Is there repair insurance for domestic roofs?
Domestic roof is a common UK phrase for a house roof. Whatever you call it, repairs fall into a few buckets, and each has its own source of money.
Who pays for which repair
- Storm damage from wind, hail, or falling trees: your homeowners policy, subject to the deductible.
- Defective shingles or materials: the manufacturer's limited warranty, usually prorated after an early period.
- Installation errors such as poor flashing or nailing: the roofer's workmanship warranty, if the company is still in business and the warranty is in force.
- Wear and aging, such as cracked pipe boots, worn flashing, and granule loss: you. This is maintenance, and no insurance policy covers it.
Home warranty plans
Some home warranty contracts offer an optional roof leak add-on. Read the fine print first: coverage is often limited to leaks over occupied living space, capped at a modest amount per year, and excludes flashing, skylights, storm damage, and roofs past a certain age or condition. It can help with a small leak but is no substitute for a sound roof.
Maintenance is the real repair plan
- A yearly inspection, plus one after any major storm
- Clearing gutters and valleys of leaves and pine needles
- Resealing or replacing pipe boots and exposed fasteners before they leak
- Trimming limbs back from the roof
Small fixes now prevent the interior damage that insurance excludes when the cause is wear. For how adjusters tell wear from storm damage, see wear and tear versus hail damage, and for when insurance does pay, does homeowners insurance cover roof replacement.