Does Home Insurance Cover Roof Leaks?

In most cases, yes. Roof leaks and other forms of roof damage are covered by homeowner’s insurance, provided that the damage was not caused by a condition specifically excluded from the coverage. However, you may be responsible for the repair cost if a leak results from poor maintenance.

Before submitting a claim for roof damage, you should evaluate your home insurance policy’s deductibles to see whether filing a claim makes the most financial sense.

To What Extent Will a Homeowner’s Policy Cover a Roof Leak?

As long as the leak is caused by a covered risk, homeowners insurance will pay for the repairs. In the event of a roof leak, the following are potential scenarios where homeowners insurance might pay for repairs.

Wind and Hail Damage

If a hailstorm damages your roof and water leaks inside, your insurance may pay for the repairs. However, in certain places prone to extreme weather, coverage for wind and hail damage is specifically excluded. As such, you’ll be forced to pay more to include windstorm insurance in your home insurance policy.

Lightning

if your house is struck by lightning and the roof immediately starts leaking, your insurance company will likely pay for the repairs.

Rain and Snow

A normal homeowner’s insurance policy will pay for repairs to your house and belongings if they are damaged by the weight of rain, snow, or ice. For example, if, after experiencing a snowstorm, you identify a leak in your roof, the insurance company could pay for the damage caused.

Tree Damage

If a tree falls onto your house during a storm, damages the roof, and rainwater seeps in, your dwelling coverage would compensate you for damages to your roof and house. Additionally, your valuables would be covered, provided they don’t exceed your policy’s personal property coverage.

To Claim or Not to Claim?

Whether or not you should report a roof leak to your insurer depends on the severity of the damage, the amount of your deductible, and whether or not you have already submitted claims in the past.

Most home insurance plans have a deductible of $500 to $2,500 that you must pay before your insurance provider can compensate you. So, if you have an $800 deductible and the damage would only cost $500 to fix, you won’t get reimbursed, and it’s best to avoid submitting a claim.

Water stains on your ceiling or walls might be a sign that you have a leaking roof. While the cost to fix a leaking roof might add up, it is likely to be covered by your homeowner’s insurance. Before approaching your insurer, you’ll need the input of professional roofers to determine whether making a claim will make financial sense. Alliance Roofing & Construction is your go-to in such matters. We also offer quality repair services for both commercial and residential premises. Our diverse portfolio covers metal roofing, single-ply, flat roof, TPO, and PVC roofing. Contact us today and have your roofing problems disappear.