Roof damage of any kind is a huge nightmare to Denver CO homeowners. However, filing a homeowners insurance claim for roof damage isn't a guarantee you'll receive full repair or replacement payout. The benefits you'll receive depends on your insurance policy and whether you had finished paying your premiums.
Some roof insurance are specific. Roof damage insurance claim wind damages are impossible if your policy only covers hail damage policies. True enough, filing in this manner will have your roof insurance claim denied.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll know the answers to "does homeowners insurance cover roof replacement?" and "does homeowners insurance cover water damage from leaking roof?"
In addition, you'll learn whether it's possible to get a new roof from insurance and answers to other insurance roof replacement questions.
When filing a homeowners insurance claim, you'll definitely want to know whether you can claim for wind and hail damage. These are two of the most common yet devastating causes of roof damage.
Fortunately, most standard general home insurance policy covers these particular damages. On the other hand, some policies might only provide partial payment for repairs and replacement. In fact, some insurers limit their wind and hail coverage due to the high likelihood of these storms in other cities!
Your wind and hail damage insurance benefits can come in flat-dollar or lump-sum coverage or percentages. Consult your insurance policy terms and conditions to know the actual amounts or coverage you'll receive once your insurance adjuster gives your policy a go signal.
True enough, this is the trickiest part when filing a homeowners insurance claim for roof damage. The only definite answer is the policy covers it on a case-to-case basis -- meaning it depends on the roof leak cause.
A roof-exclusive insurance policy (which will exclude benefits for your entire home except your roof) will often cover roof leaks for virtually any cause except if the policyholder is at fault. However, most homeowner's insurance policies will only cover roof leaks if a relevant danger caused it to happen.
For example, if hailstones damaged the roof material enough to cause internal leaks, then the homeowner's insurance hail damage clause provides coverage. However, if the roof is over 30 years old and starts to leak, it can make things a bit more complicated. In fact, the roof evaluations for your benefits may even take time.
You'll mention hurricanes as qualified wind damage when filing a homeowners insurance claim for roof damage. Unfortunately, if your home sits in a hurricane-prone area, you may see claim denied within a week after you began.
In some coastal cities, hurricanes are a separate deductible to insurance policies, which merits the creation of specific benefits. Therefore, insurers will create a comprehensive hurricane benefit.
In short, your Denver CO homeowners policy only covers common roof damage, but you'll require hurricane-specific policies -- which are unfortunately more expensive -- to deal with hurricanes.
Fortunately, general property insurance covers small animal damage. On the other hand, the insurers only provide a percentage of benefits to homeowners. Therefore, if you saw squirrels nibbling the underlayment or scratching your internal ceiling, you might only get a discounted amount to pay for contractor repairs.
Dwelling coverage from most insurers provides adequate coverage for any repairs or replacement that small animal damage triggered. However, keep in mind this coverage does not apply to drywall and other internal property damage they may cause.
To know how much you'll receive, look for anything relevant to small animal damages in your homeowners insurance terms and conditions.
Most homeowners insurance policies cover ice dam damage. However, just like small animal damage, if it causes internal property damage, the roof insurance will not cover it. On the other hand, if your roofing joists and underlayment suffered extensive damage, the homeowner's insurance will provide you benefits once adjusters confirm its condition.
Then again, it is inexpensive to avoid ice dam damage by using vented soffits to keep your roof temperature consistent and prevent roof material submersion due to standing ice water. You can contact your local contractor to install ice dams and vented soffits across your roof.
You probably encountered this procedure when you signed up for your Denver homeowners insurance policy.
The adjuster arrived at your home and performed a complete inspection of your roof. Upon evaluation, they noted your roof's age, condition during the start of insurance, and if these two factors still keep you qualified for insurance coverage.
True enough, you won't be holding a policy if they did not approve your insurance application. However, some insurers can refuse renewing policies for roofs with more than 20 years of existence. In addition, your terms and conditions may indicate your roof is qualified for an actual cash value/ lump-sum payment because of its material age.
It might sound counterintuitive. Investing in your roof for long-term durability and performance helps you with insurance but will not increase your payouts.
Instead, you'll receive insurer offers for very low regular premium payments. For example, an insurer might offer you a 30-50% lower premium rate than usual because of your well-constructed and high-quality roofing material.
On the other hand, you're still paying for high-quality materials and top-notch labor that can cause a dent on your budget. However, if you invested in quality roofing, then you may never even have to make an insurance claim!
Related: How to Calculate Roof Replacement Costs Accurately
Insurance policies are just one way to protect your roof. Filing a homeowners insurance claim for roof damage guarantees excellent post-incident support. However, it does not guarantee the long-term durability and performance of your roof.
Therefore, it pays to use top-quality roofers in your area to install a roof that can last for more than a century and protect you from many hazards. If you have yet to find an excellent Denver CO roofing service to help with your claim, you can count on Roper Roofing to help you get the job done.
We have decades of experience providing excellent roofing installations, helping out with storm damage insurance claims, and all kinds of other relevant services. Contact us today!
