically covered by homeowner’s insurance.
Roof damage is old
Maybe your roof was damaged during a storm, and you want your insurance company to cover the costs. However, if there is evidence of previous damage that you did not repair, they are unlikely to do so. For example, if there are obvious leaks caused by poor maintenance, and those leaks are likely to weaken the roofing structure, the insurance company is unlikely to replace the roof. It may cover storm damage repairs, such as where a tree branch fell on it, but it may not cover the entire roof’s replacement.
The roof damage does not affect the function of your roof
Insurance companies are typically responsible for restoring the roof to its pre-incident condition. Assume a tree branch has fallen on your roof, causing a hole. If the insurance adjuster comes to the house to decide how to repair the damage, they will most likely only repair the storm-damaged area. That is, if they can find the same roofing shingles or materials, they are unlikely to replace the entire roof structure.
However, if you have significant hailstorm damage that has spread throughout the roof – and enough of the roof has been impacted by the damage – the insurance company may decide to replace the entire roof. It often comes down to whether it is more cost effective to replace or repair the roof’s structure.
Defective roofing product
Another common reason why the insurance company may decide not to replace your roof is if the problem is due to a manufacturer defect. That is, the shingles or other roofing material failed despite the warranty. In this case, you would have to seek financial assistance from the manufacturer to demonstrate that the damage was caused by a defect.
This is a difficult situation because both the insurance company and the manufacturer are likely to try to demonstrate that they are not liable for the losses. Most manufacturers include a warranty with their products, though the scope of that warranty varies greatly from one company to the next. Make sure to contact your roofing contractor for assistance with this type of claim.
The roof replacement insurance claim was filed too late
Assume you have hail or other storm damage to your roof. You should not put off filing a claim with your homeowner’s insurance for too long. Depending on where you live, you may have one to two years from the date of the damage to file a claim. Make sure to read your insurance policy to find out how long this time frame is.
This is where things can get tricky. If your roof has been damaged by hail, you may not be aware of the damage for some time. You might be unsure when it happened once you get on your roof to look for it. If your roofing contractor has records indicating when the last hailstorm in your area occurred, they may be able to assist you. If you are within your roof’s claims period, you may be able to file a claim. This is a compelling reason to have a licensed professional inspect your roof on an annual basis to ensure that any damage is detected as soon as possible.
Can you appeal a roof replacement coverage denial?
You can frequently appeal a denial of coverage, especially if the situation is more about the insurance adjuster’s opinion (which can also lead to a denial of coverage that isn’t always clear). Read your homeowner’s insurance policy to learn more about the appeals process; however, each policy will contain specific information about it. It is often preferable to have a roofing contractor or a public adjuster on hand to handle this process for you. Do not attempt to appeal on your own without the assistance of these professionals.
Call your roofing contractor and request an inspection if you haven’t already. They will provide a fair and honest assessment of what caused the roof damage and, in some cases, can create a full inspection report for the insurance company. The adjuster may then appear to provide additional information on whether a claim can be made. Don’t wait too long to take this action, as it could mean you do not get the coverage you need to replace the roofing structure.
