In the same way that it’s important to purchase life, health, and auto insurance, everyone should have home insurance. Homeowners insurance is a policy that you purchase that’s designed to help pay for repairs when parts of your home get damaged. This includes every aspect of your home, including your roof. 

However, while homeowners insurance will sometimes pay for a new roof in Texas, this isn’t always the case. It largely depends on why you need a new roof, the terms of your policy, and whether or not it’s still covered under warranty. If you want to get to the bottom of these questions and find out if insurance can pay for a new roof, keep reading! 

Can Insurance Pay For a New Roof? 

If you have recently experienced roof damage and need a new roof, there’s a good chance that your homeowners’ insurance will help pay for the cost of the new roof. It all depends on why you need a new roof, the terms of your policy, and several other factors. If your roof is less than 10 years old, there’s also a chance that it’s still under warranty, which means you may qualify for a free or discounted roof replacement. 

Actual Cash Value Replacement 

While your insurance might help pay for a new roof, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will cover all the costs. How much financial assistance you receive largely depends on the type of coverage you have. If, for example, you have actual cash value coverage, this means that your insurance company will only pay the cost of what your roof was worth when it experienced damage. Therefore, if your roof is 20 to 30 years old, your insurance payout will be much less than if it’s a relatively new roof. 

Replacement Cost Coverage

With replacement cost coverage, on the other hand, your insurance company will pay you whatever the current value of a new roof is. These policies typically cost more per month, but the payout is much higher because the age of your roof doesn’t play a factor. 

When Does Insurance Pay For a New Roof? 

As we said before, insurance will often pay for a new roof, but not always. Whether or not it does depends on why you’re replacing your roof and the nature of the damage that forced you to need a replacement. If you want a new roof simply because yours is old and is showing signs of wear and tear, insurance isn’t going to cover it. 

If, however, you need a new roof because of external damage that was outside of your control, there’s a good chance that insurance will pay for your new roof. Here are a few examples. 

• Roof damage as a result of hail. 

• Roof damage as a result of high winds. 

• Roof damage as a result of vandalism or someone breaking into your home through your roof. 

• Roof damage as a result of lightning or other types of harsh weather. 

• Roof damage as a result of excessive snow, rain, or falling debris. 

If you need a new roof because of these reasons, it’s highly likely that insurance will cover all or part of the cost. 

When Won’t Insurance Pay For a New Roof? 

While insurance will often help cover the cost of a new roof, this isn’t a guarantee. There are many instances where you’ll be completely on your own when it comes to paying for a new roof. Here are some of those instances. 

• Your roof was damaged because of something you did. 

• Your roof got damaged because of natural wear and tear. 

• Your roof was damaged because you neglected to maintain it. 

• An animal ate a hole through your roof. 

• Your roof was damaged because of mold or mildew. 

In regards to animal, mold, and mildew damage, there’s a chance that insurance will pay for a replacement. It all depends on the terms of your policy and who your provider is. 

What About Roof Repairs or a Partial Replacement? 

The same rules that apply to whether or not your insurance company will pay for a new roof also apply to whether or not they will pay for repairs or a partial replacement. It all depends on the terms of your policy, who your provider is, and why you need repairs or a partial replacement. 

How to Get Insurance to Pay For a New Roof 

Even if homeowners insurance will completely or partially pay for your new roof, it will largely be up to you to get the process rolling. You’ll be hard-pressed to find an insurance company that is willing to come to your home, check for roof issues, and offer to pay for the damages. Instead, here’s how to get insurance to pay for a new roof. 

1. Contact your insurance company and submit a claim to them regarding your roof damage. 

2. Take pictures and videos of your roof damage so that you have proof showing the extent of the damage. 

3. Locate the deed or title of your home so that you have proof of how old the roof is. 

4. The insurance company will likely send someone to your home or business to check the damage. 

5. Once you have successfully filed a claim, you’ll need to hire a roofing contractor and have them inspect your roof. 

6. Have your contractor administer temporary, emergency repairs to keep the damage from spreading and to protect the rest of your home. 

7. Even if insurance pays for a new roof, you’ll likely have a deductible that you’ll need to pay out-of-pocket. 

Contact us at KangaRoof if you need temporary roofing repairs following unexpected damage. When your insurance company does its part, we’ll come out and perform permanent repairs, a partial replacement, or a total roof replacement. 

Who to Contact When You Need a New Roof in Texas

If you want to hire a roofing company that will give you the best new roof you could hope for, contact us at KangaRoof. In addition to high-quality roof repairs and replacements, we can also assist you with the insurance process. We’ll do everything we can to make sure that your insurance company pays for your new roof and makes the process as straightforward as possible.