Will insurance pay for a metal roof?
Short answer. If you already have a metal roof and a covered storm damages it beyond cosmetic dents, insurance pays to replace it with metal of like kind and quality. If you have shingles, insurance pays for a shingle roof, and you can usually put that money toward metal and pay the difference yourself.
Shingle roof, metal plans
Policies pay to restore what you had. A claim approved for an architectural shingle roof pays that amount. You can usually still choose metal, but the extra cost is yours, and you should tell your insurer and your mortgage company if their names are on the check. On a replacement cost policy, ask how the depreciation will be released when you upgrade; it is normally limited to the value of the original shingle scope.
An existing metal roof
- Functional damage: punctures, split seams, displaced panels or fasteners and leaks are paid.
- Cosmetic dents: many policies exclude dents that do not affect function. See the cosmetic damage exclusion.
- Matching: painted panels fade, and discontinued profiles can make partial replacement unreasonable.
Before you upgrade
- Ask your agent how a metal roof will be rated and whether a cosmetic exclusion would apply going forward.
- Get the metal price in writing so you know your share before you sign.
- Check HOA rules, since some neighborhoods restrict metal roofing.
Whether you end up with metal or shingles, the settlement type decides how much comes back to you; see ACV vs RCV.