Finding a roof leak is a stressful situation. Figuring out how to handle it can be just as stressful. 

You already know you need to call a roofing contractor to take care of the problem. However, a huge question that most homeowners have is whether or not their homeowners insurance policy covers a roof leak.

The truth is, your insurance company will cover it, but only under certain circumstances. Because we want you to be the most educated homeowner possible, we’re going to break it down for you. 

Since 1990, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has helped homeowners in Nashville and surrounding areas take care of their roof leaks. Whether the roof leak needs repaired or the whole roof needs to be replaced, you can count on our high-quality workmanship to get it done right. That’s we’re proud to provide a lifetime warranty once the job is done.

By the end of this article, you’ll learn if your homeowners insurance will cover your roof leak and 3 things to do if you suspect storm damage to your roof. 

Does homeowners insurance cover roof leaks?

So, will your homeowners insurance company cover your roof leak? The answer is yes, but only under certain circumstances. 

Homeowners insurance covers your roof leak and any other roof damage caused by an extreme weather event. This extreme weather is straight-line winds (aka damaging winds) during heavy thunderstorms, hail storms, snowstorms, and tornados.

They’ll also cover damages from tree limbs falling on your roof during strong storms. If there’s extensive damage to your roof, then there should be no question that it’ll be covered. 

However, it’ll be what the insurance adjuster finds during their inspection if your roof is worthy of a full replacement. But as long as the damage is caused by extreme weather, your homeowner’s insurance will cover your roof. 

3 things to do if you suspect storm damage to your roof

Now you know that your homeowners insurance company covers your roof leak if the leak was caused by extreme weather. But what should you do when you suspect roof damage after a recent storm?

1. Call your insurance company first 

The first thing you should do if you suspect storm damage is call your insurance company. Once you give them all the relevant information, what happens next depends on your area and your specific insurance company. 

Some insurance companies schedule an adjuster to come out and inspect the damage to see if you have a claim. After their inspection, and if they approve your claim, then it’ll be time to start researching to find a great roofing contractor.  

On the other hand, some insurance companies might tell you to have a roofing contractor inspect your roof for damage before they send an adjuster out. This is pretty common in the Middle Tennessee area, but you won’t know to do this until reaching out to your homeowner’s insurance. 

No matter what scenario you’ll eventually fall under, the first thing you should always do is call your insurance company. 

2. Find a local roofing contractor who has experience working with insurance claims

After talking to your insurance company about the next steps, you’ll need to start searching for a roofing contractor to do the work. When looking at potential roofing companies to hire, it’s crucial that they have experience working on insurance claims. 

They’ll know how the insurance claim process works, how to read your claim, fight to make sure everything is correct on the estimate, and how to do the work in compliance with your insurance company. A roofing contractor that regularly works with insurance can also save you from inadvertently committing insurance fraud. 

Hiring a local roofing company that regularly works with insurance claims helps you have a positive experience during a stressful time. After finding the right one, show them your insurance paperwork and get ready to replace your storm-damaged roof. 

3. Don’t get estimates from different roofing companies for your insurance claim

Once you have your insurance claim paperwork, you shouldn’t get estimates from different roofing companies. This is mainly because insurance companies come up with the price to replace or repair your storm-damaged roof, not a roofing contractor. 

Insurance companies use software called Xactimate to come up with the price estimate for your roof claim based on the general pricing average of the materials in your area. Because of this, there’s no reason to try to find a roofing company with the lowest estimate because the price is already set by the insurance company.

If the roofing company’s estimate does end up being more than your insurance’s initial estimate, there’s no reason to panic. Your roofing company has to submit an itemized list showing their cost to complete the job and get it approved by the insurance company. 

But just because you shouldn’t get multiple estimates doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do your research and talk to multiple roofing companies to find the right one for you. Once your claim is approved, the most important thing to look for in a roofing company isn’t pricing, it’s trust.

This is just one reason why you shouldn’t get multiple estimates from different roofing contractors. To learn the other reasons, check out this article on the 3 reasons you shouldn’t get multiple quotes for a storm damaged roof. 

Want to know what the homeowners insurance process looks like?

Now you know 3 things to do if you have storm damage. Remember, if you suspect roof damage after a storm call your insurance company. 

After calling your insurance company and getting the next steps, you’ll be officially starting the insurance claim process. Be aware, the claim process can be confusing and at times overwhelming if you haven’t been through it before. 

To help you avoid being confused and/or overwhelmed, we wrote another article that explains what the homeowners insurance process looks like. 

The team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided high-quality roofing services to the residents of Nashville and surrounding areas since 1990. We do everything possible to help you have a positive experience during a stressful time in your life. If you’re local to Nashville, don’t hesitate to contact us for any of your roofing needs.

To learn about the insurance claim process, check out this article Homeowners insurance: The Process to Replace a Storm Damaged Roof.

storm damage checklist