4 Steps to Get Homeowners Insurance to Pay for a New Roof

Homeowners insurance exists so that if disaster happens to strike, you know how to get insurance to pay for roof replacement and won’t have to pay out of pocket. But, homeowners insurance won’t automatically cover a new roof through insurance and, in certain circumstances, your insurance could be denied.

In fact, there are a number of steps you need to take before getting a new roof through insurance, so in case you want to make the process as easy as possible if it does ever happen to you, let’s take a look at the steps for how to get a new roof from insurance.

1. Read Through Your Insurance Policy

Believe it or not, not every single homeowner's insurance policy makes it easy for getting a roof replaced. Far from covering a roof replacement, some won’t even cover minor repairs to your roof.  For how to get insurance to pay for a new roof, attaining a policy that covers roof damage can require that your roof be of a certain age or in a certain condition in order for you to qualify.

If you sustain damage to your roof and are intent on getting insurance to pay for the roof, the first step of the process of getting a new roof through insurance is to read through your existing policy to see what the specifics are regarding roof replacement. Some policies will only cover a portion of the cost, so if you’re looking for how to get insurance to pay for the roof, you also might want to call up your company and double check with them to make sure.

2. Provide Proof

The second step for how to get a new roof from insurance is to prove the damage. Some companies will send out an inspector to assess the damage, and some will accept photos as proof.

Make sure to take extensive photos of the damage and get as close as you can. When going through the process of getting the roof replaced by insurance, you’ll want to get up on the roof to take close-ups, just be careful not to step in the damage because it may be structurally compromised and no longer support your weight. Replacing the roof through insurance isn’t worth getting injured over.

Many roof damage claims involve a falling tree. If this is the case with your process of how to get insurance to pay for a new roof, take pictures of the tree on the ground as well. If the storm that caused the damage was covered in local media, find links to the stories that you can use to substantiate your claim as well. Drones are also great for aerial pictures. The more proof you can provide for how to get a roof covered by insurance, the merrier.

3. Pay for an Official Inspection

If your insurance company won’t send out an inspector on their own, you’ll want to pay for one yourself. Getting a local roofing contractor to assess the damage and provide detailed estimates on all the materials required to fix it will go a long way towards how to get the roof covered by insurance.

In terms of how to get your roof replaced by insurance, some companies will not cover a full replacement unless your roof is completely destroyed. This can mean different things to different companies, but many have a policy that over 25% of your roof must be damaged in order to qualify for how to get a free roof from insurance.

4. Choose a Reputable Roofing Company

The last step towards how to get a new roof through insurance deserves a section on its own because it’s so important. Your insurance company will heavily scrutinize any roofing company that you use to provide them an estimate.

If the company has a bad reputation or isn’t experienced enough, they will deny the claim outright. That’s why it’s important to check the reputation and expertise of the company you choose to present an estimate for how to get insurance to cover roof replacement.

How to Avoid Roof Damage the Next Time Around

Some roof damage is unavoidable, specifically falling tree damage. But, for different types of damage like water leaks, wind damage, and deteriorated shingles, it’s absolutely preventable. Low-durability materials like asphalt shingles are a lot more likely to leave you wondering how to get insurance to replace a roof than something more durable like synthetic cedar, for example. 

Synthetic cedar shingles are one of the most durable roofing materials on the market and aside from looking just as beautiful as real cedar, they require almost no maintenance at all. For instance, synthetic cedar shingles from CeDUR Shake are resistant to all forms of damage, such as fire, wind, debris, water intrusion, rot, mold, UV rays, warping, buckling, and more. This means you are incredibly unlikely to have to contemplate how to get an insurance company to pay for a new roof wif you use synthetic cedar.

Made from incredibly durable high-quality plastics, these shingles have a life expectancy of over 50 years and look good enough to boost your curb appeal as well. When you stack up the maintenance requirements, durability, and longevity of every roofing material, it's clear that synthetic cedar shakes from CeDUR are the best choice to avoid the question of how to get insurance companies to pay for roofs.

If you want to avoid the hassle of going through all the meticulous steps it takes to get insurance to pay for a roof, choose a material that’s less likely to take damage in the first place. CeDUR shake shingles can literally last you a lifetime, and could save you a ton of trouble when it comes to dealing with tight-fisted home insurance companies and the question of can you claim roof replacement on insurance. 

Contact us today to learn more about CeDUR!