Does home insurance cover roof problems?
Short answer. Only roof problems caused by a sudden covered event, such as hail, wind, a fallen tree or fire, are covered. Most everyday roof problems, like curling, granule loss, cracked pipe boots, leaks at old flashing, a sagging deck or poor ventilation, come from age or installation and are not covered.
Common roof problems and how insurers usually treat them
- Hail bruises and fractures: covered as hail damage.
- Missing or creased shingles after a storm: covered as wind damage.
- Tree or limb impact: covered, including removing the tree from the house, within policy limits.
- Curling, cupping and cracking: age and heat, not covered.
- Granule loss everywhere: wear, not covered. Round spots of granule loss after a storm are a different story.
- Cracked pipe boots: wear, not covered.
- Leaking chimney or wall flashing: usually wear or installation, covered only if a storm bent or tore it.
- Sagging deck: rot or structure, not covered unless caused by a covered collapse or the weight of ice.
- Algae streaks, moss and lichen: maintenance, not covered.
- Nail pops: usually installation or decking movement, not covered.
- Animal damage: varies, and many policies exclude birds, rodents and insects.
- Heat damage from poor ventilation: not covered.
When problems overlap
An old roof with wear can still take new storm damage. The storm part is covered and the wear is not, and separating the two with photos is what decides the claim. See wear and tear vs hail damage and what roof adjusters look for.