Will My Homeowners Insurance Pay for a New Roof?

This question comes up a lot in our world, especially if homeowners are facing roof damage or leaks for the first time.

While you should always talk with your independent insurance agent to learn what, exactly, is covered by your policy, we can give you some short answers here.

Yes

The reason you pay a premium for homeowners insurance is to protect things like your personal possessions and the structure of your home. So roofing damage caused by things like fire, flying or fallen debris, and weather are typically covered.

That means you can file a claim and some portion (or all) of your roof repairs will be paid for by your insurance carrier.

The value of your roof, however, isn’t something you’ll determine. It’s calculated by the terms of your policy. So your insurance may only pay you the actual cash value of your roof (i.e. how much it’s worth after subtracting its depreciation from its replacement cost–which is how much it would cost to make the whole thing “like it was before”).

No

Sudden damage like a tree falling from an ice storm or tornado is generally clear under your homeowners policy.

But if leaks start to appear because of normal wear and tear, that won’t fly. And if your roof was already aging or outdated when you took out the policy, it may not be covered for the full cost of a replacement.

Only a portion of your roof got damaged? Once you file a claim, your insurance carrier will determine whether it’s more cost effective to repair the partial damage or replace the roof entirely. You may only end up with a portion of the project paid for.

“Is there anyone I can ask for help?”

As a local roofing company in the Brainerd Lakes Area, we can help you with the claim process (and protect you from fly-by-night “contractors” who chase storms).

We’re highly knowledgeable and more than happy to clamber on your roof to survey the damage or make temporary repairs. We’ll even meet with the insurance adjustor for a walkthrough so you don’t have to.

Should you need help figuring out how to file your insurance claim for storm damage, come back next week for our simple guide.