How does insurance cover storm damage to a roof?
Short answer. Storm damage to a roof is covered under the dwelling part of a homeowners policy when wind, hail, a falling tree, ice or lightning causes sudden physical damage. The amount you receive depends on your deductible, whether the roof settles at replacement cost, actual cash value or a payment schedule, and whether the damage is functional rather than cosmetic or age-related.
Three questions every roof claim answers
- Did a covered storm cause it? The adjuster needs a believable date, a storm strong enough to do the damage, and marks consistent with that storm.
- Is it functional damage? Damage that lets water in or shortens the roof's life is covered. Cosmetic marks may be excluded by endorsement.
- What will the policy pay? The deductible, settlement method and roof endorsements decide the check.
Roof endorsements to look for
- Roof payment schedule: a table that pays a percentage of replacement cost by roof age and material for wind and hail losses.
- Actual cash value roof endorsement: pays the depreciated value only.
- Cosmetic damage exclusion: removes appearance-only damage from coverage.
- Wind or hail deductible: often a percentage of Coverage A.
Read more on roof payment schedules and cosmetic exclusions.
Roof age
Older roofs are not excluded from storm coverage, but they are more likely to carry age-based settlement, and adjusters look harder for wear. A 20 year old roof with true hail damage is still a covered claim; it may simply pay less. See roof age and insurance.
The parts of the roof that are covered
Shingles or metal panels, underlayment, decking, flashing, vents, ridge, drip edge, and the gutters attached to the house. Code-required upgrades are covered only if you carry ordinance or law coverage.