What You Need to Know About Insurance and Your Roof

Your roof represents one of the most expensive investments you will ever have to make. It follows that it is important for you to have a homeowner’s insurance policy. Roofing insurance is part of your homeowners’ insurance and covers your roof in cases where it is damaged to the point that it needs major repair or even replacement. Such a policy could save you thousands of dollars in case of a disaster such as a storm or a tornado.

Nevertheless, you should be aware that in certain situations, roof repair costs are not covered by the insurance policy, you will have to pay for them yourself. It is important to take a closer look at your homeowner’s insurance policy. The quickest and easiest way to know what is covered and what is not is to contact your insurance provider. Below is a rundown of roof repair costs that are typically covered by insurance and those that are not.

What Is Covered?

Insurance will generally cover roof damage that occurred outside the control of the homeowner. Such situations include fire, vandalism, riots, explosions, aircraft (yes, you read it right, aircraft) and smoke. Damage resulting from extreme weather conditions, famously known as ‘acts of God is also covered. These include lightning, tornadoes, intense wind or rain, hurricanes, and hail.

It is recommended you schedule a policy review with your insurance company every once a year so that you keep up to date with your coverage and policy limits.

Policy Exclusions

If the damage was due to an unavoidable event, you are usually covered, but when it comes to avoidable events, the lines start to become a bit blurry. All insurance companies will exclude certain items and repairs to protect themselves. The trouble with these exclusions is that they are not quite so cut and dry. To complicate things even further, different insurance companies will handle these exclusions differently. We recommend a thorough review of your policy to know specific details about these exclusions. Some of the exclusions include:

Improper Maintenance or Negligence

The most common restriction occurs when the insurance company determines that the damage sustained on the roof could have been prevented by proper maintenance. Additionally, hazard insurance does not cover damages resulting from your own negligence.

Even in situations where the policy covers most natural disasters, your claim may be declined if it is determined that there are aspects of your roof which made it vulnerable to damage.

Age of Roof

Age has an impact on your insurance coverage. If your insurance policy specifies ACV (Actual Cash Value), they will only reimburse you the depreciated value of an old roof rather than the Replacement Value. Some policies may also refuse claims considered as “cosmetic damage” such as scrapes and dents.

Roof Materials

Certain types of roofing materials are ineligible for insurance coverage. These include slate, recycled shakes and other “green” materials because of the extra maintenance cost. Check your policy before installing a new roof to ensure that you are covered.

Maintain close contact with your insurance agent and with your local roofing contractor for a smooth and stress-free experience in case you ever need to make an insurance claim for your roof.

 

Visit our website at hprtexas.com to fill out a contact form today!

Roof Repair Frisco TX

High Performance Restoration LLC
6500 Preston Rd #201
Frisco, TX 75034
(214) 396-7772