A storm roof claim is decided by the homeowner's insurer under the wording of the policy, not by the roofer. A standard homeowners policy generally responds to sudden storm damage and generally excludes wear, lack of maintenance and gradual deterioration. The homeowner keeps the evidence, the insurer decides, and a denied claim can be taken to the New York State Department of Financial Services. This page describes the general pattern and states no deadlines or amounts.
Key takeaways
- A standard homeowners policy generally covers sudden storm damage and generally excludes wear, gradual damage and lack of maintenance.
- The policy wording and the insurer's own decision settle the claim, and the roofer documents the damage without deciding it.
- Dated photographs, a written roofer's report, receipts for temporary steps and every letter with the insurer are the evidence to keep.
- Flood damage is generally not part of a standard homeowners policy and is generally handled under a separate flood policy.
- If a claim is denied, ask for the reason in writing, read the policy section cited and take the dispute to the New York State Department of Financial Services.
- This page states no filing deadline, coverage limit, deductible rule or dollar figure, because the policy decides those for each homeowner.
What does the general pattern of a storm roof claim look like?
The homeowner reports the loss to the insurer, the insurer arranges an inspection, and the policy and the inspection together decide what, if anything, is paid. The process is similar across the state, but each policy is written in its own words.
A storm that lifts shingles, opens a section of roof or drives debris through the covering is the kind of event a standard homeowners policy is generally written to respond to. The homeowner tells the insurer what happened, when, and where on the house it is visible.
The insurer then sends an adjuster or an inspector, who looks at the damage and forms a view of the cause. The adjuster's findings and the policy wording together shape the decision, so the homeowner should read both and ask questions about either.
What does a standard policy generally cover and exclude?
A standard policy generally covers sudden and accidental damage, such as wind lifting a shingle or a falling limb opening a section of roof. It generally excludes damage that develops over time, ordinary wear, and damage that results from a lack of maintenance.
Damage from the ordinary aging of a roof, slow rot of decking from a long-running leak, and deterioration of sealant over the years are generally excluded. Damage caused by insects, including termites, and by animals is generally excluded.
These are general patterns only. A particular policy may cover more or less, may carry endorsements that change the answer and may define sudden or accidental in its own words. The homeowner should read the policy and ask the insurer to show the relevant section in writing.
Ask the insurer to confirm in writing which parts of the claim it is reviewing and which it has not yet reviewed. A written list of open questions keeps the file moving and makes the next letter easier to answer.
Is flood damage covered by a standard homeowners policy?
Flood damage is generally not covered by a standard homeowners policy. It is generally handled through a separate federal flood insurance policy, and the terms of that policy decide what is paid.
Water that rises from the ground or from a waterway is a different peril from rain that enters through a storm opening. A roof damaged by wind may admit rain, and the rain damage is assessed under the homeowner's policy, while water from a flood is assessed separately.
Where a loss involves both wind and water, the insurer will look at the sequence of events and the cause of each part of the damage. Keep notes on the order of events, the weather on each day and the state of the roof after each one, since that record helps the insurer separate the causes.
What evidence should the homeowner keep?
Keep dated photographs of the damage from the ground and inside, the roofer's written report, receipts for any temporary or permanent steps and every letter or email with the insurer. A written timeline from the storm to the claim makes the file easy to follow.
Photograph the damage before anything is cleaned or repaired, and include a scale object in close views. Take wide photographs of each side of the house so the location of each item is clear. Keep the originals with their date information intact.
Ask the roofer for a dated written report that describes each item, the cause as far as it can be seen and the temporary steps taken. The report documents the damage; it does not decide the claim, and it should say so plainly.
- Dated photographs of the damage from the ground and inside the house
- The roofer's written report of the findings and the temporary steps
- Receipts for any tarp, board-up or other temporary material
- Every letter, email and call note with the insurer
What does mitigation mean, and why does the insurer care?
Mitigation means taking reasonable steps to stop further damage, such as a temporary cover over an opening or buckets under a drip. Most policies generally expect the homeowner to take such steps, and they do not expect the permanent repair to be made before the insurer has seen the damage.
A tarp over an open roof section, a towel under a drip and the moving of belongings out of the path of water are the kinds of steps a policy generally expects. Keep the receipts and photographs of each step, since they show that the homeowner acted promptly.
The permanent repair is normally planned after the insurer has inspected, or with the insurer's agreement. Ask the insurer before replacing damaged material, because replacing it too early can make the insurer's review harder to complete.
Keep the temporary work in proportion to the damage. A cover that protects an opening is a reasonable step, while replacing a large area of material before the insurer has seen it is not a step a policy generally expects the homeowner to take.
What does an adjuster usually ask?
An adjuster generally asks when the damage was first noticed, what was done about it, whether an earlier repair was made and whether the damage appears to be sudden or gradual. Clear, honest answers help the file, and a guess presented as fact can weaken it.
The adjuster may ask to see the roof, the attic and the interior damage, and may ask for the roofer's report. The homeowner can help by making access available and by providing the photographs and records already gathered.
Say plainly when something is not known. An honest gap is better than an invented answer, and the adjuster will be able to follow up on the unknown point with the evidence available.
The adjuster may ask for a second visit once the weather allows a full look at the roof. Arrange that visit in writing, and ask whether the findings will be shared with you before the report is final.
What can a homeowner do if a claim is denied?
Ask the insurer for the reason in writing, read the policy section it cites, respond with evidence and, if the matter is not resolved, take it to the New York State Department of Financial Services. DFS guidance generally expects a complaint to be raised with the insurer first.
A denial should come with a written reason that refers to the policy. The homeowner can ask for that reason in writing, read the cited section and send a reply with the evidence that supports the claim.
If the insurer does not resolve the matter, the New York State Department of Financial Services takes complaints from consumers, including homeowners, through its consumer complaint portal at dfs.ny.gov. Keep copies of every letter and complaint, and check the regulator's current guidance for the steps it asks for.
What does a roofer do, and what does it not do, in a claim?
A roofer documents the damage, recommends the repair and does the work that the homeowner agrees to. A roofer does not decide whether a claim is paid, and any statement about the outcome of a claim should be treated with caution.
The roofer's report is a factual record of what was seen on the roof, when and in what condition. It can be shared with the insurer, and it is most useful when it is dated, photographed and placed on a sketch of the roof.
Ask the roofer to keep the report factual and to avoid predicting the insurer's decision. A report that describes the damage clearly is more useful than one that argues the claim.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file a claim?
This page does not state a deadline. The time limit is set by the policy and by New York law, so ask the insurer for the terms in writing as soon as the damage is found.
Will the roofer's inspection decide my claim?
No. The roofer's inspection records the damage and recommends the repair. The insurer decides what is covered under the policy, and it may send its own adjuster.
Should I start the repair before the insurer inspects?
Only the temporary steps needed to stop further damage should be taken before the insurer has seen it. Ask the insurer what it wants to see before replacing damaged material.
Does a tarp count as a repair for the claim?
A tarp is a temporary step that protects the roof. Keep its receipt and photographs, and treat it as mitigation rather than the permanent repair.
What if my claim involves old damage as well as new?
The insurer will look at the cause of each part of the damage. The roofer's report and the photographs should separate the new damage from the old wherever the evidence allows.
Where do I send a complaint about an insurer in New York?
The New York State Department of Financial Services accepts insurance complaints through its consumer complaint portal at dfs.ny.gov. Raise the matter with the insurer first, and keep copies of every letter.
Who should I speak to first at the insurer?
Start with the claim number and the adjuster assigned to the file, and confirm the next step in writing. Keep a short log of each call with the date, the name of the person spoken to and what was agreed.
Sources
This guide is general information for Oneida County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.