Does My Homeowner Insurance Cover a Roof Replacement?

If your roof is getting older or storms are rushing through your area, you might be struck with an extremely prescient thought: Does my homeowners insurance cover roof replacements? After all, roof replacements are among the more expensive home projects, and it does happen a few times in most people’s lifetime that they do have to consider replacing a roof.

The answer, as it turns out, boils down to how the roof got damaged to the point of requiring a roof replacement. If you have a typical homeowners insurance policy, your roof is likely covered--up to and including the cost of replacement--if the roof gets damaged. However, there does have to be a precipitous event causing the damage; simply getting older or getting damaged through years of wear and tear might not cut it for insurance to step in. 

In other words: If the damage incurred falls less under ‘general maintenance’ and more under ‘natural catastrophe’, your roof replacement will probably be covered. However, it’s best to know for sure, so reaching out to your insurance agent well before a roof replacement is planned or necessary is always best practice. 

Another thing to consider is your roof’s age. Newer roofs may still be under manufacturer or roofer warranty, so that’s another avenue that is worth consideration. However, the older your roof gets, the less likely it is that anyone will be inclined to help offset the cost of replacement. One number to keep in mind? 20. If your roof is over 20 years old, it is likely that it won’t have any coverage--or, if it does, that the coverage will be extremely limited. 

If you believe that your roof is covered, take steps as early as possible to help ensure approval of any filed insurance claims. Keeping records of any repairs as well as comprehensive before-and-after pictures is key. If you ever the the roof inspected, keep the report. If precipitous damage has occurred, notify the insurance company covering your roof as quickly as you can. 

Having your roof covered by a trustworthy insurance company is important. Because your roof has the most direct and large exposure to any water or wind damage, it’s the part of your home most likely to experience problems in the long run. As aforementioned, roof repairs and replacements can also be overwhelmingly--and, in many cases, prohibitively--expensive. 

Working with an insurance company that you can trust for your roof coverage needs can take a lot of stress off of your shoulders! Shop around carefully to find an insurance company who’s well-versed with the status of the weather and other risks where you live. Ensure that they have a good reputation for helping people in the past who have needed roof replacements!