Seeing the possibility for hail on the radar is never a fun experience. It usually signals an extreme weather event and, depending on the hail’s size, can cause significant damage.
While most people think about damage to their cars when it hails, you also need to think about your roof. Hail can shorten your roof’s lifespan and can even lead to a full roof replacement.
If you experience hail damage to your roof, the question is whether or not your insurance company will pay to fix the problem. We understand experiencing hail damage (or any other roof damage caused by extreme weather) is a stressful situation.
To help your stress levels, we’re going to help you understand if your insurance company will cover hail damage to your roof.
The team at Bill Ragan Roofing has helped the residents of Nashville deal with hail damage to their roofs since 1990. Whether your roof needs repairs or a full replacement, you can count on our workmanship to give you the best quality roof in the neighborhood. That’s why we’re proud to offer you a lifetime warranty.
By the end of this article, you’ll know if homeowners insurance covers hail damage to your roof and 3 things to know about getting a new roof through insurance. And stick around until the very end to get your free Storm Damage checklist to help you determine if your roof has hail damage.
Does homeowners insurance cover hail damage to your roof?
So, you just had a hail storm come through your area, and you think you have roof damage. But will homeowners insurance cover the damage caused by hail?
The answer is yes, your homeowners insurance should cover hail damage and any other roof damage caused by extreme weather (strong winds, tornados, fallen limbs, etc.). If you suspect hail damage to your roof, you must call your insurance company first and then a roofing contractor.
Your local roofing contractor can advise you, but can't do any actual work (repairs or a replacement) until your insurance adjuster approves the hail damage claim.
There are certain situations when hail damage leads to a full roof replacement.
(Hail damage on roof and vents marked by chalk)
For an asphalt shingle roof to be replaced from hail damage, it has to cause collateral damage to the soft metals (downspouts, gutters, vents, or flashing) that are on your roof. If you have a metal roof system, then hail damage to your metal panels will lead to a replacement if the integrity of the metal is compromised.
It’ll also lead to a replacement if the hail is large (about 1 inch in diameter) and compromises the integrity of your asphalt shingles. Even if hail doesn’t cause enough damage to lead to a replacement right away, the more hail your roof is exposed to will definitely shorten its lifespan.
To learn more about how weather affects your roof’s life, check out this article on how weather impacts the life of your new roof.
3 things to know about getting a roof replacement through insurance
Now you know the hail damage to your roof will be covered. However, there are a few things you need to know about replacing your roof through insurance.
1. Hire a roofing contractor that has experience working with insurance claims
As soon as your insurance claim is approved, you’ll be ready to start the replacement process.
When replacing your roof through homeowners insurance, you need to hire a roofing contractor with experience handling insurance claims. They’ll know the insurance claim process, how to read your claim correctly, fight to make sure everything is correct, and how to do the work in compliance with your insurance company.
Hiring someone that has experience working with insurance claims is just one thing you need to look for in a roofing contractor. To help you find a great roofer for your replacement, check out this article on the top 8 questions to ask a roofing contractor.
2. Insurance companies won’t cover an improperly installed roof
Remember, your homeowners insurance should cover any damage caused by storms. However, there are certain circumstances when they won’t pay to fix the damage.
The main reason homeowners insurance won’t cover your storm-damaged roof is if they find your roof wasn’t installed correctly.
For example:
Let’s say straight-line winds come through your area and rip shingles off your roof. You have homeowners insurance, so you’re not worried because they should cover the damages.
Unfortunately, when the insurance adjuster comes out for an inspection, they find your roof wasn’t installed using correct roofing techniques. When this happens, your homeowners insurance won’t cover the storm damage and you’ll have to pay out of pocket to fix the problem.
Proper roof installation plays a huge role in every aspect of your roof. To learn more about what it means to your roof, check out this article on why proper roof installation is important.
3. Show your insurance estimate to a roofing contractor to avoid committing insurance fraud
If you have a Replacement Cost Value policy (the insurance company will pay to replace your roof), showing your paperwork to a roofing contractor can save you from committing insurance fraud.
For example, when the work estimate is less than what the insurance company agreed to pay, you don’t get to pocket the leftovers. To receive your recoverable depreciation (the amount an insurance company determines a roof has depreciated over time), the items included in the claim must be included in the contractor’s scope of work so you don’t inadvertently commit insurance fraud.
That’s why an RCV policy requires proof of completion before they send you a check for the recoverable depreciation. If you ask for the check but didn’t get the work done, your insurance company won’t make your life easy.
Saving you from inadvertently committing insurance fraud is just one reason you need to share your insurance estimate with a roofing contractor. To learn the other reasons, check out this article on why you should show a roofing contractor your insurance estimate.
Want to learn the insurance claim process for your hail damaged roof?
Now you know your homeowner’s insurance covers hail damage and 3 things to know about replacing your roof through your insurance company. If you think you have storm damage, you’re ready to start the claim process.
But before you reach out to the insurance company, you need to ask yourself, “Do I feel comfortable with the process? Do I know what process looks like or where to even begin?”.
If this sounds like you, we understand the claim process can be stressful and full of headaches. To help relieve that stress and prepare you for dealing with your insurance company, we broke down the homeowners insurance claim process.
The team at Bill Ragan Roofing has been helping the residents of Nashville with their insurance claims since 1990. Anytime a roof is hit by a big storm, we deal with your insurance company to ensure you have a positive experience. If you’re local to Nashville and have storm damage, contact us to get your problem taken care of.
To help you understand your claim and how the process works, check out our article on Homeowners insurance: the process to replace a storm damaged roof.
