Roof insurance can seem like the best decision you will ever make for your brand new roof. As you’re signing the dotted line, a wave of relief washes over you because your roof is covered. You’ve asked the questions you thought were important and feel the roofing insurance policy you have selected is exactly what you need and possibly more. You’re covered, so you don’t worry when you go about your home improvement chores.
Whether some wind rolls through or you hear the pitter patter from small creatures, you don’t worry that much. Your roof insurance company has you covered. Unfortunately, it’s just not that simple. Your roofing insurance company does not want to shell out thousands of dollars for a new roof unless it’s necessary.
On the dotted line you signed, you agreed to a policy that is incredibly limiting and does not always have your best interests in mind. Anything that is not explicitly spelled out in your contract will not be covered. Period. Your insurance agent didn’t make the rules, but must follow them. Make sure you arm yourself with enough knowledge to protect yourself from the pitfalls of roofing insurance claims.
Roofing Insurance Claims Explained
Regardless of how your roof is damaged, the roof insurance claims process can be a headache. You need to figure out the damage, who to call, and schedule everyone to arrive at times that work with your family’s hectic schedule. Let’s go over what a typical insurance claim process looks like:
Notice the damage (whether small or large)
Call a roof inspector
Document the damage
Contact the roof insurance company
Schedule a time for the agent to come by
Create and file report
Wait for claim to be processed
It’s important to note that you should always keep your safety top of mind. If there is significant damage to your home, do not return until it is safe to do so.
While the roof insurance claims process seems simple, it is not meant for every issue that may arise with your roof. In fact, your roof insurance likely only covers a small number of rare instances that may happen to your roof. The more common occurrences are not covered by most roofing insurance policies.
What Is And Is Not Covered By Roof Insurance
Before you sign your contract, you need to understand what is covered. Otherwise, you may have a false sense of confidence in what costs will be associated with a reroofing or repair.
Covered
Storm damage is typically the only issue that is covered by regular roof insurance policies. Special, more expensive policies may cover more. However, the average homeowner will usually only purchase regular coverage. This regular coverage truly does not cover anything aside from storm damage. Storm damage can include fallen trees, missing roof due to natural disasters, and hurricane force winds.
Not Covered
Anything that is not caused by storm damage is usually not covered by most major roof insurance providers. This can come as a shock to many homeowners because they thought they were covered for any damage, defect, or poor installation.
Consider the following issues that are not covered by roofing insurance:
Using staples to hang decorations on the roof
Damage caused from irregular roof maintenance
Children ruining shingles by using the roof as a diving platform for the pool below
Poor installation by the roofing contractor
Manufacturer defects in roofing materials
Homeowners can only rely on their roof insurance for storm damage. Any defects to the roofing materials themselves must be replaced by the manufacturer if they are still covered under warranty. If leaks have been caused by poor installation, the homeowner must track down their roofing contractor to make a labor warranty claim. Unfortunately, as we have described many times in this blog series, most roofing contractors will be in the wind and the homeowner will be left to replace their roof on their own.
Get A Professional Roof Inspection Before You Make A Claim
You can avoid the pitfalls that come with making a roof insurance claim by contacting a professional roofing company for an inspection. Your roof inspector can let you know exactly what has caused the damage to your roof and if it will meet the criteria for an insurance claim. More often than not, whatever the roof inspector finds will not be worth a claim. While this may be shocking, they will explain all of your options. Any professional will not make a fuss if you say you want a second opinion.
Make sure you turn to a professional roofing company with proven experience before you let them on your roof. It is common for con artists to drive around after a large natural disaster and offer to inspect your roof for you. They may even claim they can help you get your insurance claim fast tracked, for a fee. These individuals are only looking to make a quick buck. They may cause damage that was never on your roof and then run away with your money.
If you don’t get an inspection before making an insurance claim, you will not be armed with the knowledge you need to stand up to your insurance agent. Insurance companies that cannot afford for you to cash in on your policy will try to say you do not meet the criteria to make a claim. You are permitted to have your roof inspector at your home at the time when your insurance agent arrives. Your inspector can ensure your insurance agent doesn’t use roofing jargon that you don’t understand.
When in doubt, get a roof inspection to protect yourself from the pitfalls of insurance claims.
Trust The Roof Inspectors At Mitchell And Sons Roofing
We have seen every kind of scenario possible with roof insurance. We understand it can be a frustrating and uncertain time when you need a roof repair or replacement. When you contact Mitchell and Sons Roofing to inspect your roof in New Port Richey, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, or elsewhere in Tampa Bay, you can have peace of mind that we are being completely honest and transparent with what we have found.