Spring has sprung, so we’re in the rainy season—after all, April showers bring May flowers!
While the weather outside might be nice when it’s not pouring out and there’s no natural disaster, we’re all pretty much stuck inside. It’s the perfect time to make sure your roof hasn’t sprung a leak. But are you prepared to handle the situation if it has?
More than likely, you have some kind of roof damage insurance. Whether you know what it involves or not might be another story.
The good news is, all the answers you need are right here!
Four Times to File Roof Damage Insurance Claims
Any decent homeowners insurance covers certain roof damages, so you don’t need to go buying anything else for your roof in particular. However, there are limits to this coverage. Many kinds of roof leaks are covered by homeowners insurance, but your insurance company may not cover the damage, depending on the cause.
So, what’s covered? Here are four realistic times to file.
1. A Branch Through the Roof
Hurricane and tornado season is here, and so are high-wind thunderstorms. Hopefully, you took measures to protect your house from branches, trees, and other hazards, but not everyone has or can afford to. Plus, it’s not always possible to prepare for when high winds strike—branches and even whole trees may fly in from nowhere near your house! Thankfully, insurance pays for these repairs.
2. Holes From a Hailstorm
Spring storms bring surprises, including hail. Hailstones are sometimes as big as baseballs and they come down hard. There’s not much you can do to avoid hail, but if it bursts through the roof, make sure to contact your home insurance provider.
3. Snow Overload and Melty Messes
Spring’s arrival doesn’t mean snow and ice are going anywhere! In the northern states and midwest, snow is still falling. No matter the month, roofs are in danger of buckling under pounds of snow. When the snow melts, big leaks can occur—but insurance will help bail you out.
4. Fourth of July Fails and Other Fire Damage
Celebrating the country each summer comes with some risks, notably including fire damage. On a dry day, the neighbor’s fireworks can light up your roof in all the wrong ways. The rest of the year, risks include hazards such as lightning and wildfires. Your insurance helps replace your roof in these cases.
Want More Roof Coverage?
While homeowners insurance covers the above situations and more, there are, of course, exclusions to that coverage. If you want to fill in some of the gaps, you might consider buying a roof warranty when your roofing company puts on a new roof.
Roof Maintenance Tips and More
Now that you’ve read about when you should file roof damage insurance claims, why not read up on how you can keep your roof in tip-top shape and do your best to prevent damage?
We’ve got information on roof maintenance and plenty of other homeowner tips for you to improve your skills with, so hop on over to our blog and read away!
