What type of roof damage is covered by insurance in Raleigh?
The majority of home insurance companies will offer different policy plans, programs and incentives when it comes to roofing. For example your deductible for hail damage may be different than the deductible to cover a fire or medical expense. Since the coverage for roof damage will vary from company to company it is important to contact your insurance provider right away so they can walk you through your different policies and coverages. While we are not your insurance agent during the rest of the article we will try to help provide some more details and insight to potential coverages.
Wind and Hail Damages
Wind and hail damages are among the most common types of home damage claims submitted to insurance companies. Hail storms can damage property very quickly since golf ball sized pieces of ice are dropping from the sky at speeds exceeding 50 miles per hour. It is logical why hail damage and wind damage are the most common type of roofing repairs since the roof itself takes the majority of the beating from the elements and mother nature.
Sometimes an insurance company will have exceptions and determined factors for roof coverage depending on how bad the damages are. For some minor damages it would be better not to file a claim if the cost of the repair is going to be cheaper than the deductible if you file a claim. Let's say for example that you had a few pieces of shingle come off in a windstorm, the cost of the repair which was quoted by a local Raleigh roofer is roughly $300. Your deductible if you were to file a claim would be $800 which means it would actually cost more to get the repair done through the insurance company. Be sure to check out your insurance deductible to understand how much it is.
Like mentioned before, most insurance companies will cover hail damage inside certain policies but the deductible may be a bit higher compared to if your home was struck by lightning. There are some things you can do to mitigate (prevent) severe hail damage and wind damage claims. The first thing you can do is install impact resistant shingles on top of the home. These shingles are designed to be much stronger and can be resistant to both structural damages and cosmetic damages such as hail. Some insurance companies will also offer incentives or discounts if you have these types of shingles installed. Having these shingles on your roof will lower the chances that you have to file a claim for roof damage which will save you time and money. Check into your policies and endorsements by calling your insurance agent or looking on their website.
Roof damage caused by fire, peril and lightning
If your roof was struck by lightning, had a section blow off due to intense winds or collapsed because of a large tree that fell, your policy will almost always cover these types of damages. It is possible however that during the insurance claim process the company finds the roof was most likely damaged because of a lack of maintenance such as exposed wiring in the attic or bathroom. If the roof was not maintained and THEN was severely damaged your claim may get denied and the cost to replace the roof would fall onto your shoulders. Another important thing to remember is that some insurance companies will not include coverage for roofs that are over 25 years old (these roofs will be paid out based on their ACV which is the actual cash value).
Roof leaks
A roof leak can make any good day turn into a hassle, especially if the leak happens on a day where there is a large rainstorm. If your roof recently started leaking without any warning then there is a good chance that the exterior of the roof was damaged in the same storm. Insurance companies do cover the cost of roofing leaks but only if the leak was caused by peril. Peril simply means it happened suddenly and without warning. An example of this would be a large branch breaking off of the tree next to the home and poking a baseball sized hole in the asphalt shingles. If your roof is 35 years old, has not been taken care of and then starts to leak we doubt any insurance provider would cover the cost of a leaky roof. If your leak has accumulated over several years then the roof repair will be placed on your shoulders for the costs. If you need a roof repair near Raleigh or a professional residential roofing contractor then be sure to call us today! We are a local business and have been helping people around the Durham for many years with their Raleigh roof repairs.
Wind and Hail Damages
Wind and hail damages are among the most common types of home damage claims submitted to insurance companies. Hail storms can damage property very quickly since golf ball sized pieces of ice are dropping from the sky at speeds exceeding 50 miles per hour. It is logical why hail damage and wind damage are the most common type of roofing repairs since the roof itself takes the majority of the beating from the elements and mother nature.
Sometimes an insurance company will have exceptions and determined factors for roof coverage depending on how bad the damages are. For some minor damages it would be better not to file a claim if the cost of the repair is going to be cheaper than the deductible if you file a claim. Let's say for example that you had a few pieces of shingle come off in a windstorm, the cost of the repair which was quoted by a local Raleigh roofer is roughly $300. Your deductible if you were to file a claim would be $800 which means it would actually cost more to get the repair done through the insurance company. Be sure to check out your insurance deductible to understand how much it is.
Like mentioned before, most insurance companies will cover hail damage inside certain policies but the deductible may be a bit higher compared to if your home was struck by lightning. There are some things you can do to mitigate (prevent) severe hail damage and wind damage claims. The first thing you can do is install impact resistant shingles on top of the home. These shingles are designed to be much stronger and can be resistant to both structural damages and cosmetic damages such as hail. Some insurance companies will also offer incentives or discounts if you have these types of shingles installed. Having these shingles on your roof will lower the chances that you have to file a claim for roof damage which will save you time and money. Check into your policies and endorsements by calling your insurance agent or looking on their website.
Roof damage caused by fire, peril and lightning
If your roof was struck by lightning, had a section blow off due to intense winds or collapsed because of a large tree that fell, your policy will almost always cover these types of damages. It is possible however that during the insurance claim process the company finds the roof was most likely damaged because of a lack of maintenance such as exposed wiring in the attic or bathroom. If the roof was not maintained and THEN was severely damaged your claim may get denied and the cost to replace the roof would fall onto your shoulders. Another important thing to remember is that some insurance companies will not include coverage for roofs that are over 25 years old (these roofs will be paid out based on their ACV which is the actual cash value).
Roof leaks
A roof leak can make any good day turn into a hassle, especially if the leak happens on a day where there is a large rainstorm. If your roof recently started leaking without any warning then there is a good chance that the exterior of the roof was damaged in the same storm. Insurance companies do cover the cost of roofing leaks but only if the leak was caused by peril. Peril simply means it happened suddenly and without warning. An example of this would be a large branch breaking off of the tree next to the home and poking a baseball sized hole in the asphalt shingles. If your roof is 35 years old, has not been taken care of and then starts to leak we doubt any insurance provider would cover the cost of a leaky roof. If your leak has accumulated over several years then the roof repair will be placed on your shoulders for the costs. If you need a roof repair near Raleigh or a professional residential roofing contractor then be sure to call us today! We are a local business and have been helping people around the Durham for many years with their Raleigh roof repairs.