Imagine sitting in the living room watching TV with your family on a fall afternoon in Connecticut. You can hear the rain sweeping across the windows and rapping across the roof. Out of nowhere, something cold and wet hits your head. You look up and notice droplets of water slowly forming on the ceiling above you. Your heart sinks – the roof is starting to leak!
Imagine sitting in the living room watching TV with your family on a fall afternoon in Connecticut. You can hear the rain sweeping across the windows and rapping across the roof. Out of nowhere, something cold and wet hits your head. You look up and notice droplets of water slowly forming on the ceiling above you. Your heart sinks – the roof is starting to leak!
Imagine sitting in the living room watching TV with your family on a fall afternoon in Connecticut. You can hear the rain sweeping across the windows and rapping across the roof. Out of nowhere, something cold and wet hits your head. You look up and notice droplets of water slowly forming on the ceiling above you. Your heart sinks – the roof is starting to leak!
What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
Homeowners insurance is designed to protect against unexpected and unavoidable damage. Whether your policy covers your leaky roof depends on how the damage occurred in the first place.
Covered Causes
Storm Damage
Homeowners are generally not held liable for leaks caused by storm damage. Typically, insurance companies consider factors like wind, hail, or a falling tree during a storm to be events you could never anticipate or intervene in. Therefore, most standard homeowners’ insurance policies will cover the repairs of such damage.
Ice Dams
Cold winters in Connecticut can lead to ice dams forming on your roof, which eventually cause leakage. Since ice dams cause water to pool behind them, the moisture build-up can cause roofing stress and deterioration. Ice dams are considered unavoidable weather-related issues, and insurance will cover damage from them in such cases. It’s essential to find a roof repair company that offers roof snow removal for local clients to help prevent ice dams.
Sudden Accidents
Damage caused by falling objects, such as tree branches or a neighbor’s fire causing debris to fall and damage your roof, is covered under most standard policies.
Exclusions
If the leak is due to aging materials, lack of maintenance, or gradual deterioration, your insurance is far less likely to cover the repairs. Insurers believe homeowners should proactively maintain their property and address issues like worn shingles or clogged gutters. Neglecting to address minor issues that lead to leaks voids repair coverage.
Steps to Take When You Discover a Roof Leak
Now, let’s take a look at the steps to take if you’ve discovered a leaky roof. Above all, you want to act swiftly to prevent more damage and create a plan for repairs and insurance coverage.
Prevent Further Damage
Place a bucket or tarp under the leak to contain it and minimize further water damage. Patch the area temporarily this way until professional help arrives.
If water has leaked onto an absorbent area like carpeting, you can work with another person to stop the leak while cleaning up the wet carpeting. Have the other person hold a bucket above you and catch the falling water while you soak up the damp carpet using towels. Then, put down a tarp and the bucket. Swap the bucket with another out when it gets full.
Document the Damage
Take clear photos or videos of the leak, its source, and any damage to the interior or exterior of your home. This documentation is needed to file an insurance claim. Of course, you don’t want to climb onto your roof during a hailstorm, so exercise caution and do your best to document damage and leakage as soon as possible.
Schedule a Professional Roof Inspection
Find a local roofing expert in Connecticut willing to evaluate the damage to your roof and determine whether the issue is caused by a cause your insurance policy will likely cover. Professional input can only strengthen your claim and help ensure accurate repair estimates.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Notify your insurer with your roofing contractor’s help to start the claims process. Provide your documentation and answer the questions the insurance company will likely ask you. A solid roofing contractor, like A & J Reliable, should be willing to work on your behalf to give maximum support throughout the process and offer the insurance company ample evidence.
How A & J Reliable Can Help
Dealing with a leaky roof and an insurance claim can feel overwhelming. Your roof is damaged, your carpeting or wood floor might have been affected, and now you’re nervous that your insurance company might give you the runaround.
This is where A & J Reliable can come in to help clarify the process and take some of the burden off your shoulders. We’re dedicated, long-time roofing specialists in Connecticut and can help you with the following tasks:
Inspect Your Roof
Our team takes time to determine the root cause of the leak, examine your documentation, and gather any extra evidence to strengthen your claim. Then, we provide a detailed report for your insurance company and help you understand if you need a full roof replacement or just some repair work done.
Streamline the Claims Process
We have extensive experience working alongside insurance adjusters, so we know the process’s ins and outs. We won’t simply settle for the first offer—we’ll work to ensure you get what you deserve and that your claim is handled smoothly.
Complete Repairs
We do everything from patching minor leaks to full roof replacements. We’ll consider the damage and the circumstances to give you a transparent, realistic explanation of the repairs we think you need. Once we start a project, we commit ourselves to high-quality workmanship that protects your home.
File Your Homeowners Insurance Claim With Us
To ensure your claim is successful, work with A & J Reliable. With our experience with roofing in Norwalk, you can address leaks effectively and protect your home from further issues. We work in our client’s favor and ensure they get the best deal for their roof repair.
Contact us today and see how we can help you.