If you’ve sustained damage to your roof, will your Florida homeowners insurance policy cover it? Unfortunately, there’s no overarching answer here—it depends on the kind of damage and the stipulations of your policy.
In most cases, these policies only cover you if the damage or destruction to your roof was a result of an act of nature or a sudden accident. General wear and tear is not covered under a homeowners insurance policy, and neither are roofs that have exceeded their intended lifespan, because those issues are considered to be a part of the homeowner’s maintenance responsibilities.
Here’s an overview of what you should know about homeowners insurance and how it applies to roof damage in Florida.
What kind of roof coverage does your insurance offer?
In most cases, the roof of your home will see the most direct exposure to the sun, wind, rain and other elements. The elements aren’t the only things that can cause damage to the roof—a windstorm could cause trees or branches to crash into your roof. You might also be exposed to wildfires, or crazy, unforeseen accidents.
The dwelling coverage section of your insurance policy is what dictates your coverage in most of these circumstances. Any damage or destruction caused by nature or accidents will qualify you for either a partial or total replacement of your roof, covered by your insurance.
Keep in mind that, as with any type of insurance policy, you’ll be responsible for paying a deductible before your coverage applies. Depending on your location and level of risk for certain types of accidents, you might have higher deductibles for particular kinds of damage. For example, if you live in an area like Florida that sees a lot of hurricanes, you might have higher deductibles for damages resulting from wind or storms. You might also need to purchase a separate insurance policy specifically for windstorms in order to maximize your protection.
If your roof experiences dramatic damage due to an accident or act of nature, you’ll almost certainly get coverage. This includes major holes or a roof that gets fully torn off. However, if the damage is relatively minor, it’s unlikely you’ll get coverage, even if it was the result of an act of nature.
For example, if a storm hits some of the shingles on your roof but doesn’t tear them off, the insurance company might only classify it as cosmetic damage and decline to cover the repairs. If, after that storm, you develop leaks, the insurance company may also attempt to classify this as general wear and tear, a kind of damage or deterioration that will never be covered under your insurance policies. However, water damage caused to your home as a result of the leak likely will be covered—it’s just that the roof damage itself would most likely not be.
Interested in learning more about Florida homeowners insurance and roof damage? Contact a commercial and residential roofing contractor at Winter Springs Roofing & Repair. We’d be glad to answer any questions you have about our roofing services.