Will home insurance cover water damage from a roof leak?

The roof and the room are separate questions

Adjusters handle a roof leak in two parts. The first is the roof: was it damaged by a covered peril, or did it wear out? The second is everything the water touched inside. On many open perils homeowners forms, wear and tear is excluded but sudden water damage that results from it can still be covered. In that case, the insurer pays for the ceiling but not the shingles. Other policies are stricter, so read the exclusions and any roof endorsements.

What the interior part can include

• Ceiling and wall drywall, tape, texture and paint, often the whole room so the finish matches.
• Wet insulation in the attic.
• Flooring, cabinets and trim the water reached.
• Drying equipment and a mitigation company's invoice.
• Damaged belongings under personal property coverage.
• Extra living costs if the home is not livable during repairs.

Timing decides a lot

Policies exclude constant or repeated seepage over weeks, months or years. A stain that appeared the night of a storm is a strong claim. A stain that has grown slowly since last summer is not. The adjuster will ask when you first noticed it, so be honest and be quick.

Protecting the interior claim

1. Catch the water and move belongings.
2. Photograph ceilings, walls and the attic before cleanup.
3. Get the roof opening covered.
4. Keep every receipt.
5. Get the cause of the leak documented in writing.

More: interior water damage coverage and your duty to mitigate.