Homeowners often pay hundreds of dollars per month for a secure homeowners insurance policy, but many homeowners are uncertain of how their insurance covers roofing issues. While every insurance carrier and policy differs, and the sole source of truth for your policy is the issuer of said policy, here are some of the things we have found while working on insurance roof repairs in Salem, Oregon and surrounding areas.
Generally, homeowners insurance only covers certain types of roofing issues.
Insurance plans often have exclusions on worn roofing materials that the homeowner neglected to address. This means that even if a storm hits your home and damages your roof extensively, if you haven’t had a roof inspection and had worn roofing material, your insurance provider could end up leaving you high and dry, or rather, wet underneath a leak that they won’t pay to fix. We have found that you are most likely to get financial coverage from your insurance carrier when you stay on the ball as it comes to general home maintenance and regular roofing inspections. The general rule of thumb is to have your roof professionally inspected once every three years in order to make your roof repair in time without any consequences..
Do you have documentation of your maintenance and inspection?
After your roofing inspection every three years, be sure that you receive written documentation on your Salem roofer’s recommendations and findings. This will show your insurance company that you kept up with the tasks any reasonable home owner could be expected to complete, and offer tangible proof of that fact.
If a storm hits and causes damage, you should contact a professional roofing contractor to come make an assessment on the damage to your home as quickly as possible, and be sure to collect documentation and photographic evidence from your roofer in this case as well. If your insurance provider disputes any of your claims, having the opinion of a professional Salem roofing company will help you in your claim, and increase the likelihood of changing their opinion.
When in doubt, refer to your policy
In some areas, certain weather condition damages are sold separately, and come at a higher premium. If you opted not to pay for coverage on hail, wind damage, lightning, or ice build up, your insurance company might have no responsibility to help you pay for repairs. The only way to be certain is to contact your insurance carrier and refer to your policy documents. If you’re concerned about hail damage and don’t have impact-resistant shingles, you may consider upping your coverage.
Regardless of coverage, it is in your best interest to contact a roofing company in Salem as quickly as possible for an inspection when your roof is damaged. If your roof is leaking, otherwise damaged, or is in need of an inspection, give Slate & Slate Roofing a call today for an estimate at (503) 585-2338. We will work with your insurance carrier to ensure your claim process goes as smoothly as possible. We will help you get the most out of your claim.
