How Does Your Roof Affect Your Homeowner’s Insurance
Did you know that your homeowner’s insurance (HOI) and your roof have something in common? They both protect your home. As homeowners look to cut costs, their homeowner’s insurance depends on the condition, installation, and materials of their roof. Insurers often scrutinize the roof of their house when determining the handling of damage claims and initial coverage.
The cost of maintaining or replacing your roof in Syracuse is not covered by HOI. Because of this your first temptation may be to go with the cheapest bid from roof contractors but you should be aware that a poorly installed roof can make a home uninsurable or could result in a post-damage inspection that could reveal claims-voiding defects in workmanship.
It’s not unreasonable, from the HOI provider’s point of view, to be cautious. Poor work by roofing contractors is shockingly common. Often in residential roofing, improper installation and repairs are the rule rather than the exception. A good roof is required to ensure against damage from mother nature. If you have a faulty roof even a little rain can suddenly cause a lot of damage. When moisture is allowed into your home mold and rot can result from it. Not all insurance will cover that sort of damage.
What About Gutters & Downspouts
Gutters are usually the part of your home that remains “out of sight, out of mind,” however, your home’s installed rain gutters and eavestroughs are a critical component in the overall integrity and health of your house. If you don’t have gutters installed on your home, or if your gutters are in poor condition, you are not only looking at a host of expensive home repairs and problems, but increased costs of homeowners insurance as well.
It is not just poor installation that can cause problems but you can have good installation but with the wrong materials that can put your homeowner’s insurance at risk. Some policies are specific as to the types of roof they will cover. Most insurers won’t sell you a policy that doesn’t cover the roof you currently have but you are always better off if you read the fine print. There could be terms that dictate that certain materials cannot be used. They could also exclude installing a roof over an original roof. There are some insurers that will cease coverage when a roof reaches a certain age which is usually around 20 years. If an older roof needs to be replaced because of damage, the policy may only pay out the depreciated “actual cash value” or AVC and not the full replacement cost.
It is a good idea to keep photos on file so you can show before photos of your roof if necessary since insurance companies won’t cover pre-existing damage. If you have damage later the photos you take can prevent headaches in your claim process.
