A Plus Roofing & Construction, LLC

Roofing is one of the most important parts of a home, as it protects the inhabitants and their belongings from the elements. A damaged roof can lead to water damage, which can cause expensive repairs down the road. Home insurance policies generally cover roof replacement costs, but there are a few things you need to know about when and how your policy will cover this type of repair.

Type of cover you take

When you are buying home insurance, you need to decide what type of cover you want. There are two main types of cover: replacement value and indemnity value. With replacement value, your insurer will pay to have your roof replaced with a new one of the same make, model, and quality. With indemnity value, they will only pay out the cost of repairing or replacing your roof, whichever is less.

If you have a replacement value cover and your roof is damaged, your insurer will pay to have it replaced. However, if you have an indemnity value cover and your roof is damaged, your insurer may only pay out for the repairs, which may not be enough to fix the whole roof.
Policy limit
Your home insurance policy, also known as terms, will also have a limit on how much it will pay out for roof replacement. This limit is usually $50,000 or $100,000. If your roof costs more to replace than this amount, you will have to pay the deductible yourself. You have to read carefully or have a lawyer interpreter the House, cooperative apartment, condominium, or farm insurance policy and a dwelling fire policy.
Age of your roof
The age of your roof also affects whether or not your insurer will pay to have it replaced since roofing undergoes depreciation. If your roof is less than ten years old, most insurers will cover the cost of replacement. If your roof is more than ten years old but less than 20 years old, some insurers will cover the replacement cost, but others may only pay for repairs. If your roof is more than 20 years old, most insurers will not cover the cost of replacement.

Flat roofs are covered by insurance more often than sloped roofs. Sloped roofs are usually considered an improvement to your home, so they are excluded from your policy. If you have a flat roof that is less than ten years old, it should be covered for replacement if there is damage.
Manufacturer’s warranty
If your roof is damaged and needs to be replaced, your insurer will usually require that you use a roofing contractor approved by the manufacturer of your roofing material. This is because most insurers offer a warranty on roofs that are replaced under their policy. The warranty usually lasts for ten years and covers any roofing material or workmanship defects.

What damage is mostly covered by insurance?

Fire
If your roof is damaged in a fire, most insurers will cover the cost of replacement. However, if the fire was caused by your negligence (for example, if you left a burning candle unattended), they may not cover the cost of replacement.

Wind
If your roof is damaged by wind, most insurers will cover the cost of repair or replacement. However, if the wind damage was caused by a tornado or hurricane, they may not cover the cost of repair.

Hail
If your roof is damaged by hail, most insurers will cover the cost of repair or replacement. However, small stones are usually excluded from coverage. If so much weight has built up on your roof that it causes major damage, your insurer may cover the cost of replacement.

Ice
If your roof is damaged by ice, most insurers will cover the cost of repair or replacement. However, if the ice damage was caused by a structural failure (for example, if the gutter brackets break), they may not cover the cost of repair or replacement.
When to claim
You should contact your insurer with speed if you damage your roof. Damage caused by fire, wind, hail, ice, or flood usually must be reported within 24 hours. However, it is best not to wait until the storm has passed before you phone your insurer because they will not pay for damage that occurred before the storm.

You should also tell your insurer if there is damage to your roof that does not appear to be caused by the storm. This could be because it will affect how much money you are entitled to receive under your policy.
If your insurer denies your claim, you can file an appeal. You should also get estimates for repairing or replacing your roof before carrying out any work yourself, so you have proof of the costs to submit with your claim.

You can also hire a lawyer or public adjuster to help you with your insurance claim for damage to your roof. Public adjusters are licensed professionals who will investigate, negotiate and settle claims on behalf of individuals. However, their fees are usually deducted from the amount awarded by the insurer.

It is important to maintain your roof and keep it in good condition so that you receive the full amount of money. Your insurer will pay for damage caused by fire, wind, hail, or ice. However, they may not cover damage caused by other factors such as age or neglect.