Home Insurance and Roof Damage

The Inland Northwest is blessed with an abundance of beautiful pine and fir trees, but these can be bad news if one of them falls over on your home during one of windstorms.

If this has happened to you, how will your home insurance cover the damage, will it cover it?  While every homeowner policy is different, below are some of the most common situations or scenarios to expect.

If your roof is damaged by a falling tree, your home insurance generally covers the repair costs, but how it works depends on your specific policy. Here’s what typically happens:

1. Filing a Claim

• Immediate Action: Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to report the damage. They will guide you through the claim process.

• Document the Damage: Take photos or videos of the tree and the damage to your roof. This will serve as evidence for your claim.

• Prevent Further Damage: Many policies require you to take steps to prevent additional damage, like using tarps to cover the exposed roof, until repairs are made.

2. Covered Damage

• Roof Repairs or Replacement: Your insurance will usually cover the cost of repairing or replacing the damaged section of your roof, up to your policy’s coverage limits.

• Tree Removal: In most cases, the insurance will cover the cost of removing the tree from your property, especially if it caused damage. There might be a specific limit for tree removal (e.g., $500-$1,000).

• Additional Damage: If the tree caused damage to other parts of your home (like windows or siding), that should also be covered by your policy.

3. Deductible

• Paying the Deductible: You’ll need to pay the deductible before the insurance covers the remaining cost. The amount can vary depending on your policy, typically ranging from $500 to $2,500 or more.

4. Liability for Neighbor’s Tree

• Neighbor’s Tree Falls on Your Roof: If a neighbor's tree causes the damage, your own insurance will generally cover it initially. However, if the tree was dead or improperly maintained, your insurance company may seek reimbursement from your neighbor’s insurance through a process called subrogation.

5. Exclusions

• Maintenance Issues: If the insurance company determines that the damage was caused by lack of roof maintenance or wear and tear, they might not cover the full cost of repairs.

• Dead or Diseased Trees: If the tree that caused the damage was already dead or diseased and the issue was neglected, the insurance may refuse to pay the claim, especially if you were responsible for maintaining the tree.

6. Living Expenses

• Additional Living Expenses: If your home becomes uninhabitable due to the damage, your insurance may cover the cost of temporary accommodations, such as staying in a hotel, as part of your policy's "loss of use" coverage.

It’s a good idea to review your policy to understand your coverage limits and exclusions for events like falling trees, but you should also consider working with a roofing company with experience handling insurance claims for damaged roofs.  Ark Roofing has the experience and knowledge to make the process as effortless as possible.  If you’ve experienced roof damage due to a recent storm and would like to know the process and cost to get it repair and want to work with a professional team with decades of experience, call Ark Roofing for a free estimate! 

We do new roofs, roof replacement, roof repair, and roofing maintenance for both residential and commercial properties, and we are experts in dealing with roofing damage insurance claims.  ARK Roofing has been serving the Inland Northwest for years!  We are experts in the installation of asphalt shingle, metal and TPO membrane roofs. 

Call us today at (509) 443-9300 or (208) 446-6641.