Does homeowners insurance cover roof leaks from rain?
Short answer. Only when something covered opened the roof first. Most homeowners policies do not treat rain itself as a covered peril, so they pay for a rain leak when wind, hail or a falling object created the opening the water came through, but not when rain seeps through a worn or poorly maintained roof.
The opening requirement
Standard policy wording for windstorm and hail typically excludes interior damage from rain unless the direct force of wind or hail first made an opening in the roof or a wall. So the question an adjuster asks is not "did it rain?" but "what made the hole?"
Rain leaks that are usually covered
- Wind tore off shingles and the next downpour came through.
- Hail fractured shingles or punctured a vent, and rain followed.
- A limb broke through the decking during a storm.
Rain leaks that are usually not
- Water through worn shingles, exposed nail heads or failed sealant.
- A cracked pipe boot that let water in during every storm.
- Gutters clogged with leaves that backed water under the roof edge.
- Heavy rain overwhelming a low slope roof with poor drainage.
- Rising water from outside, which is flood and needs a separate flood policy.
Wind driven rain
Georgia thunderstorms push rain sideways, and it can enter at vents, flashing and siding gaps without any visible damage. Whether that is paid depends on whether the wind actually damaged something. Look for lifted flashing, displaced shingles or damaged vents after the storm.
What to document
Photograph the roof damage, note the storm date, and stop the water quickly. Read wind damage roof claims and interior water damage coverage.