Does Home Insurance Cover Roof Damage? What You Need to Know
Your roof is your home’s first line of defense against the elements, shielding your family against inclement weather day in and day out. However, when the unexpected occurs and a major storm strikes, it can leave homeowners asking if home insurance even covers roof damage.
Will your homeowners insurance come to the rescue? Will you have to pay a deductible on your repairs? And how could filing a claim affect your insurance premiums in the future? In this article, we’ll talk about the complexities of homeowners insurance as it relates to roofs, so you’re ready if your home experiences storm, hail, or wind damage.
Quick Answer
Homeowners insurance typically covers roof damage caused by sudden events like hail, wind, fire, or falling debris. However, it won’t cover issues from normal wear, rot, or neglect.
You’ll almost always pay a deductible, and coverage amounts depend on whether your policy is Actual Cash Value (ACV) or Replacement Cost Value (RCV). Because of that, reviewing your specific insurance policy is the best way to know exactly what’s protected.
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What Types of Roof Damage Are Covered by Homeowners Insurance?
Roof damage can come from a dozen different sources, but not all of them qualify for insurance coverage. Here’s how to tell which kinds of damage your policy is most likely to cover.
What Isn’t Covered
When it comes to roof damage, insurance companies are often fairly conservative with what they cover, taking normal aging, damage caused by animals, rot and mold, and even earthquakes and flooding off the table altogether.
In fact, some companies even exclude hurricanes and tornadoes. This may seem insane, but it’s fairly common in areas where these weather events occur frequently.
What Is Covered
Fortunately, homeowners insurance covers most other types of inclement weather, including hail, ice, and snow. It’ll also likely protect against fires, vandalism, and falling objects (such as a rotted tree or falling debris).
Your first step is to identify the damage and contact your insurance carrier. For help on that front, check out this article on identifying hail damage:
What You Need to Consider
In the end, it’s important to check with your insurance company to determine their policy toward the type of damage you’re facing. However, we’ve included this table for quick visual reference, showing which types of roof damage most policies include or exclude:
| Type of Roof Damage | Does Home Insurance Cover This Roof Damage? | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Hail | ✅ Yes | Commonly covered as a weather-related event. It’s out of your control! |
| Ice and Snow | ✅ Yes | Typically covered if the weight or accumulation causes damage, but not if the issue is a lack of maintenance. |
| Fire | ✅ Yes | Almost always covered. |
| Vandalism | ✅ Yes | Covered as intentional damage by others. |
| Falling Objects (e.g., trees, debris) | ✅ Yes | Usually covered if caused by external factors (i.e., not you). |
| Wind (non-named storm) | ✅ Usually | Coverage depends on region and is less common in high-wind areas. |
| Hurricanes or Tornadoes | ⚠️ Sometimes | May be excluded in high-risk areas, especially those in coastal North or South Carolina; check your policy to know for sure. |
| Normal Aging | ❌ No | Considered maintenance-related, not sudden damage. |
| Damage from Animals | ❌ No | Typically excluded from coverage, since it’s considered preventable. |
| Rot and Mold | ❌ No | Seen as due to neglect. |
| Earthquakes | ❌ No | Requires separate earthquake policies or endorsements. |
| Flooding | ❌ No | Requires separate flood insurance. |
Did You Know?
Technically, the term “home insurance” doesn’t mean the exact same thing as “homeowners insurance.” Rather, in technical contexts, it has a more encompassing definition, also covering renters and landlord insurance.
However, most people who don’t write about homes for a living use these two terms as synonyms. Because of that, we’ll use them interchangeably throughout this article. But, now you know!
Will Home Insurance Cover the Full Cost of Roof Repairs?
But even if home insurance covers some roof damage, how much of the bill for roof replacement your policy will actually reimburse varies widely between different insurance companies. Most offer one of two policies, Actual Cash Value (ACV) or Replacement Cost Value (RCV).
- If you have an ACV policy, your insurance company will give you the current depreciated value of your roof (in other words, what your roof is worth today). This likely won’t be enough to cover the cost of repairs or replacement, forcing you to pay the remaining difference out of pocket.
- With an RCV policy, you receive every penny it takes to replace your current roof. You’ll be able to replace your roof with a newer version of itself, meaning that you’ll have to pay for any upgrades with your own money. Still, this policy is substantially more generous than its ACV counterpart, preventing you from having to deplete your savings all because of one bad storm.
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Will I Have to Pay a Deductible for Roof Damage?
Almost always, you’ll have to pay a deductible on any roof repairs or replacements you need. In most cases, this will be the same general deductible that you signed up for when you bought your insurance.
However, especially in coastal regions with frequent storms, there may be a named storm deductible or similar unique figure, distinct from your overall deductible and often expressed as a percentage of your total coverage limit rather than a set number.
Because of this, named storm deductibles will often cost more. While they usually sit around 1-5% of your dwelling coverage limit, they may climb to as much as 10% in particularly high-risk areas.
Still, the spending on home insurance is often worth it in places where severe storms regularly batter your home, preventing you from having to repeatedly pay for repairs and replacements over the years out of your own pocket. This video from Chad Petit, one of our roofing estimators, gives you a good overview of the insurance process.
Our team in Charleston talks with homeowners about storm damage every day, and our Raleigh, Greensboro, and Asheville teams have helped a lot of homeowners through hail, wind, and water issues. So don’t hesitate to call us to speak about your situation.
Will Getting My Roof Replaced Affect How Much I Pay for Home Insurance?
Given that most roofs grow weaker as they age (often forcing homeowners to replace them), most insurance companies want customers to install new, sturdier roofs. These replacements will likely keep the companies from paying for even more costly repairs down the road.
Because of that, insurance providers may offer discounts to customers who recently replaced their roofs. Or, in other words, you pay less on insurance if your roof is younger than ten years old.
As a consequence, complete roof replacements can often drop your homeowners insurance payments from anywhere between 5% and 35%, making replacing your damaged roof both a necessity and a worthy investment. Learn more about roof replacement below.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, homeowners insurance often covers roof leaks caused by sudden events like hail or high wind. However, if the leak results from normal wear and tear or poor maintenance, it usually won’t be covered. In either case, always document the damage with photos to support your case to your insurance provider.
Homeowners insurance may cover a full roof replacement if the damage stems from a covered damage type, such as a storm, fire, or fallen tree. The extent of your reimbursement depends on whether you have an Actual Cash Value (ACV) or Replacement Cost Value (RCV) policy. RCV policies typically pay the full cost to replace your roof, while ACV policies deduct for how much your roof had depreciated from installment to destruction.
Generally, no. Home insurance won’t pay for a new roof unless it’s replacing one that was damaged by a covered event. Since insurance is designed to restore your home to its previous condition, providers tend to avoid approving any upgrades from the status quo. However, a new roof that you pay for yourself can sometimes reduce your insurance premiums in the future, especially if it’s made from impact-resistant materials.
It’s possible, depending on your provider and claim history. Some insurers raise premiums after multiple claims within a few years, while others can be more generous. If you get a roof replacement that makes your home more resilient, you might even qualify for a rate reduction.
Yes, roof repairs are often covered when the damage results from a covered peril, such as a windstorm or hail impact. The insurance company will likely send an adjuster to assess the damage and determine your repair eligibility. Keep in mind that you’ll still be responsible for your deductible before your insurer contributes.
Most policies do cover hail and wind damage caused by storms. However, coverage for hurricanes or tornadoes may vary by region, and it’s less common in areas with frequent severe weather. Note that in coastal or high-risk areas, your insurer might require a separate named storm deductible, which is usually a percentage of your dwelling coverage.
Final Thoughts
Like we said before, all of this information varies heavily between insurance companies, and the best way to make sure you’re secure is to review your policy. Take time to understand exactly what’s included, what’s excluded, and how your deductible or coverage limits might apply in the event of roof damage.
Ultimately, a proper understanding of how homeowners insurance protects you from costly roof repairs and replacement will allow to you navigate the complexities of getting compensation for roof damage, giving you the peace of mind you need in the face of unexpected events.
Protect Your Home & Wallet with Baker Roofing
If you still have questions, the Baker Home Exteriors name is trusted in roofing and home repairs all throughout North and South Carolina because we’re not like your typical storm-chasing roofers. We live in the areas we serve, meaning we’ll be here tomorrow to answer for the work we do today.
With 110+ years of history, we offer the premium roofing services that only a century of experience can guarantee. So, if you’re ready to take the first step toward the home you deserve, request a free quote for your roofing project using the button below. Otherwise, take a moment to check out our Google reviews. We look forward to working with you!
