When it comes to homeowner’s insurance, every part of your house must be in good shape. Your walls, windows, doors, and even your roof must all meet certain standards. Insurance companies take risks in assuming the liability for home damage or loss. It is only normal for insurers to ascertain that the liability is not caused by the homeowner. It is usual for them to determine the chances of incurring that liability based on the conditions of the home.
It is easy to preserve certain areas of your home. The rooms, the walls, windows, and doors can all be maintained, renovated, or replaced without hassle. However, with roofs, it gets a little tricky. You can repair a roof but it may not meet sufficient home insurance standards. So, what exactly do they look for in your roof in determining your insurance?
Factors of Your Roof that Influence Your Homeowner’s Insurance
Age
No matter how well-maintained your roof is, age is always a factor as to whether or not an insurer will cover your roof replacement in full or not. The younger your roof, the more likely it becomes covered in full.
For most insurance companies, if the age of your roof is 10 years or less, the replacement, in case of damage, is in full. If your roof is more than 10 years, insurance companies will likely assume only partial liability or in some cases, exclude the roof entirely.
State
Is your roof leaking? Is it regularly maintained and clean? These are questions that insurance companies will often ask. Some insurance companies may cover leaky roofs, but the damage would be more difficult to prove.
Insurers tend to require homeowners to show that they prevented subsequent damage. If it is shown that homeowners failed to fix the damage properly, the roof may be completely precluded from the policy.
Materials Used
For insurance companies, the materials used are detrimental. If the materials cannot withstand the risk that the insurance policy will cover, it will most likely be excluded. The material also helps in determining the risks to be covered by the policy. One may claim that the roof was damaged due to hail, but it may be rejected because it was actually caused by some other phenomenon.
All of these are factors that insurance companies look for in your roof in determining the value of the insurance. It can even determine if the roof would be covered by the policy at all. In fact, they can also help determine how high or low your premium would be as well as the risks to be covered.
Ultimately, while insurance companies pay attention to the entire condition of the home, your roof plays a big component. So, always preserve and value your roof. It is, after all, your first line of defense against natural calamities.
TRIAD Inc. is the leading company for roofing repair in Missouri.