If you own your home and experience damage to your roof such as storm damage, hail damage, fire damage, tree damage, etc., there is a good chance your homeowner’s insurance will cover some of the costs to repair or replace your roof. To do this, you will need to begin by filing a claim with your insurance company. Once this happens, there are several factors that can affect whether the insurance company will cover the damages to your roof, and here are the most important factors.
The Severity of the Roof Damage
First of all, there must be proof that your roof has experienced roof damage, and there are several ways to prove this. The first is by hiring a roofing contractor to inspect the roof. If the contractor sees signs of storm damage, he or she will tell you to contact your insurance company. The other method is by simply calling your insurance company to ask for an adjuster to examine your roof. An adjuster will need to inspect the roof either way, but it is often better to hire your own roofing company to get a second opinion. An experienced, reputable roofing contractor, however (like Emmons Roofing & Siding) can help you with the insurance claim process and act as a liaison with your insurance company.
If they find enough signs of roof damage, the adjuster will determine whether to repair the roof damage or replace the roof. This decision will depend on how much roof damage has occurred and the age of the roof. One this is determined, the adjuster will calculate how much it will cost to make the repairs or replacement and will let you know how much your insurance will cover.
The Amount You Will Have to Pay
There are two main factors that will determine how much money you will have to pay for the repairs your roof needs. The first is your deductible. You will have to pay your deductible no matter what, and this must be paid before the insurance company cuts a check.
The second factor that will affect the amount you must pay is the method your insurance company uses to calculate the amount they cover. The two methods are actual cash value and replacement cost. If your policy uses the replacement cost method, the insurance company will pay for the entire bill for the repairs after you pay the deductible. If they use the actual cash value method, they will account for the depreciation of your roof first and will compensate you for the damages to the actual value of your roof. The insurance company will pay out more if the replacement cost method is used instead of actual cash value.
If you are not sure if your roof has damage or whether or not your insurance company will pay for some of the costs to repair it, contact a qualified roofing company and ask them to inspect your home’s roof. Read our blog on How to File an Insurance Claim for Hail Damage for more details.
