Should You File an Insurance Claim for Your Roof or Pay Yourself?
A claim makes sense for sudden, large damage. For a routine leak, the deductible usually decides it for you.
File a claim when sudden damage, such as wind, hail or a falling tree, costs well more than your deductible; pay yourself when the repair is small or the cause is wear and age. Most leak and flashing repairs plan at $350–$1,200, which is often less than a homeowner's deductible. Get a written estimate with photos before you call the insurer.
Insurers generally cover sudden, accidental damage and exclude gradual wear, so the cause of the damage matters as much as the cost. Your own policy's wording and deductible decide the details.
Claim or pay at a glance
| Situation | Usually covered? | Usually better to |
|---|---|---|
| Shingles lifted across several slopes by a windstorm | Often, as sudden damage | Get an estimate, then file if it exceeds the deductible |
| Tree or limb through the roof | Often | Stop the water, document, file |
| Leak at a cracked pipe boot on a 25-year-old roof | Rarely: wear and tear | Pay for the repair |
| Worn-out roof at the end of its life | Rarely | Budget for replacement |
| Small repair under the deductible | Covered or not, the deductible absorbs it | Pay for the repair |
How do you do the deductible math?
Compare the written repair estimate with your deductible. If the repair is below the deductible, a claim pays nothing and may still appear in your claim history. If the damage is several times the deductible and clearly sudden, a claim is what insurance is for. Emergency costs, such as an emergency tarp at $250–$600, are usually part of the claim when the loss is covered.
What causes do insurers look at?
Insurers ask why the water got in. Wind that lifts shingles, hail, a fallen tree and fire are typical sudden causes. Worn flashing, cracked boots, old underlayment and lack of maintenance are typical exclusions. A roofer's dated photos and a written description of what failed and why help the adjuster see the cause.
Can a claim affect my insurance?
Claims go into your claims history, and insurers consider that history when they renew or price a policy. That is a reason to avoid small claims, not a reason to skip a large, legitimate one. Ask your agent how your insurer treats claims before you file a borderline one.
When does paying yourself win?
- The repair costs less than or about the same as the deductible.
- The damage comes from age or wear rather than a sudden event.
- You want the repair done before the next rain without waiting for an adjuster.
When does a claim win?
- Sudden damage across a large area of the roof.
- A tree or limb through the roof, with interior damage.
- The estimate is several times the deductible.
What we recommend
Stop the water first and keep the receipts. Get a written estimate with dated photos, compare it with your deductible, and read the roof section of your policy. If the damage is sudden and large, file; if it is small or from age, repair it and keep the paperwork.
Related pages
- Roof insurance claims and storm damage
- Emergency roof repair
- Roof leak repair
- Free roof inspection
- Roof repair in Encino
- Roofing FAQ: insurance
Sources
Questions We
Hear About This
Usually not. Many leak repairs cost less than a typical deductible, so the claim pays little or nothing and still enters your claims history.
Policies generally exclude wear and age, so a roof that simply wore out is rarely covered. Sudden damage to an older roof may be covered, sometimes at a depreciated value; your policy wording decides.
Stop the water and get a written estimate with photos first, so you know whether the damage is above your deductible and what caused it. Then call the insurer if a claim makes sense.
It can. Insurers consider claims history at renewal. Ask your agent how your insurer treats claims before filing a borderline one.
When the underlying damage is covered, the reasonable cost of protecting the house from more damage, such as a tarp, is usually part of the claim. Keep the receipt and photos.
Get an Answer for
Your Roof
The guide covers the rules; a free inspection covers your roof. A roofer walks it and gives you a written quote with photos.
(818) 600-6707