The risks covered by an insurance policy are those phenomena or actions with negative consequences through which the insurance policy is activated and for which you can claim to be compensated by your insurance company.
The risks covered by the policy are expressly mentioned in the insurance contract you signed and differ from insurance to insurance. If you are not sure about what is covered by your policy, you should contact your insurer.
The roof is a very important part of a building that can prevent other home insurance claims, therefore Gaithersburg roof repair is typically covered by home insurance, but only if certain conditions are met. You can expect that insurance companies are quite restrictive in this regard. Generally, home insurance policies usually cover of damage caused by vandalism, fire and disasters such as hurricanes and tornadoes. However, whether the companies will fully compensate you is determined by different factors.
Roof repairs for an old roof may not be covered
Many insurers will not write or renew policies for roofs that are over 20 years old. If an old roof needs repairs but it didn’t pass an inspection, repairs will not be covered; the owner will be reimbursed only for what the old roof is worth after more than 20 years. This happens because most roofs are made from asphalt, and this material has warranties limited to 15-20 years. Once a roof exceeds its life expectancy, chances are that it has hidden vulnerabilities (such as moisture within the system), which would make the repairs inefficient. Repairs in a roof that is less than 10 year old will likely be covered.
If the insurance company`s appetite for risk is exceeded by the demand of insurance, there will be more underwriting criteria. This happens, for example, in regions with frequent hail storms.
Roof repairs will not be covered if you didn’t performed regular inspections and maintenance
Most insurers will refuse to pay for problems that may appear because of owners` negligence. Maintenance operations according to the type of roof and materials are mandatory and are in the owner`s charge. They must be performed regularly, according to the indications of the manufacturers and installers. Inspections and maintenance have the potential to prevent bigger damage and to identify vulnerabilities in a roof before they turn into expensive problems. For example, if your roof starts leaking but you did nothing in the past years to prevent this (verifying the condition of the cover materials and accessories, identifying and fixing minor water infiltrations to prevent subsequent damage etc.), your insurer will likely refuse to pay.
If you are unsure about the insurance coverage limitations on your roof, you should read your existing policy or talk to a representative of your insurance company. It is important to know about the coverage exclusions of different types of policies, so you can choose one that suits your needs. Also, make sure to hire Gaithersburg roof repair specialists for periodic roof inspections and get written reports that you can use to prove that there was no pre-existing damage to your roof.
