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Standard home insurance policies provide coverage for storm damage. However, since policies vary from one insurance company to another, some storm damage claims are denied.
A trusted roofing and snow removal company shares four of the most common reasons why storm damage claims don’t get approved.
1. Wear and Tear
All roofing materials deteriorate over time, so home insurance policies typically don’t cover roof damage resulting from wear and tear. If you have an old roof and it was damaged by the storm, your claim might not get approved. Generally, it’s the homeowner’s responsibility to replace their roof when it’s time. If they delayed roof replacement and it resulted in storm damage, your insurance might not cover your roofing expenses.
2. Previous Damage can Cause Claim Denial
Home insurance policies don’t cover damage that happened under a previous policy. So if your roof suffered new damage on top of the older damage, your insurance might not pay for repairs. This is because the new damage may have been a result of the older damage.
3. Partial Damage Denial
If you’re filing a claim for a full roof replacement, the insurance adjuster must be able to determine that the roof damage cannot be resolved by a partial repair. This is tricky because the criteria for determining partial damage depends on your insurance company, particularly the insurance adjuster who will inspect your roof. However, the good thing is that the determination of partial damage is arbitrary in nature, so it’s still possible for the denial to be overturned. Don’t hesitate to ask your roofing and snow dam removal company or hire an attorney for help.
4. Manufacturer Defect Damage
If the damage was due to a manufacturer defect, your insurance provider is not responsible to cover the replacement costs. Call the manufacturer and ask about your roof’s warranty. Major manufacturers usually have a standard limited warranty to cover such issues in their products.
Whether you’re installing a new roof or repairing an old one, always work with a GAF roofer like Deschutes Roofing. With our expertise, we guarantee quality workmanship. To schedule a consultation, fill out our contact form or call us at (541) 241-5720 (Bend), (503) 967-9590 (Portland), (541) 246-6860 (Eugene), (503) 468-7663 (Lake Oswego) or (503) 928-8750 (Beaverton).