If you notice brown patches on your home’s ceiling or walls, it’s possible you have a leaky roof. Repairing a roof leak is often a costly affair, especially if it has caused substantial water damage to your roofing system. Fortunately, your homeowner’s insurance does cover a leaky roof depending on what caused the leak.
What A Leaky Roof Looks Like
A leaking roof is often associated with brownish stains on the ceiling. After the moisture has penetrated the decking, the water will begin to leak onto the attic insulation and down to the drywall, which results in brown staining on the ceiling and walls.
If you can spot a roof leak early, you can minimize damage to your home and belongings. However, the process is not always straightforward. Since most residential roofs are sloped, water can penetrate your roof in one area and only trickle down in another.
Always schedule professional roofing inspections to accurately determine the source of the leak. Experienced roofers have a trained eye to identify probable points of entry, such as raised nails, misaligned shingles, cracks near vent pipes, misplaced gutters, or a crack in the base of the chimney.
Does Home Insurance Cover A Leaky Roof?
Your homeowner’s insurance policy often covers roof leaks and other weather damages to your roof, provided the cause of the damage is not excluded by your policy. However, leaks occur due to a lack of maintenance, neglect, or natural wear and tear are not covered.
Before making any claim for roof damage, consult your insurance agent to learn what your policy covers and what it doesn’t. Also, note you will need to pay your policy’s deductible before your insurance kicks in to cover the difference.
Most homeowners’ insurance policies typically cover “open perils” such as:
- Fire and smoke (including wildfires)
- Damage from riots
- Volcanic eruptions
- Explosions
- Falling objects
- Lightning
- Hail and windstorms
- Theft, vandalism,
- Excess weight due to ice, snow, or sleet
As a general rule of thumb, open perils are damages resulting from sudden and accidental occurrences, unless the incident is specifically excluded in your insurance policy. Your insurance company will generally deny any claims filed for damages caused by gradual wear and tear or lack of maintenance.
Some perils, such as earthquakes, landslides, mudslides, and floods, are typically excluded from a typical home insurance policy. You may need to purchase a separate policy to cover such perils, especially if they are prevalent in your area.
Choose Adam Vaillancourt Roofing & Gutters for Leaky Roof Repairs
Some insurance providers offer policyholders easy access to a network of qualified and approved roofing contractors. Working with a reputable local roofer could save you money when your roof suffers storm damage which results in leaks. At Adam Vaillancourt Roofing & Gutters, we have decades of experience repairing roof leaks through insurance claims in the Southern New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts areas. Contact us today to learn more about insurance and roof leaks or to schedule a free roofing inspection!
