Although homeowners’ insurance is designed to protect your home and family, that doesn’t mean it will inevitably pay for a new roof. Just because your roof is old or leaking, that doesn’t necessarily mean your insurance company will foot the bill for a replacement. Homeowners’ insurance only provides coverage for specific perils. So, if you’re wondering how to get your roof replaced by insurance, you’ll need to do a little homework and cross your fingers that luck is on your side.
When Will Your Insurance Cover a New Roof?
To put it quite simply, homeowners’ insurance will typically only replace your roof if it is damaged by extreme weather conditions. Following a heavy thunderstorm, hailstorm, or snowstorm, you may notice signs of damage. The weather event may be as extreme as a tornado or as minor as an extremely windy day. Either way, if Mother Nature causes extensive damage to your roof, you can typically rest assured that your insurance will cover the damage. Keep in mind, however, that the insurance adjuster will decide whether your roof needs smaller repairs or a full replacement.
Some insurance policies don’t include coverage for roof replacements, or they may only provide coverage for a certain percentage of the costs. Review your policy to understand what you can expect.
How to Make a Claim If You Qualify
If you’ve reviewed your insurance policy and feel confident that your roof’s damage qualifies for insurance coverage, you can reach out to the insurance company. Use our blog post How to File a Roof Insurance Claim to get started. Simplified, the process looks a little like this:
- Gather evidence of the damage by taking photos and making notes.
- Submit your claim (by phone, online, or through an app).
- Temporarily repair your home to prevent further damage.
- Meet with the insurance adjuster, who will evaluate the damage and provide an estimate.
- Get a second (and maybe third) opinion. Never trust the insurance company’s estimate implicitly. You can counter the insurance adjuster’s report if necessary.
Generally, this process is fairly straightforward if the roof damage clearly qualifies for coverage.
Things to Know About the Insurance Process
When dealing with something as important as your roof, it’s best to enter the process with both eyes open. With that in mind, let’s explore some of the things you should expect when it comes to roof replacements and homeowners’ insurance. Because if you’re looking into how to get your roof replaced by insurance, you’ll need to watch out for a few things.
It’s a long process. As you can see from the claims process we described above, many steps are involved, and you may hit snags along the way. For example, you may need to get more photographic evidence of the damage if the initial pictures don’t paint a clear picture for the insurance company. Or, you may need to get multiple estimates if you’re concerned the adjuster is downplaying the damage. It’s not an overnight process.
Beware of storm chasers. After a storm blows through your area, you may notice unfamiliar people knocking on doors around your neighborhood. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing — in some cases, it helps homeowners realize they have the right to file a claim with their insurance company — you should be wary of storm chasers, which are out-of-state companies that visit storm-struck towns and try to undercut local roofing companies using aggressive sales tactics. They may not provide top-notch quality, they may not be properly licensed and insured, and they likely won’t be around if you have issues after the work is done. Instead, look for a local, reputable, reliable roofing company.
Insurance doesn’t cover neglect. Homeowners’ insurance typically covers damage caused by weather or other unexpected perils. For example, insurance typically provides coverage in the event of a severe windstorm, hailstorm, thunderstorm, or snowstorm, as well as damage caused by fire, falling objects, or vandalism. However, insurance won’t cover damage caused by neglect or lack of maintenance. So, if clogged gutters, overhanging tree branches, rusted flashing, cracked caulk, or other maintenance issues damage your roof, your insurance claim will likely be denied. In addition, remember that normal wear and tear isn’t covered by insurance. You can’t file a claim simply because your roof is old.
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Roofs aren’t exactly cheap, so we fully understand why you might be wondering how to get your roof replaced by insurance. Your best bet is to schedule regular roof inspections and always check your roof after a storm so that you’re prepared to make a claim when your roof qualifies for replacement under your insurance policy.
If you live in southwest Missouri, contact Taylor-Made Roofing for help. With over 20 years of experience in residential and commercial roofing, Taylor-Made Roofing is a company that you can trust with all of your roofing needs. Our family-owned business offers quality services, a reassuring warranty, and free estimates. For more information, please give us a call at 417-326-8778 or contact us online. We look forward to hearing from you!