How does depreciation work on a roof hail damage insurance claim?
Short answer. On a hail claim, the adjuster prices the roof replacement or repair, subtracts depreciation for the roof's age and condition, and pays the rest minus your wind and hail deductible, with any recoverable depreciation paid after the work. Hail claims are also where actual cash value roof endorsements and cosmetic damage exclusions most often reduce what is paid.
Hail-specific twists
- Wind and hail deductible: often a percentage of your dwelling limit, which can be larger than the depreciation itself.
- ACV roof endorsements: typically apply to wind or hail losses, which makes hail claims the place they bite.
- Cosmetic damage exclusions: can exclude dents that do not affect function, most often on metal roofs and sometimes metal trim.
- Multiple damaged items: gutters, downspouts, screens, and siding each carry their own depreciation.
Repeat hail and prior damage
If your roof had hail damage from an earlier storm that was paid but never repaired, the insurer may exclude that prior damage on a new claim. Documenting the new storm date and fresh hits matters. Free local hail history by zip code is available from the North Georgia Hail Map.
An example
A 12-year-old architectural roof: replacement cost $16,000, depreciation $5,800, and a deductible of 1 percent of a $380,000 dwelling limit, or $3,800. First check: $6,400. After replacement, the $5,800 is released if it is recoverable. If the roof is on an ACV endorsement, the $5,800 is never paid.
Tips
- Have hits documented on each slope with photos.
- Confirm the storm date before you file.
Related: hail size and roof damage, the cosmetic damage exclusion, and the percentage wind and hail deductible.