The roof on a South Carolina home has a harder life than most. It has to protect your house and belongings from typical sun, rain, wind and moss to the worst that Mother Nature can throw at it.
Your roof is constantly at risk of sudden severe damage as well as insidious decay and deterioration, leading to major repairs or replacement, and it’s no secret that can be expensive. But your homeowner’s insurance will cover it, right? Well, maybe.
If you’ve ever filed an insurance claim, you know that it’s often a complicated process and insurance companies will likely try to deny your claim. You’d better have your ducks in a row when you call them. And the first step in doing that is to review your homeowner’s insurance policy to see exactly what’s covered, what’s not, and how much they’ll pay for roof repairs or replacement.
Understanding Homeowner’s Insurance Roof Coverage
In general, if your roof is damaged by a storm, high winds, hail, falling tree limbs, blowing debris, fire, vandalism, a meteor — in short, anything that is sudden, accidental, and out of your control — your homeowner’s insurance will cover the damage.
What won’t be covered is any damage that they can claim was incurred because of the age of your roof or because of a lack of reasonable roof maintenance. If your insurance company can say that the damage happened or was more severe because you didn’t keep your roof in good shape, they may deny your claim or only allow a partial claim.
This is one of the best reasons to hire a professional roofer to inspect your roof at least once a year, especially before and after storm season, and perform any necessary work. They’ll be able to document that you made reasonable efforts to maintain your roof and make timely repairs.
Filing Your Claim
The most important step in preparing to file your claim is to accurately assess the damage and meticulously document it with photos and detailed descriptions.
You should contact your insurance company as soon as possible after the damage. They’ll likely send an adjustor out to do their own assessment to determine the extent of coverage. The assistance of a professional roofing contractor can be invaluable for ensuring your rightful damage claims are honored.
Adams & Coe can help you navigate the complexities of insurance claims from start to finish. Contact us for a no-obligation consultation and quote.