Your home insurance comes in handy when things go wrong. As a homeowner, you know your policy covers many things. However, these policies are complicated, and you may not always receive coverage for every damage to your property.
For instance, your homeowner's insurance policy coverage may include damage from roof leaks. However, this coverage is not a guarantee. As with other insurance coverage, it will only reimburse you for the repair if the damage is from an accidental and sudden cause. You can bet on getting coverage for sudden, accidental roof leaks. However, your insurance will not cover leaks because of poor maintenance or wear and tear. This guide discusses when your insurance covers roof leaks and when it doesn't.
When does home insurance cover roof leaks?
Your standard home insurance comprises dwelling coverage to protect you from loss following damage to your home's infrastructure. This damage includes the roof, for instance, damage to the roof after a bad storm knocks a tree over your house. You will get coverage when a storm strips shingles off your roof or when there is fire or tornado damage.
Insurance will also cover water damage from roof leaks if they are accidental. A good example is a snowstorm. If you are a victim of a roof leak from a fallen tree because of a snowstorm, your policy should cover the damage. This coverage entails getting reimbursed for the costs of roof repairs or destroyed personal items.
When does home insurance not cover roof leaks?
Your insurer will not cover roof leaks resulting from neglect, normal wear and tear, or improper maintenance. If the insurance company traces the leak to a lack of maintenance or an aged roof, they won't cover it. For instance, you are unlikely to receive coverage when a 20-year-old roof leaks. Furthermore, damage from earthquakes, landslides, or sinkholes is not part of the homeowner's insurance policy. You won't get reimbursement if a roof is damaged in a landslide.
Will you get coverage for roof replacement?
If you take a roof replacement coverage, your insurer will probably cover the expenses of replacing your roof. The idea is to purchase a policy with roof replacement coverage instead of assuming it's included in every policy. In some cases, you only get coverage for the actual cash value of the roof. This means the insurer pays some costs of replacing your roof.
Understanding covered peril from uncovered perils
The exact coverage for the roof leak will depend on the perils covered in your policy. A peril is any event that damages your property, such as a fire or hailstorm.
Covered perils are events that cause damage to your property, and your insurance policy does not provide coverage. They include windstorms, fires, falling objects, or vandalism. You will get the repair reimbursement if a covered peril causes a roof leak. This is because your insurance policy already covers the event that caused your roof to leak. If you get an HO2 policy, you will receive protection if damage comes from events like fire, falling objects, or lightning strikes; as an open perils policy, the HO3 policy.
Your insurer will not cover the cost of repairing the dame if the cause is not a covered peril. Causes such as neglect, lack of maintenance, lousy artistry, and wear and tear are not covered.
Get home insurance
To understand home insurance coverage, you must differentiate covered from uncovered perils. You will get policy coverage if a sudden, accidental event causes roof damage. Always read the fine print of a policy before signing on. Also, choose a homeowner's policy with all the coverage you need, including roof coverage. The best way to do that is by finding an expert in the area who can also help you understand what is covered. In a nutshell, any events outside your control, such as fire, will get insurance protection.