Will home insurance pay for gutters?
Short answer. Yes, when a covered event damages them: hail that dents gutters and downspouts, wind that pulls them loose, or a falling limb that crushes a run. Insurance does not pay for gutters that sag, leak at seams, rust or overflow from clogging, because those are maintenance problems.
What adjusters look for
- Hail dents. Round dings along the top lip and face of the gutter and dents in downspouts, heaviest on the side facing the storm. They also show hail size, which supports the roof claim.
- Wind. Sections pulled from the fascia, twisted hangers, detached downspouts.
- Impact. Crushed or bent runs under a fallen limb.
What they will not pay
- Clogs, overflow and the fascia rot that follows.
- Sagging from loose spikes or too few hangers.
- Rust, seam leaks and worn paint.
The cosmetic damage question
Some policies exclude cosmetic damage to metal, which can include dented aluminum gutters that still drain. Check your endorsements, and see the cosmetic damage exclusion.
How gutters fit into a roof claim
Gutter damage from the same storm belongs on the same claim as the roof, under one deductible. Photograph dents in daylight with a coin or pencil for scale before anything is repaired, and include downspouts, splash guards and screens. Even when gutters are not damaged, a roof replacement estimate may need a line to detach and reset them if the installation requires it. The after a hail storm checklist lists the other soft metals worth photographing.