What Does Residential Roofing Insurance Cover?
Roof damage, insurance claims, and estimates can be challenging to understand. But homeowners need to know what roof damage insurance does and doesn’t cover. The better you know the insurance claim process, the faster you can hire residential roofing services to repair your home.
Most lenders require a homebuyer to buy some form of homeowners insurance to obtain a mortgage. Even though every homeowners policy isn’t the same, each policy generally covers these significant damages.
Partial Roof Damage
Your whole roof doesn’t need to be compromised to file a roofing insurance claim. Insurance can replace shingles and roofing if fire or hail damages a section of your roof. Sometimes, roofing materials can be in short supply when you need to repair your roof, as supply chain and material shortages do unfortunately occur. You can’t use wood or asphalt shingles to repair a slate roof. Insurance claims can cover a total roof replacement if the materials are out of reach.
Hail and Wind
Floridians are no stranger to strong winds, storms, and hurricanes. Heavy rains, fallen tree limbs, and roof leaks are common after severe inclement weather. The weight of accumulating snow or frozen pipes is also covered, but central and southern Florida homeowners don’t need to worry about that.
Fire Damage
Lightning or electrical malfunctions can cause fire and smoke damage to your roof. Most homeowners insurance covers the damage as long as the homeowner didn’t start the fire carelessly or for fraudulent purposes.
What Residential Insurance Doesn’t Cover
Homeowners insurance covers many damage options, but that doesn’t mean everything is covered. For example, structural damage from ordinary wear and tear isn’t typically covered.
Flood and Earthquake
Most homeowner policies don’t cover earthquakes and floods. However, you can purchase this insurance along with your current homeowners coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program. It’s an excellent idea to have flood or earthquake insurance if you live in an area prone to these natural disasters.
Improper Maintenance
Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover damage caused by improper or lacking roof maintenance. Insurance won’t cover damage if your roof already had some form of structural weakness that went unaddressed, like stripped shingles or leaking water. It’s important to schedule regular roof inspections and maintenance to make sure your roof is maintained and covered for potential insurance claims.
Tips For Filing Your Roof Insurance Claim
Insurance claims follow a thorough process. Knowing the steps and how to prepare for them can help the process go smoother, resulting in a better end for you and your home.
Hire a Proper Inspection
Time is of the essence when filing a roofing insurance claim. Some insurance companies have a set period to submit your claim and damages—it varies from state to state. You can inspect your roof’s damage yourself, but it’s best to hire a professional contractor to carry out this task. They’ll know what damage your roof has, how much it will cost, and can help you file your claim.
Document The Damage
It’s essential to document your roof’s damage for future purposes. Pictures of the damage and a documented inspection are great resources to prove your claims are accurate. Protect your roof from further damage with tarps or other protective measures. Even though an insurance company can address prior claims, they might not cover consequential damage from an unprotected roof.
Review Your Insurance Policy
Arguing with your insurance company isn’t worth the hassle. Knowing what damage is covered and what isn’t saves you time and headache. An adjuster will visit your home to evaluate the damage and estimate your claim. Knowing your roofing insurance policy allows you not to get taken advantage of, ensuring you receive the proper payment to fix your roof.
Avoid Roofing Scams
After a severe storm, roofing scammers will attempt to take advantage of those affected. Always check if the roofing contractor is licensed. You don’t have to be licensed to carry out roof repairs, but it’s a smart idea to ensure they are. Upfront, hefty cash payments are another thing to look for from roof repair scammers.
Roofing Insurance Discounts
Now that you know tips for filing a roofing insurance claim, you should also know there are ways to save money with insurance discounts.
Safety
Increasing the overall safety of your home is another way to secure additional insurance discounts. Installing deadbolt locks, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers are some safety precautions that can provide insurance discounts.
Some insurance providers offer safe heat discounts, meaning if you remove solid fuel-burning units like wood-burning stoves, you can apply for a discount. Lastly, installing new or upgraded electrical wiring can be a discount. A building inspector or electrical contractor documents the updates, and you’re good to go.
Hail-Resistant Roofing
If your home’s roof meets specific testing standards, like having hail-resistant shingles installed, you can qualify for an insurance discount. You’ll need the manufacturer’s name, the date the shingles were manufactured and installed, and the brand name through a manufacturer’s warranty, bill of sale, or package label to receive this discount.
Multi-Policy
Most insurance companies offer a multi-policy discount if you combine your homeowners policy with another policy. These additional policies can include auto, umbrella, life, or disability insurance. Talk with your insurance provider to see if this is a viable option for you.
New Image Roofing Florida Helps With Residential Roofing Insurance
If Florida’s unpredictable weather has damaged your roof or home, contact New Image Roofing Florida today. We provide free inspections and estimates to determine if a roofing insurance claim can lower your out-of-pocket expenses.
After your insurance company has filed your claim, we can repair your home and fix the damages with our guaranteed lifetime warranty.
Whether your homeowners insurance covers roof replacements, we have solutions to get your roof back in perfect condition. New Image Roofing Florida is here to help every homeowner in the sunshine state.
