Insurers only pay for certain types of roof damage.
Roof work is one of the most expensive types of repairs you may have to perform on your home, and unfortunately it can also be one of the most problematic to claim with your homeowner's insurance provider. Your policy contains several exclusions, restrictions and other policy language that limits your insurer's liability regarding roof repairs and replacements.
Maintenance Exclusion
Roofs get old and need repairs and replacement even if nothing out of the ordinary occurs. When roofs break down due to age and normal wear, the expense to repair or replace them can be large. For this reason, standard homeowner's insurance excludes routine maintenance on roofs. If you file a claim for roof damage, an adjuster will inspect your roof to verify that the damage is not simply routine maintenance. If there is no obvious cause of loss, your insurer may deny your claim.
Types of Materials
Your homeowner's insurance may only provide coverage for roofs made of certain materials. If your roof is made of cedar shake, for example, and your policy excludes this material, then your claim will be denied even if your roof is damaged by a covered cause of loss. If your roof is made from a rare or hard to find material, you may encounter problems when you file a claim. Check with your agent to make sure your policy protects the roof you have.
Partial Authorization
Insurers are not bound to pay for things unrelated to the loss. If a fire destroys half your roof and a contractor quotes you a dollar amount that represents a full roof replacement, your insurer may not pay the entire amount. This may seem unfair, but it is legal. The insurer only owes for the half of the roof that was destroyed. If you choose to replace the undamaged half, you must do so with your own money.
Betterment
In some states, insurers are permitted to charge betterment. This applies when the material the insurer uses to replace damaged property is newer or better than the original property. If your roof is 15 years old, but your insurer uses new shingles or other materials to repair some damage, the repaired portion is "better" than the original by 15 years. You might have to pay part of the replacement cost, since your insurer is only liable for the value of the 15-year-old roof. You might avoid this problem if you have a replacement cost endorsement on your policy.
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