A typical homeowner's comprehensive insurance policy covers your roof and the cost of replacing it if it is damaged. But it is usually only covered if the damage or destruction is the result of a sudden accident or act of nature. Problems resulting from general wear and tear or a roof that has exceeded its expected life span cannot be reimbursed because they are the general responsibility of the owner. If you are wondering whether insurance covers roof replacement, it depends on the circumstances.
A homeowner's insurance policy covers damage to things like your structure and roof if they are damaged by a covered peril. Some policies name or exclude specific perils. If your roof needs to be replaced due to unexpected acts of nature or severe weather other than flooding, it is likely to be covered. But if your roof is old or requires maintenance and repair, standard homeowner's insurance usually does not reimburse for roof replacement.
For example, if your roof leaks or is damaged due to covered losses such as rain, hail, snowstorm, falling tree limb, wind or fire, the insurance company will usually step in to pay for repair or replacement up to the limits of its coverage. For example, if a hailstorm or falling tree damages your roof, you may qualify for repair or replacement coverage. Roof repair or replacement can be one of the most costly things you may face as a homeowner. The damage and destruction caused by such an occurrence makes the homeowner eligible for full or partial roof replacement. Unfortunately, when the insurance adjuster comes for an inspection, they find that your roof was not installed using proper roofing techniques.
This is why it is important to keep your roof in good repair: a defective roof can be expensive and most likely will not be covered by your homeowner's insurance. Depending on the circumstances, there is a possibility that your homeowner's policy will not pay for the repair or replacement of your roof. For example, if you have an old roof, e.g. more than 20 years old, insurance companies often consider such roofs to be beyond their life expectancy and may choose to reimburse only a portion of the repairs or replacement, or nothing at all. An alternative financing option to repair and replace your roof is to pay out-of-pocket, although not everyone can afford to put up a large sum all at once.
But as long as the damage is caused by extreme weather, your homeowner's insurance should cover your roof and pay to replace it. Since 1990, Bill Ragan Roofing has handled hundreds of roof damage insurance claims for Nashville residents. We will work with you and your insurance company to help make your roof replacement project as smooth and painless as possible. If there is a leak that is not associated with a hazard due to structural failure, lack of maintenance, or age of the roof, an insurance company will likely not cover the cost to repair the damage or replace the roof.
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