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Will Insurance Pay For Your Roof Repairs Or A New Roof?

When it’s time to repair or replace your roof, the last thing you want to hear is your insurance company denying your claim. Many homeowners assume their general home insurance will cover anything that happens. Unfortunately, the answer isn’t so clear if you don’t know the specifics of your policy.

How do you find out? Obviously, the easiest way to know what your homeowners insurance covers is to contact your insurance provider and simply ask.

Eligible coverage often depends on factors such as roof age, the area you live in, and other criteria (including keeping up with scheduled maintenance). Knowing the specifics of your policy before a problem occurs is very important, as plugging holes in your policy now could save from a nasty shock later.

What these policies must cover is largely dependent on where the home is located and what regulations are in your particular locale (state and local laws). Some polices in some areas may only cover damage up to the depreciated value, regardless of the roofs age while others must cover the entire cost of replacement regardless of how old the roof is.

In Georgia, it is extremely rare for a policy to reimburse based on depreciation and in the vast majority of cases homeowners are reimbursed for costs of repair or replacement fully regardless of roof age.

Most policies everywhere provide coverage for roof damage caused by unpreventable situations such as vandalism and fire, “Acts of God” like hurricanes and tornadoes are also usually covered. While wind, hail, and rain may be covered by your home insurance policy, there are situations that determine if these kinds of damage are eligible and if it is, how much you will be reimbursed. These same criteria that apply to your roof may also apply to exterior property, such as siding and gutters as well.

Policies in areas that allow insurance companies to restrict coverage will often take the age of your roof into consideration at the time the damage occurred. If, for example, your roof is less than 10 years old your policy will probably cover the the full costs of repair or replacement. If it’s more than 10 years old, you may be only reimbursed for the depreciated value of the roof if the costs to repair it exceed it’s value. Depreciated value is determined by factors such as the age of the roof and general condition and wear and tear prior to the damage.

Since it varies so much from state to state and policy to policy, be sure to check with your insurance representative to find out what’s reimbursed in your state and city according to your policy.

For other types of damage, such as flooding or surface water, an additional policy (Flood Insurance for example) is usually in order. Mold caused by such water damage also may not be covered under your regular policy and should be addressed through other insurance.

Inspecting or having your roof inspected regularly for leaks and preventing them is crucial and could help prevent many types of damage in the first place but in many cases (such as living in a home susceptible to flooding) having additional coverage is something you should consider. If your unsure of what you need, calling your local roofing contractor or insurance provider will provide the answers you need to make an intelligent decision.

All insurance policy’s are different (especially in different states), and it bears repeating, check your policy or with your insurance company to be sure you have the coverage you need. Knowledge is your best friend when it comes to your home, use it!

If you need assistance with your insurance claim or have any questions about what you need to make sure your roof is covered, Atlanta Roofing Specialists can help! Call us today! at 770-419-2222 for more information.

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