Homeowners Insurance and Roof Storm Damage: 5 Things You Absolutely Need to Know

Don’t you just love the sound of rain gently tapping on your window? How about the sound of water trickling down an interior wall? Not quite as serene, is it?

You go from curling up in a warm blanket to finding every available towel to sop up the mess.

It’s probably around this time you start asking questions like:

1. Does my homeowners insurance cover storm damage to my roof?

Typically, yes. It will depend on your policy, but homeowners insurance usually covers:

• Wind damage
• Hail damage
• Damage from fallen objects, like tree limbs
• Resulting interior damage from storm damage to your roof

So, let’s say strong winds blow shingles off your roof. The opening in the roof causes rainwater to leak into your bathroom and damages the wall. Your homeowners insurance will likely cover the storm damage to your roof and the resulting damage to your bathroom’s wall.

However, if the leak in your roof is not from storm-created damage, you may not have coverage for your roof.

For example, let’s say there’s a severe thunderstorm and you notice water coming down your wall. You know your roof is old, but you think the storm may have caused the damage so you call your agent. After a claims representative evaluates your roof, they conclude the water is coming in due to wear and tear, not damage from the storm. This means the damage to your roof is not from a?covered cause of loss under your policy, and so there would be no covered damage to the roof.

However, the damage to your wall will likely be covered with your homeowners insurance (subject to the terms and conditions of the policy, of course).

This is because homeowners insurance is designed to respond primarily to sudden events, such as wind and hailstorms. Aging, regular upkeep or maintenance are not covered by a homeowners policy.

Read more:?Storm Damage & Homeowners Insurance: 5 Things You Need to Know.

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2. What do I need to do after I find roof damage from a recent storm?

• Take photos before and during clean up. If you or a contractor begin any clean up prior to an inspection by a claim representative, consider taking photos. This might...

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