Does homeowners insurance cover roof replacement?
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Usually only for sudden storm damage, not for age or wear, and the policy wording decides. Many policies pay actual cash value on older roofs, every policy has a deductible you pay, and the adjuster's inspection settles what is covered.
Usually only when sudden storm damage caused the problem, not when the roof is simply old or worn, and your policy wording decides. Many policies pay actual cash value on older roofs, every policy has a deductible you pay, and the adjuster's inspection settles what is covered.
Hail, wind and fallen limbs are the kinds of events that tend to matter. Call Roofers Hotline for a roof inspection and a written estimate before any work starts, so you know the condition of the roof and what replacement or repair involves.
How the job runs, call by call, is explained under what roof repair includes.
Factors that decide what is covered
Three things shape the answer: the cause of the damage, the age of the roof and the wording of your policy. A roof that lost shingles in a windstorm is a different case from one that is curling and thinning after years of sun. Policies usually treat the first as a sudden event and the second as wear.
Roof age also changes how a payout is calculated, because many policies pay actual cash value on older roofs, which accounts for age and depreciation instead of the full cost of a new roof. The deductible comes out of any payment, and deductibles are never waived or rebated.
Read the roof section of your policy for the words "actual cash value", "replacement cost" and any storm or wind deductible. Then call Roofers Hotline for a written estimate that lists what the roof needs, so you can compare it with your policy.
What to check at home
Start with your policy documents, which are usually a few pages of declarations and a longer set of terms. Find the deductible, the way roof losses are paid and any exclusions for wear, age or cosmetic damage. If you cannot find them, your insurance agent can send you the roof language in writing.
Then look at the roof itself, from the ground or with binoculars. Missing or lifted shingles, dented metal vents, granules collecting in the gutters and dark stains on attic wood or ceilings are all worth noting. Take dated photos of each one, because the date helps show whether damage followed a particular storm.
Also write down when the roof was last replaced and when the last major storm passed through. If you see damage or are unsure, call Roofers Hotline to book a roof inspection and ask for the findings in a written estimate.
When to call about your roof
Call after any storm that brings hail, high wind or falling branches, even if nothing looks wrong from the yard. Damage is often hard to see from the ground, and a small break in the roof can let water into the attic long before a stain shows on a ceiling.
Call right away if water is coming in. Emergency tarping and leak repair are available 24/7, and keeping water out of the house limits further damage while you sort out the next steps with your insurer.
Roofers Hotline can inspect the roof and put the repair or replacement scope in a written estimate before any work starts. That document gives you something concrete to bring to your adjuster and your agent. Call to book the inspection.
How the job runs, call by call, is explained under how roof leak repair works. Prices by material and job are under roof cost per square, with the published ranges are above.