What’s In This Articles

• How to File a Roofing Insurance Claim
• You Need to Inspect the Damage to Your Roof
• What Roof Damages Does Homeowners’ Insurance Cover?
• If You Have to File a Roofing Insurance Claim, Give AllCity Adjusters a Call

How to File a Roofing Insurance Claim

Your roof is the primary protection for your home from the elements. Of course, the wind is probably the most dangerous element to your roof. However, roofs also get damaged by falling trees, electrical poles and wires, hail, and heavy snow. If a storm or some other unexpected event damages your roof, you will have to know how to file a roofing insurance claim.

In fact, insurance companies are very strict with insuring you and keeping their risk minimal. Consequently, they will not issue a policy on a house with an old worn-out roof.

Indeed, insurance companies consider your roof to be one of the most critical aspects of the insurable property.

Therefore, roofs that are 15 or 20 years old might disqualify you from buying or renewing a policy.

However, a properly installed asphalt shingles roof should protect your home for at least 12 to 15 years. Of course, a severe storm can change this in a single night.

If a storm or hail has damaged your roof, it’s important that you file a roof claim and get your roof repaired as quickly as possible.

Filing an insurance claim can be complicated. You could end up waiting a long time for a settlement if you do it incorrectly.

A first good step when you file a roofing insurance claim is to read your homeowners’ insurance policy. There’s no point going to battle for coverage that you never had. For example, is the roof damage actually covered, or did you choose to exclude wind and hail damage?

Is your coverage for replacement cost or actual cash value? It’s good to know the answer to those questions before you file an insurance claim.

You Need to Inspect the Damage to Your Roof

If you’re not sure you can accurately assess the extent of the damage yourself, or if you can’t get on your roof safely, hire a local roofing company to inspect the roof damage. Your homeowners’ insurance will cover that cost.

The roofing contractor might give you a detailed report of everything that’s wrong with your roof, and what needs to be done.

Ask for a written estimate on the company’s letterhead of the cost of repairing your roof. Conversely, if your roof needs to be replaced, make sure they indicate that in their estimate. It should state in their professional opinion basic repairs will not work.

What Roof Damages Does Homeowners’ Insurance Cover?

The dwelling coverage portion of your homeowners’ insurance covers the house structure, including the roof.

Types of roof damage covered by your insurance will depend on the policy’s terms and the reasons your roof needs to be repaired or replaced. Typically, a policy covers problems that are sudden or accidental.

For example, those caused by certain events such as wind, fire, hail, or the weight of snow.

Sometimes, a storm can shorten the lifespan of the roof. Your insurer may cover the cost to replace the entire roof, even if it’s only partially damaged.

For example, if a homeowner has asphalt shingles damaged by hail strikes, an insurance adjuster will count how many strikes occurred in a section. This allows him to determine the impact on the lifespan of the roof.

Therefore, if there are enough strikes, the roof lifespan is affected. It will have to be replaced.

You can buy only “actual cash value” coverage for wind and hail damage if your roof is too old to qualify for replacement value coverage. Therefore, your insurance reimbursement will be based on the depreciated value of the roof at the time of the damage.

This will consider the age of the roof and its materials. The upshot is that you could get substantially less money than you need to replace the roof. You’ll have to pay the difference.

However, if your roof is newer and in good shape, you may buy roof replacement cost coverage. This will pay you the full cost of a new roof.

Additionally, since it’s your responsibility to maintain your home, policies don’t cover damage caused by a lack of maintenance. As a result, the homeowners’ insurance company won’t cover the cost to repair your roof due to wear and tear.

Likewise, they won’t replace it because its lifespan is over.

As another example, lack of maintenance could also come back to hurt your claim after a storm. If your roof was old or not well-maintained before the storm, you could have trouble getting full reimbursement for a roof replacement.

In addition, homeowners’ insurance also won’t cover storm damage caused by floods or earthquakes, including roof claims. If you live in an area at risk for these disasters, consider getting flood insurance or earthquake insurance. You can ask your insurance agent or contact your insurer.

If You Have to File a Roofing Insurance Claim, Give AllCity Adjusters a Call

We are a family-owned claims company with five decades of combined adjusting experience. Consequently, if there’s one thing we understand, it’s that you need 100% of your claim value.

Insurance companies undervalue your claim 8 out of 10 times. They hire expensive claims adjusters to ensure they maintain a strong profit margin. Additionally, they have experienced actuaries that help their team of agents challenges your insurance claim’s validity and value.

Of course, having all or part of your roof torn off your home is a tumultuous event. Therefore, get an agency that gets you more during the claims process.

The first thing to remember is that we are experts on all types of home insurance policies. Moreover, we can review your policy with you to find out exactly what coverage you have for roof damage.

We’ll assess the types of damage to your roof. Then we’ll let you know if you should have your roof repaired or replaced.

Next, we’ll help you find a good roofing company to get the work done right.

We will contact your insurance company to negotiate a settlement for you. A settlement that will get you the money you deserve.

Don’t get fooled, get the company that gets you more. Call us today at 844.692.3587 or visit our website to find an office near you.