This is one of the first questions homeowners ask when a roof goes bad, and the honest answer is "it depends." But it depends on a handful of specific things, and once you understand them you can usually tell whether a claim is worth filing before you ever call your carrier.
One note up front: we are roofers, not insurance agents. Your policy is the final word, so read it or call your agent. What follows is how it generally works in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The One Question That Decides It: Why Did the Roof Fail?
Homeowners policies are built to cover sudden, accidental damage from a specific event. They are not built to pay for a roof that simply wore out.
Usually Covered
Wind that tears off shingles. A tree or large limb coming down on the roof. Hail. Damage from the weight of heavy snow or ice, under many policies.
Usually Not Covered
Age. Normal wear and tear. Granule loss and curling from years of sun. Leaks from deferred maintenance or a repair that was never done. Poor original installation.
The Gray Area: Ice Dams
Many policies cover the interior water damage an ice dam causes, but not the cost of removing the ice or fixing the underlying roof problem that caused it. Check your policy language before assuming either way.
Your Roof's Age Changes the Payout
Even when damage is covered, an older roof may not get you a full replacement check.
- Replacement cost value (RCV) policies pay what it costs to replace the roof today, though often in two pieces: an initial check, then the held-back depreciation after the work is done.
- Actual cash value (ACV) policies subtract depreciation. On a 20-year-old roof, that can shrink the check a lot.
Some carriers also apply ACV-only terms to roofs past a certain age, even on otherwise RCV policies. Find out which you have before you need it.
Watch Your Wind Deductible
Many Massachusetts policies, especially closer to the coast, carry a separate wind or named-storm deductible. It is often a percentage of your dwelling coverage instead of a flat dollar amount. On a typical home, that can be several thousand dollars, which sometimes means a smaller storm repair is not worth claiming at all.
Never sign over your claim to a door knocker. After big storms, out-of-town crews canvass neighborhoods asking homeowners to sign assignment-of-benefits forms or contracts "contingent on insurance." Get a local, licensed contractor and keep control of your own claim.
How to Handle a Claim the Right Way
- 1Document first. Photos and video of the roof from the ground and any interior damage, before anything is cleaned up.
- 2Prevent further damage. Most policies require reasonable steps like tarping. Keep the receipts.
- 3Call your carrier early. Do not wait until after a full replacement to report it.
- 4Get an independent look. Have a licensed roofer look at and document the damage so you understand the scope before the adjuster's report lands.
- 5Read the adjuster's scope line by line. If something is missing, ask about it.
When we look at storm damage, we photograph what we find and walk you through the scope of work in plain terms. What we do not do is negotiate with your insurance company on your behalf. That conversation is between you and your carrier, or a licensed public adjuster if you hire one.
Frequently Asked Questions
It can if the roof was damaged by a sudden, covered event like wind, a fallen tree, or hail. Insurance generally does not pay to replace a roof that failed from age, wear and tear, or lack of maintenance.
Covered storm damage on an older roof may still be paid, but often at actual cash value, meaning depreciation is subtracted. Some carriers apply reduced coverage to roofs past a certain age. Check your declarations page or ask your agent.
Many policies cover the interior water damage an ice dam causes, but not the cost of removing the ice or correcting the roof or ventilation problem behind it. Coverage varies by policy.
Do both early. Document the damage, take steps to prevent further damage, notify your carrier promptly, and have a licensed roofer look at it so you understand what the damage actually is.
Think You Have Storm Damage?
Faria & Son is owner-operated and local, which means we are still here after the storm crews leave. Call 508-989-8383 or request a free estimate, and we will tell you straight whether it looks like a repair or a replacement.
We serve Somerset, Swansea, Rehoboth, Westport, Seekonk, Fall River, and Freetown in Massachusetts, plus Warren, Barrington, and Tiverton in Rhode Island.