Whether you have an asphalt shingle or metal roofing system, it needs to be insured so that you won’t have to worry about shouldering the repair and replacement costs yourself. But sometimes, your claim may get denied when your roof suddenly suffers damage. This isn’t what you would expect from your insurance provider, especially after diligently paying your premiums for years. But while this can even be frustrating, it won’t get you anywhere. Instead, take a step back and read the terms and conditions of your policy.
Understanding Your Insurance Policy
Getting denied your roof claim may likely have something to do with the deductible and other specifics of your insurance policy. For instance, your insurance may only cover certain types of causes or the damage might have exceeded the limits on specific types of coverage. The insurance provider may also decide that you don’t have enough proof showing how much the repairs can cost and/or you might have unknowingly failed to keep accurate records about your roof’s renovation history.
There are many other reasons why your insurance provider may deny your shingle or metal roofing claim. However, this can be reconsidered if you work with a knowledgeable roofing contractor who can help get it approved. They’ll also guide you through the process especially if you’ve never filed a claim before!
Common Reasons Why Your Roof Claim Was Denied
With a trusted professional roofing company such as STARR Roofing & Gutters, we’ll make sure to help you navigate through the roof claiming process. If your claim was denied, it may be due to several reasons such as:
- Defects
Although manufacturers typically implement steps to maintain quality control on their roofing materials, there are rare instances wherein defective products can still make their way onto the market. If defective materials were installed on your roof, they’ll likely degrade faster and lose their performance before the end of their life expectancy.
If your insurance adjuster determines that the cause of the roof damage is due to a manufacturing defect, they won’t be responsible for the repair and replacement costs. This means they won’t provide coverage for the repairs, and if it’s still under warranty, you’ll have to check if the manufacturer can provide a full replacement of the materials.
- Insufficient Coverage
When you file a residential roofing claim for damage that exceeds your coverage limit, you won’t receive a full denial. But you’ll still be limited by the policy limit, so it may not be enough to cover part of the repair and replacement costs. This can be influenced by several factors such as the amount you pay in premiums, your insurance policy, the conditions of your provider, and even where you live!
- Previous Damage
In most areas of the country, going 30 years without getting unexpected roof damage is highly unlikely. Your home will experience at least one severe storm that causes enough roofing damage to warrant a full replacement. While this can be covered under any standard type of home insurance, it may not cover damage that previously happened under a previous policy. This means the policy provides coverage only for damage that’s caused by the most recent weather event, so if your roof failed due to old and new damage, your claim may most likely get denied.
- Not Fully Meeting the Deductible
Before you file your residential roofing claim, you should know what’s covered under your insurance policy and how much will be deducted from the final amount. Depending on the policy you have, you might have two types of deductibles. One is for hurricane and/or windstorm damage, which typically covers most roofing issues, while the other covers everything else. You need to understand which costs are added to each other so that you won’t have to pay more than what’s necessary. This can also vary depending on which state you live in, so you may need to seek some legal advice.
- Not Enough Damage
Depending on your insurance policy, the adjust will need to check if enough damage has occurred on your roof to determine if a partial repair may or may not restore it to its original condition. But since the adjuster’s expertise is often limited to the training provided by their insurance company, they may deny your claim due to their assumption that the damage is only partial and not significant.
Of course, due to the lack of better knowledge of your roofing system, whether or not partial damage is determined is often arbitrary. This means the denied claim can still be overturned by getting a more detailed report from a trained professional in roof inspections!
- Your Roof’s Age
Most roofing claims are denied if they’re around 15 to 20 years old or more. Normally, most insurance providers won’t cover roofs past their prime, but if the damage was caused by strong winds or hail, they might still provide coverage depending on the policy. To make sure your claim is still valid despite your roof’s age, you can hire a licensed roofer to inspect your roof for verification.
What You Need to Do
- Gather more evidence. If your insurance provider says that your roof damage was due to negligence or a pre-existing deficiency, collect evidence to support your claim. You may also need to hand over the evidence to your trusted attorney if you need legal action.
- Get in touch with your attorney. You’ll need to contact an insurance claims attorney with legal experience to help you through your denied claim. While they also tend to be less expensive than a public claims adjuster, they’re still capable of reviewing your policy, denial letter, and roofing claim details. After all, they’re your best chance at winning against a denial as they can provide advice and additional information that can help in your fight to approve your claim.
For quality roof inspections following a storm, turn to STARR Roofing & Gutters. We have experience in working with insurance companies and adjusters, and can help coordinate your insurance claim to make sure you receive the full compensation to which you are entitled. This includes complete documentation of storm damage and repair estimates for Texas insurance purposes. Call us at (512) 736-6539, or fill out our online contact form.