Clients tend to have a number of common questions when dealing with damage to their property’s roof, and some of these surround the concept of homeowners insurance coverage. Perhaps the single most frequent example: Does homeowners insurance cover roof leaks?
At The Roof Doctor, we’re proud to offer the best roofing services available around Salt Lake City, Sandy, West Jordan, West Valley City and even out to Tooele. We offer everything from roof repair to roof replacement and new roof installation, with roofing contractors who have decades of combined experience. We also regularly assist clients with homeowners insurance and obtaining coverage for roof repairs, including roof leaks. Does homeowners insurance cover roof leaks? Let’s go over all the information you need to know.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Roof Leaks?
The answer to this question, like with so many insurance-related topics, is not actually a simple yes or no. Rather, it depends on one key term that’s worth knowing: Whether the roof leak in question was caused by a “covered policy peril.”
What does a covered policy peril refer to? This varies across different policies, but tends to have a number of similarities in most cases: Covered perils are typically those that are sudden and fully accidental.
So for instance, if your roof caved in due to heavy snowfall and damaged the structure of your home, this would likely be considered a covered peril. However, if you’ve had known issues with your roof for years and have failed to maintain it properly, your insurance company could argue that this was not a sudden or accidental event and therefore is not covered under your policy.
That being said, it’s always important to carefully review your specific insurance policy and talk to your agent or provider about any questions or concerns you may have. Additionally, it’s crucial to report any potential damage or issues with your roof as soon as possible in order to avoid any potential coverage disputes down the line.
What About Roof Leak Water Damage?
What if you’re in a situation where, due to a leak somewhere in your roof, water damage has occurred inside your home? Once again, this almost always comes back to the concept of a covered peril.
If some kind of covered peril led to the leak in question, then any resulting water damage should also be covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy. However, if the leak is determined to be a result of negligence or lack of maintenance on your part, the water damage may not fall under coverage.
It’s important to carefully document and report any instances of roof leaks and resulting water damage in order to ensure proper coverage.
Exclusions
When obtaining your homeowners insurance policy, one important area you hopefully paid some attention to was the exclusions section. This is where your policy will outline what specifically is not covered under your policy.
In regards to roof leaks, there may be certain factors that could potentially lead to a denial of coverage for leaks and related water damage. These may include:
- Age of the roof: If your roof is older and has reached its expected lifespan, any resulting damages from a leak may not be covered.
- Wear and tear: Gradual deterioration of your roof over time due to normal wear and tear may not be covered.
- Lack of maintenance: As mentioned earlier, if it’s determined that you have neglected proper maintenance on your roof, leading to a leak and subsequent water damage, this may not fall under your insurance policy.
- Intentional damage: If a leak has been intentionally caused, such as by someone purposefully damaging your roof, this would also not be covered.
- Other exclusions: Your insurance policy may have other specific exclusions for roof leaks and water damage, such as from natural disasters like floods or earthquakes.
It’s important to regularly maintain and inspect your roof to avoid any potential issues and ensure coverage under your insurance policy. This may include routine inspections, cleaning gutters and drains, and promptly addressing any necessary repairs.
As you can see, determining whether homeowners insurance will cover your roof leak mostly comes down to the cause of the leak and whether it’s one of the areas covered or excluded on your policy. At The Roof Doctor, we’re here to help with all your roof repair and related needs around SLC, Sandy, West Jordan, West Valley City and Tooele areas, including assistance with homeowners insurance. Contact us today for any repairs or maintenance needed to keep your roof in top shape and protect your home!
