Does home insurance cover roof work?
Short answer. Home insurance covers roof work only when it repairs damage from a covered event, such as hail or wind. It does not pay for planned replacements, upgrades or maintenance, and damage a roofer causes while working, like a rain-soaked ceiling during tear-off, should be paid by the roofer's liability insurance rather than your policy.
Roof work insurance pays for
- Repairs or replacement after a covered storm, minus the deductible.
- Emergency tarping to prevent more damage after a covered loss.
- Code-required items when you carry ordinance or law coverage. See code upgrades.
Roof work you pay for
- Replacing an old roof that wore out.
- Upgrades such as a different material, extra ventilation or skylights.
- Maintenance and small repairs from wear.
When the roof work causes damage
If a crew leaves the roof open before a rainstorm, drops debris through a skylight or cracks the driveway with a dumpster, that is the contractor's responsibility, and their general liability insurance should pay. Your own policy may cover some of it, but then you pay a deductible and carry the claim on your record. Before work starts:
- Get a certificate of insurance sent directly from the roofer's agent.
- Read the contract for who is responsible for protecting the home and cleaning up.
- Photograph ceilings, the driveway and landscaping beforehand.
- Ask how the crew protects the attic, gutters and plants during tear-off.
Tell your insurer about finished work
Send your agent proof of a completed replacement so the roof year is updated. See roof age and insurance.