What To Know About Your Damaged Roof And Homeowner's Insurance

The roof of your house takes a lot of assault, and this can eventually lead to damage and leaks. Homeowner's insurance offers some protection for these damages, but it doesn't cover everything. If your roof has damages, check out these seven important facts about your roof and homeowner's insurance.

Insurance Doesn't Cover Maintenance Problems

As a homeowner, it's your responsibility to maintain your home, including your roof. If you fail to do so, insurance isn't going to swoop in and save you. If your roof becomes leaky and damaged because you failed to properly maintain it, don't expect to be reimbursed for repairs or a new roof. Your policy probably includes a "wear and tear" exclusion, which explains that routine wear and tear or maintenance damages are not covered.

Sudden Damages Are Generally Covered

On the bright side, sudden damages are usually covered. For example, if a tree-branch hits your roof and creates a huge hole, the repair is probably covered. These are damages that have nothing to do with general wear and tear or failure to maintain your roof. They occur suddenly and couldn't be prevented. Make sure, however, to read your homeowner's exclusions carefully because there are some exceptions when the damage is sudden and unavoidable.

You Have to Choose Peril or Non-Peril Policies

When choosing your policy, you have the choice between peril and non-peril (all-risk) policy. Peril policies are more limited in what they cover because they only cover risks for that area, such as vandalism. If you have a peril policy, whatever is stated in the policy is covered. If you have a non-peril policy, it's designed to cover most risks. These policies don't list everything that's covered. Instead they tell you what isn't covered.

Your Insurance Company Can Insist on Inspecting Your Roof

In an effort to ensure you are properly maintaining your roof, your insurance carrier may require you to allow them to routinely inspect your roof. If they determine your roof is in need of extensive repairs due to your negligence, they can request that you repair or replace the roof. If you fail to do so, the insurance company has the right to cancel your policy.

Your Belongings May Be Covered

If your roof leaks, it can cause serious damage to your belongings. Luckily, in many cases, if the damage to your roof is covered, the insurance company will also pay to replace your damaged belongings. There's even better news, however. Even if the damages to your roof aren't covered, the damage to your belongings is still often covered. Just make sure to keep tract of exactly what got destroyed or damaged.

The Insurance Company Decides if They Should Replace or Repair Your Roof

If your roof is damaged, and the insurance company decides it is covered, it doesn't mean you're going to get a new roof. The insurance company decides if the damage is severe enough to justify a complete replacement. If they feel the damage isn't extent, they'll only pay you enough to cover the cost of a repair.

If Your Roof Is Old, You May Get Less Money

Even if the insurance company does agree that a new roof is in order, you may not get enough to actually replace your roof. If you have an old roof, the insurance company may decide to only reimburse you for the current value of your roof. Some of the costs of the new roof will have to come out of your own pocket. If the warranty on your roof has expired, the insurance company may refuse to pay altogether because it was your responsibility to replace the roof before it became old.

Basically, as long as you care for your roof and replace it when needed, your insurance company will cover most damages. Just make sure to read your policy completely to understand what is covered, and pay special attention to the exclusions. For more information about repairing your damaged roof, contact a roofer in your area today or visit sites like http://www.conradroofing.com.