Do Home Warranties Cover Roofs? Tips To Maintain Your Roof

Roof repairs are expensive and inevitable, so being financially protected when repairs are required is of utmost importance. To that end, your homeowner’s insurance policy and roof warranty help to shield you from the otherwise egregious upfront cost of repairs.

Homeowners insurance will cover the cost of repairing damage from accidental and catastrophic events (like storms and fallen branches) and a new roof warranty will cover damage resulting from improper installation or manufacturer defects. However, neither will cover repairs caused by wear and tear, like roof leaks. That’s where a home warranty comes in.

Do Home Warranty Companies Cover Roof Leaks?

Home warranty policies help to cover the cost of replacing or repairing major systems and appliances in your home. That includes the plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems, as well as appliances like your water heater and washing machine. Home warranties may also cover items like your swimming pool and roof.

While some home warranties offer roof coverage as part of their standard package, it’s usually an add-on option that you need to choose when signing up for the policy.

Home warranty roof coverage is primarily concerned with repairing roof leaks, and not much else. The secondary damage (like mold and other interior damage) caused by the leak falls under your homeowners insurance policy instead.

Home Warranty Roof Coverage Specifics

Home warranty roof coverage is meant to fill in the gaps not covered by homeowners insurance to create a comprehensive package. While homeowners insurance will cover the damage caused by the leak, it won’t cover the cost to repair the leak itself. On the other hand, home warranty roof coverage will cover the cost to repair the roof leak, but not the secondary damage that results.

Most home warranty companies only cover the most common types of roofs (like asphalt or wood shingles and clay tiles) and only roofs over occupied sections of your home (like the living and bedrooms).

Along with certain roof types and sections of your homes, various exclusions may apply to the types of leaks a home warranty company may repair.

The specific coverage and exclusions will vary between home warranty companies, so carefully read the contract of each home warranty company you’re considering to learn exactly what’s covered under their policy.

5 Tips to Maintain Your Roof

Considering that home warranty roof coverage has a limit for the total cost of the repair it will cover and you need to pay a service fee for each repair, it’s important to take the following maintenance steps to prevent roof leaks from occurring in the first place:

1.) Clean leaves and debris off the roof once a year.

2.) Visually inspect the roof for damaged and missing shingles or panels at least once a year, and after every large wind storm or significant weather event.

3.) Remove moss, algae and mold as soon as they’re discovered.

4.) One to two times a year, inspect the sealant and caulking around skylights and roof vents. Replace any damaged or missing sections.

5.) Clean your gutters at least once a year to prevent clogs that can cause water to overflow onto your roof and cause leaks or damage.

Using a ladder and working from your roof can be dangerous, so it’s strongly advised to have a qualified professional perform the necessary maintenance items. This is especially true if your roof is steep, you have a multi-story home, or you don’t have the necessary equipment or experience to safely perform the steps yourself. Source