Does insurance pay out for storm damage to a roof?
Short answer. Usually yes. Standard homeowners policies cover sudden damage from wind, hail, falling trees and lightning, minus your deductible and, depending on the policy, depreciation. Flood, wear and tear, and damage from poor maintenance are not covered, and some policies limit older roofs or cosmetic hail damage.
Storm damage that is usually covered
- Hail that bruises or fractures shingles and dents vents and gutters.
- Wind that tears off, lifts or creases shingles.
- Trees or limbs that fall on the roof, though debris removal coverage is often limited.
- Rain that enters through an opening the storm created, and the interior damage that follows.
- Lightning and fire.
Usually not covered
- Flood or rising water, which requires flood insurance.
- Leaks from worn shingles, failed flashing or old pipe boots with no storm damage.
- Damage you knew about and let get worse.
- Cosmetic hail marks, if your policy has a cosmetic damage exclusion.
How the payout is figured
The adjuster estimates the repair or replacement cost, subtracts depreciation and your deductible, and pays the rest. On replacement cost policies you can recover the depreciation after the work is done. Many Georgia policies carry a separate wind and hail deductible that can be a percentage of dwelling coverage, so check your declarations page.
Getting paid
Report promptly, protect the house from more water, photograph damage before cleanup, and get a professional inspection. Items missing from the first estimate are commonly added by supplement. Step by step help is in how to file a roof insurance claim and the after a hail storm checklist.