How does the deductible work on a hail damage roof claim?
Find your number
- Open the declarations page.
- Look for a line labeled wind and hail, windstorm or hail, or all other perils.
- If it shows a percentage, multiply it by the Coverage A dwelling limit, not by the claim amount.
Example: Coverage A of $350,000 with a 2 percent wind and hail deductible means $7,000 comes off any hail claim. A $16,000 roof replacement would bring $9,000 from the insurer, before any depreciation is held back.
How it interacts with depreciation
On a replacement cost policy, the insurer subtracts depreciation and the deductible from the first check, then pays the depreciation after the roof is replaced. The deductible is never paid back. On an actual cash value roof or a roof payment schedule, the depreciation is not paid back either, so your total out of pocket can be well above the deductible. See ACV vs RCV.
One storm, one deductible
All damage from the same storm, including roof, gutters, siding and fence, usually goes on one claim under one deductible. Two separate storms weeks apart can mean two deductibles, which is why the date of loss matters.
What nobody can do
Georgia makes it a misdemeanor for a contractor to promise to pay, waive or rebate your deductible, and that includes disguised discounts. The deductible has to be paid. If cash flow is the issue, ask about financing.
Choosing a deductible at renewal
A higher percentage lowers the premium but raises what you pay after a storm. Run the math on a realistic roof price, not just the premium difference.