Most homeowner insurance policies provide coverage for roof damage caused by unpreventable reasons such as vandalism or fire. Disastrous ‘acts of God’, like hurricanes and tornadoes are also usually covered and, while wind, rain and hail are most likely to be covered by your home insurance policy, there are many factors that determine if the damage will, in fact, be covered, and if so, how much you will be reimbursed. The same basics that apply to insurance on your roof may apply to your exterior property as well.

The easiest way to know what’s covered or not is to contact your insurance provider. Coverage will often depend on the age of your roof, the area you live in, and many other factors, so it’s always a good idea to get to know the specifics of your policy. Replacing a roof or any other part of your property can be a time-consuming and expensive process, which is why it’s important to take certain steps to prevent damage from occurring.

Get your roof inspected by a trained professional who can identify areas that may need immediate repair. Replace broken and worn tiles, and remove any dead trees from around your property that could potentially fall onto your home.

To ease the experience of the claims process and to help you receive proper settlement in the case of loss, take a set of before photos of your roof and exterior property and update the photos whenever you have maintenance or repairs done. After damage occurs, take another set of photos. Document and record the damage as well as any estimates, invoices and bills you receive. Having all of this information on file will help ensure a smooth and hassle-free claims process.

Article by Freddy Robertson, LCP Roofing Sales Manager.

Image: Wikimedia Commons