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How To Get Insurance To Pay For Your Roof Replacement

Your roof plays an important role in keeping your house (and its contents) weathertight, so it can be unsettling to discover a leak. In this guide, we explore everything you need to know to spot a roof leak, as well as how to get insurance to pay for roof replacement in the event of a leak.

What causes a leaking roof?

Generally speaking, leaking roofs are caused by three main things:

Storm damage
Poor construction
Age
Improper roof maintenance

Below we dive into each of these in a bit more detail.

1. Storm damage

This is probably the number one cause people think of when they think of a roof leak, however, it’s not the most common! That said, high winds, large hail or a fallen tree can all cause serious damage to your roof—particularly if tiles or metal sheets are lifted—and allow water to seep in.

2. Poor construction

Unfortunately, not all roofing contractors have the same high standards that we do. If the waterproofing isn’t laid correctly, or your flashings aren’t installed properly, water can seep into the roof cavity and leak into the ceiling. It’s essential that features such as skylights, vent pipes, exhausts and chimneys are installed with watertight flashing and sealants to keep water away from the join with the roof.

It’s essential to choose an experienced, qualified roofing professional to ensure the job is done right the first time. This is particularly true if you’re installing a flat roof, which requires extra care to ensure it’s fully watertight given the low pitch can make water prone to pooling on the roof.

3. Age

Your roof cops a hammering from the elements day in and day out. While roofs typically last anywhere from 30 to 100 years depending on the roofing material, sun exposure, high winds, heavy snow or rainfall and salt air can all weaken the roof over time. Sometimes the damage will be obvious (such as rusty holes in tin roofing, at the extreme end) but more often than not it’s a good idea to get a roofing professional in to take a look.

4. Poor roof maintenance

It’s important to inspect your roof for signs of damage once every year or two, or after major weather events, and keep on top of basic maintenance tasks like refreshing sealants, or securing lifted flashings. One of the most common causes of leaking roofs is poorly maintained gutters. If your gutters are filled with dirt or debris, they can’t drain properly and the water is likely to seep into the roof. We recommend installing gutter guards and cleaning your gutters twice a year.

How to tell if there’s a leak in the roof

There are two tell-tale signs you have a leak in the roof:

There’s moisture in places you don’t expect. Depending on the size and location of the leak, you might notice water dripping from the ceiling after it’s rained, or you might find damp patches on the ceiling or walls. If there’s a very low level of moisture, it can be a good idea to look for mould or peeling paint, which can also indicate a roof leak.
There’s structural damage to the roof. Chances are if you have some missing roof tiles, or a corrugated iron sheet has lifted, you’ll have a roof leak—you just won’t see any water until it rains next. Warped roof tiles or shingles are another good indicator that water is getting into the roof, even if the tiles are still in place.

How to check for leaks in roof

When it comes to how to check for leaks in your roof, it depends on whether you’ve seen any water leaking or not. If you have, try and follow the water back to the source. For example, if you have a damp patch on the ceiling in the kitchen, and your roof cavity is accessible, climb in and take a look to see which patch of the roof the leak is coming from.

However, if you can’t see any water, it can be a little trickier. In this case, conduct a visual inspection of the roof, focusing on the gutters, flashings and joins around places like skylights, to see if there are any signs of damage that might indicate water is able to get in. And if you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, always call a professional to come and check the roof for you.

How much does it cost to repair a leaking roof?

How much it costs to repair a leaking roof will depend on a few main things:

The location of the leak. Leaks that are harder to get to will typically take longer to fix, increasing the labour costs involved in the repair.
The extent of the damage. The longer the leak has been there, and the larger the hole is, the more likely it is that the leak will have caused significant damage to materials that will need to be replaced. If you live in a dry location where it doesn’t rain much, this is less likely. But it still pays to fix leaks as soon as you notice them. Remember to factor in the cost of repairing/repainting any ceilings or internal walls that have been water-damaged.
The type of roofing material that needs replacing. For instance, asphalt or clay shingles are much less expensive to replace than slate or zinc tiles. Similarly, the type and amount of flashing and waterproofing that you choose will also influence the cost of the repair.

For a minor roof repair, you’ll typically be looking at a cost of between $500 and $2000 depending on the roofing material and the extent of damage. However, more significant repairs are likely to cost substantially more than that, so it’s always a good idea to fix roof leaks early.

How to get insurance to pay for roof replacement – what’s typically covered?

How to get insurance to pay for roof replacement isn’t always a straightforward question. Whether the repairs you need to fix your roof leak will be covered by your home insurance depends on a few factors:

The specifics of your home insurance policy. Always make sure to read the fine print and ask your insurer as many questions as you need before signing up for the policy. Remember that year-on-year your policy will change too—what was covered ten years ago, might not still be covered.
Whether the cause of the roof leak is considered preventable or not. This one’s important and often catches homeowners by surprise. Generally speaking, if the roof leak has been caused by poor maintenance and could have otherwise been prevented, your insurance company is less likely to cover the roof replacement costs. On the other hand, if a major storm event has caused significant damage to your roof, your policy is more likely to cover the cost of the repair. However, it’s important to remember that the insurance company will still need to determine whether the storm was the primary cause of the damage. Even if a storm affected the roof and ultimately caused the leak, the insurance company will still factor in how well the roof has been maintained when determining the claim value. Similarly, it’s important to remember that most insurance companies will only cover the damage caused by the storm—not provide a wholesale roof replacement.
The age of the roof. Insurance companies are more likely to cover claims on roofs under 20 years old. The older the roof, the less likely the insurance company will be to cover the cost of repairing the leak, given the exposure to the elements that occur over time.
The quality of the installation. Typically, insurance companies won’t cover the cost of the repair if the leak has been caused by faulty installation. Always choose a reputable roofing contractor and remember that what can seem like a steep price at the time, is a worthy investment over time.

Note that it’s always best to speak with your home insurance provider to understand the specifics of your policy—this is general advice only.

How to get insurance to pay for roof replacement – what’s involved?

It can be tricky navigating the world of insurance. Here’s a brief overview of the process you usually have to go through to make a claim for a roof repair:

Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to lodge a claim against your policy. Insurance companies typically request information about the type of damage, when it occurred and how it was caused. Often, they’ll request visual evidence too. The more information you can provide, the faster the claim will generally be processed.
The insurance company will send someone to inspect the damage. They’ll confirm the damage, inform you of what needs to be repaired, and explain what they will and won’t cover as part of the claim.
The insurance company will arrange a qualified repairer to fix the damage. It’s often a good idea to use the insurance company’s supplier, as they can guarantee the work under a warranty. However, many insurance companies also let you choose your own supplier.

Sources