There are certain things in life that we can’t avoid. Prime among them? Storms, disasters, and the general weather forecast. If a big storm is going to come through your town, there’s not much you can do about it.
What you do have power over is your level of preparation. When it comes to being a responsible homeowner, preparing for the worst-case scenario is one of the best moves you can make. Some of that preparation means repairs and safety upgrades to your home, to help control what you can control.
Other parts of preparation cover the areas that you can’t: and that’s where homeowners insurance comes in. Having a strong homeowner’s insurance policy means you’ll be protected in the event that something terrible does occur. But what does homeowner’s insurance protect you from? Does homeowners insurance cover roof leaks, for example?
Read on and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know.
Does Homeowner’s Insurance Cover Roof Leaks?
In short: it depends. It can be difficult to have to face the fact that there isn’t a straight answer to this question. But that is the unfortunate reality of the situation. In most cases, whether an insurance company will cover a leak will depend on the source or cause of the leak itself.
Why? Insurance companies don’t want to cover the results of poor maintenance and lack of proper upkeep to your home. Over time, the passage of time might impact the health of your home’s roof. Wear and tear are normal over long periods of time and must be dealt with to keep your home in proper shape.
If you begin to experience a leak or multiple leaks due to a lack of proper maintenance, it’s not very likely that your insurance company will help you out. It’s your own responsibility to keep your home in proper condition so that such problems do not occur.
Now, what if the event that caused the leak was out of your control? Then you might have a case to make. If a strong storm, fallen tree, or some other similar type of external force causes a leak in your roof, you’re likely covered.
In these cases, even the most responsible of homeowners might not be able to prevent such an event from happening. That’s what makes the difference to your insurance company.
This is generalized advice, of course, and the specifics can vary. This depends on what insurance company you work with and the particular policy you’ve taken out. Make sure to look over the fine print of your policy. It’s important to know where your insurance company stands on such matters.
How Your Home Insurance Company Can Help
If you’ve sprung a leak in your roof as a result of outside forces, your insurance company can most likely help. You can send a claim alongside evidence of your leak to your company. They’ll send someone to inspect your property, and following inspection and processing, you can receive funds to help fix up your roof.
Your insurance company may be able to connect you with contractors that they have a special relationship with. These contractors can help to fix your home with your insurance company footing the bill.
Preventative Measures For Roof Leaks
It’s worth stating again that in many cases, an insurance company may not cover the repair costs for roof leaks in your home. For this reason, it is vital that you take the time and put in the work to ensure that your roof is in good health.
That means you need to be checking your roof on a semi-regular basis for leaks or signs of trouble. You can take certain steps as a homeowner, such as applying foam roofing, to help limit or prevent the risk of leaks. These preventive measures can help leaks from ever being something you have to deal with.
Spotting Leaks Early
If there is a leak in your home, spotting it early can greatly help to limit the amount of damage it causes to your home. The earlier a leak is spotted, the less money you will need to spend on repairs.
How do you find a roof leak, though? Sometimes water moves through your roof at an angle or slope, meaning the wet spot on your carpet may not actually be directly below the leak in your roof.
The best way to find the real location of a leak is to get on your roof and search for a sign. Missing shingles cracked pipes, and other signs of damage can often lead you to the source of many leaks. If you can’t find anything on your roof, consider looking inside your attic instead.
Seen from below, you may be able to find signs of wet or damp wood. Mold and moisture in your attic are give away signs that there may be a leak or something seriously wrong with your roofing.
If you spot a leak early enough, you may be able to fix the problem cheaply and on your own. Sometimes all you need to do is replace a shingle or reseal a certain point of entry. But if you allow a leak to build and damage other parts of your home, the costs of repair can become much higher.
Acting As A Responsible Homeowner
Being a homeowner comes with a fair share of responsibility. Part of that responsibility means knowing the answer to questions like ‘does homeowners insurance cover roof leaks?.
The above information should help you make the right decision. Especially, when it comes to the safety of your home and your roofing. Have more questions? Reach out to us anytime for assistance.