Important Elements that Determine Your Roof Insurance Claim Coverage

File a Claim or Pay for the Roof Repair Yourself?

Your roof is one of the most important components of your home – and it is also one that experiences some of the most damage. A tree limb could fall through your roof in a storm. Pigeons could get up under your eaves and spread damage. Or the passage of time could cause your shingles to wear down, leading to gradual deterioration.

Hiring a roofing contractor to perform an annual roof inspection can help you identify problems early so that damage doesn’t have a chance to spread. But if you have extensive damage when it is found, or if your roof is damaged in a storm or an accident, you may be looking at a big bill, and you may be calling your insurance company to see if the damage is covered on your policy. Here are a few things that will be considered:

Are You to Blame?

A lot of homeowners are negligent when it comes to their roofs. They don’t usually even think about their roofs until there is a problem and they need roof repair. Then they’re scrambling to call a roofing contractor. However, you should be calling a roofer long before then, getting regular inspections and maintenance.

If your insurance company can show that you have been negligent in maintaining your roof, it may deny your roof repair claim. The insurance company can ask for inspection or maintenance records to show that you have been properly caring for the roof. If you can’t produce those, your claim may be denied.

Is It Part of an Exclusion?

Every home insurance policy has limits on what it will cover. In many cases, for example, your home insurance will not cover damage from a flood. There may be exclusions in your insurance policy for your roof or the type of damage that it can suffer. Look over the details of your policy or ask an insurance representative to see if your damage is covered or not.

Is the Cost Higher than the Deductible?

You may find that the roof damage is covered by your policy. However, before you file a claim, you need to find out just how much the roof repair is going to cost you. It may be that the cost of the repair will be less than the deductible you have to pay. In that case, your insurance may not kick in at all, or the amount it pays out may not be worth it for the hit you may take to your insurance rates for filing the claim. Weigh the costs and benefits before you file.

Do You Really Want to File the Claim?

If you file a claim against your homeowner’s insurance, there’s a good chance that the company will increase your rates. If you have a particularly expensive claim, or if you file multiple claims, your insurance company may drop you completely. You may even have a hard time getting another insurance company to offer you coverage.

You may want to consider how much that roof repair will cost you and whether or not you’re just better off paying for the damage yourself. You may pay the money upfront, but you may save money in the long run. You may want to reserve your insurance claim for something bigger, like a new roof installation.

Work Closely With a Trusted Roofing Company

The best thing you can do if you suspect you have roof damage is to call a local roofing company to inspect it and help you understand what action needs to be taken. Your roofer will give you the options, as well as an estimate of costs. Then you can talk to your insurance company about coverage and decide whether you want to file a claim or pay for the repair yourself.

Allstate Roofing is a trusted Phoenix roofing company that has experience in working with insurance companies on roof repair and re-roofing. Our experienced roofing contractors can give you a good understanding of your options and costs. If you decide to file a claim with your insurance company, we can work directly with the company to get the claim paid. We work on shingle roofing, tile roofing, and more. Call us in Phoenix today to schedule a consultation and inspection with a roofing contractor and learn more.