Will my insurer pay for a whole new roof?

Only if repair is not practical or matching cannot be achieved. Many policies pay for the damaged slopes, with many New York disputes turning on matching.

What if my roof is 20 years old?

Age alone does not bar a claim, but some policies convert older roofs to actual cash value. Check your endorsements.

Does the interior water damage get paid?

Generally yes, as ensuing damage, when the roof opening was caused by a covered event.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Roof Leaks?

Yes when the leak was caused by a sudden covered event such as wind, hail, or a falling tree, and no when it resulted from age, wear, or deferred maintenance. Carriers deny roof claims by attributing the failure to deterioration. Winning the claim means documenting the storm date, the physical evidence of impact or uplift, and the interior water path. Photographs from before the loss, weather data for your ZIP code, and a roofing report that separates storm damage from age are what move the file. Call 516-410-0164 for a free claim review.

5 min to read

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Written by: Kevin Godfrey, President, Long Island Public Adjusters, LLCNYS Public Adjuster License #: PA-1156995

Key takeaways

•Sudden storm damage is covered; gradual deterioration is excluded.
•Match the loss to a specific storm date and local weather data.
•Interior damage from the leak is usually covered when the roof damage itself is covered.

Featured article image of a public adjuster assisting a homeowner

Covered versus excluded

Typically covered: wind uplift, creased or missing shingles, hail bruising, tree or limb impact, storm-driven flashing failure.

Typically excluded: granule loss from age, cracked and curled shingles, ponding on a flat roof, failed sealant, repeated leaks the owner knew about, poor original installation.

Build the record

Note the storm date and pull local weather reports for wind gust and hail
Photograph the roof surface, ridge, flashing, and vents, plus the interior ceiling staining
Get a roofing report that states the cause and separates storm damage from age
Keep receipts for tarping and emergency mitigation - those are usually reimbursable
Document any prior roof work and its date

If you are denied

Ask for the denial in writing with the policy provision and the report it relies on. A carrier engineer report can be rebutted with an independent inspection, especially where uplift and interior water paths were not examined.

For official guidance on property insurance and claim rights, visit the New York State Department of Financial Services.

Need Help With Your Claim?

Get a free consultation with our licensed public adjusters.

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