Can I claim a new roof on my house insurance?
Short answer. You can claim a new roof on house insurance only when a sudden covered event, such as hail, wind or a falling tree, damaged it enough that repair is not reasonable. An old or worn out roof without storm damage is a maintenance cost the policy does not cover. A free inspection before you call the insurer tells you which situation you are in.
Situations that usually qualify
- Hail that bruised or fractured shingles across most slopes.
- Wind that tore off or creased many shingles, especially when the shingle line is discontinued and repairs cannot match. See wind damage claims.
- A tree that crushed decking and rafters.
- Fire damage.
Situations that usually do not
- Granule loss, curling and cracking from age and sun. See wear and tear vs hail.
- Leaks from a worn pipe boot or failed flashing with no storm event.
- Problems caused by improper installation.
- Slow leaks that rotted decking over months.
Gray areas
An old roof can still have real storm damage, and the claim is valid if the storm caused it, though an older roof may be paid at actual cash value or under a payment schedule. Partial damage can become a full roof if the remaining shingles are too brittle to repair or the shingle cannot be matched. These are judgment calls that depend on evidence, so photos and a damage count per slope matter.
Before you file
- Find the likely storm date; free North Georgia hail history by zip code is at northgeorgiahailmap.com.
- Have the roof inspected and photographed.
- Compare the likely damage to your deductible.
- Then file and request an adjuster inspection. See how to file.