4 Reasons Your Roof Damage Insurance Claim Was Denied

Are you feeling anxious after submitting a claim for roof damage that was denied by your insurance company? Are you confused about why your claim was denied and hoping to avoid more problems when you resubmit?

At RoofSmart, we have negotiated with insurance companies to help our customers get the coverage they deserve and have gotten an increase in coverage during our last 100 negotiations.

During this process, we have seen claims get denied many times and have helped customers resubmit and get coverage.

In this article, you’ll learn about 4 common reasons why your insurance claim was denied and the steps you can take after your claim is denied. By the end, you’ll understand what went wrong with your claim and how you can avoid the same problems if you choose to resubmit the claim.

Here are 4 reasons why your insurance claim might’ve been denied:

1.) The damage to your roof is not covered in your insurance policy

Insurance policies offer coverage for sudden events that are out of your control. This typically includes things like storm damage, fire damage, or damage from something hitting your house (like a tree or a car).

However, if you file a claim to cover a roof replacement simply because your roof is old or because it was damaged due to negligence, then you will not get coverage. Your insurance company expects you to maintain your roof to the best of your ability and replace it when it wears out.

Before you file a claim for damage to your roof, be sure to review your insurance policy to be sure you’re able to get coverage.

If you are having trouble understanding your policy (which is very common because insurance policies are very confusing), reach out to your insurance company and have the claims department explain it to you. Be sure to get everything they say in writing, just in case.

2.) Your insurance policy has coverage exclusions for your roof type

Sometimes, even if your roof is damaged from an event covered under your policy, it still isn’t covered because your insurance policy has specific exclusions.

For example, a lot of insurance companies have updated their policies for metal roofs to exclude coverage for denting or marring. So, even if a branch hit your metal roof during a wind storm and dented it, you wouldn’t get coverage to fix it.

Even though the roof is damaged, it is not enough damage to warrant a repair. The roof might look bad, but it still functions properly so it won’t be covered by insurance. In a case like this, there would need to be a hole punched through the metal roof to get coverage.

3.) The damage to your roof costs less to repair than your deductible

If your deductible is high enough, the entire cost of the repair might fall within that range, meaning that your insurance company doesn’t need to pay for anything.

This will vary depending on how much your deductible is and how much damage there is to the roof. For example, if you have a $500 deductible, then you have a higher chance of getting insurance coverage because you’re not paying much out of pocket.

However, if you have a $3,000 to $5,000 deductible, then it is very likely that the cost of repairing minor damage to your roof will fall within that window. So, your insurance company would end up denying your claim because they don’t think that they’ll need to pay for it.

4.) You took too long to notify your insurance company about damage to your roof

It is crucial that you notify your insurance company as soon as possible when you notice damage to your roof.

You should also take precautions to prevent the damage from getting worse while your claim is investigated and you wait to get on a roofing contractor’s schedule. At the very least you should put out a bucket to catch water. If you or a roofing contractor can cover holes in the roof with a tarp, that’s even better.

Otherwise, if your roof is leaking for so long that the wood in your attic begins to rot and grow mold, then the insurance company won’t cover that. They expect you to notice issues with your roof and report them right away.

If you report your roof damage after this happens, you most likely won’t get coverage (unless you can prove that you really didn’t know about the leak).

Your insurance company will only cover damage that happened during a storm (or whatever event applies to your roof damage). The rest of the damage will be on you.

What should I do if my insurance claim for roof damage gets denied?

If your claim gets denied and you believe that you deserve coverage for the damage to your roof, you can keep negotiating with your insurance company.

But first, you should hire a roofing contractor to assess the damage to your roof and compare their findings to the coverage estimate given by the adjuster who inspected your roof damage.

If your roofing contractor claims that damage is more extensive than the adjuster said, submit the new evidence to your insurance company. This is where it is especially convenient to hire a roofer who is experienced in working with insurance companies because they can help you with the negotiation process at no extra cost.

You can also hire a public adjuster to help you ensure that specific repair costs are accurate on your claim and push for the amount of coverage that you need.

It can be difficult to find a roofing contractor who can help you with negotiations. So, most people who need extra help will get an estimate from a roofing contractor and then hire a public adjuster to negotiate with their insurance company.

How can I avoid issues when I resubmit my insurance claim for roof damage?

Insurance policies can be tricky to understand and follow, which sometimes results in your claim getting denied. Before you submit your claim, check your policy to make sure that the damage is covered and that it doesn’t fall under any special exclusions.

It’s always best to submit your claim as soon as you discover the damage. Beyond that, make sure that you’re aware of how much your deductible is in comparison to the repair amount.

Bringing in an experienced roofing contractor or an insurance adjuster to help you revise your claim and continue negotiations can make a big difference in the claims process.

Do you want to make sure that your claim is perfect before you resubmit it? Check out our article “What Mistakes Do Homeowners Make When Filing an Insurance Claim for Their Roof?” to learn which mistakes to avoid.