Will insurance help pay for a new roof?
When the damage is covered
On a replacement cost policy, the insurer pays the full approved estimate minus your deductible, usually split into an actual cash value check now and a depreciation check after the work is done. On an actual cash value policy, it pays the depreciated value minus the deductible, which can be far less on an older roof. Read ACV vs RCV to see which you have.
What you still pay
- Your deductible, which a roofer cannot legally cover in Georgia.
- Upgrades you choose, such as a premium shingle line or a different color system.
- Code-required items if you do not have ordinance or law coverage.
- Repairs to problems the storm did not cause, such as long term rot.
When insurance will not help
Age, granule loss from weathering, algae streaks and leaks from failed sealant are maintenance. In that case the honest options are a repair to buy time, saving for a planned replacement, or financing. A typical North Georgia replacement runs roughly $8,000 to $16,000, more for large or steep roofs.
Find out before you decide
A free inspection after a storm tells you whether there is real damage to claim. If there is, file; if there is not, you avoid a claim on your record. See does homeowners insurance cover roof replacement, and Robust Roofing's financing page covers paying over time.