When Should You Use a Roof Warranty Instead of Filing an Insurance Claim?
When you have an issue with your roof, whether it's storm damage or a sudden leak, it’s natural to wonder: “Will my insurance cover this?”
While it’s true that your homeowner’s insurance should serve to help you in situations like this, it’s not always the best route to go. There’s a big difference between what’s covered by a home insurance policy versus a roof warranty. If you file a claim with the wrong one, it can lead to unnecessary delays or denied claims.
At Happy Roofing, we’ve helped hundreds of homeowners in the Naperville area navigate roofing issues. Something we see a lot is homeowners being denied insurance coverage for an issue that could’ve been taken care of by their roof warranty; If you file an insurance claim for something your warranty would have covered, you could end up paying out of pocket unnecessarily, and worse, it may still count as a claim on your record, potentially impacting your premiums or future coverage eligibility.
In this article, we'll break down the difference between roofing warranties and insurance claims, which situations are covered by each policy, and how to decide which is best for you. Understanding the differences could save you thousands of dollars and a big headache.
Table of Contents
- The Difference Between Homeowner's Insurance and Warranty Coverage
- Is it Better to File a Roof Warranty or Insurance Claim?
- Can You File Both a Warranty and Insurance Claim?
- What to Do When You're Unsure Which Claim to Pursue
- Getting a Thorough Roof Inspection
What's the Difference Between Homeowner's Insurance and Warranty Coverage?
Homeowner's insurance covers damage from sudden, unexpected events like storms or fallen trees. Roof warranties, on the other hand, cover defects in materials or workmanship from the original installation.
Understanding the difference in their coverage and limitations can prevent unnecessary delays, denied claims, or paying out of pocket for issues that should've been covered.
Here's a quick breakdown of their key differences:
| Topic | Roof Insurance | Roof Warranty |
|---|---|---|
| What Does It Cover? | Storm, wind, and hail damage, fallen tree limbs, and other sudden accidental damage. | Defective materials, or issues due to poor installation, like excessive loose shingles. |
| Who Provides It? | Your home insurance company (State Farm, Allstate, etc.). | Manufacturers (for material warranties) or roofing contractors (workmanship warranties covering labor). |
| What Are The Limitations? | Won't cover poor workmanship, installation errors, or gradual wear and tear. Typically includes a deductible when filing claims. | Doesn't cover storm/weather damage or damage due to neglect. There's typically installation guidelines that need to be met in order to keep coverage. |
| When Does It Apply? | After major storms, high winds, hail, or falling debris damage your roof. | When roofing materials fail prematurely or installation was done improperly. |
Is it Better to File a Roof Warranty or Insurance Claim?
As a general rule of thumb, if the damage was caused suddenly and was out of your control, filing an insurance claim is typically the best course of action. Damage caused by installation errors or manufacturing defects would fall under roof warranty coverage in most cases.
When to File a Warranty Claim
If materials are failing earlier than expected, utilizing your workmanship or the manufacturer's warranty would give you the best chances at getting any repairs covered. These types of warranties are specifically designed to protect against these types of problems.
Here are some situations where a warranty would offer better coverage:
- Your roof is less than 10 years old, and you notice shingles lifting, peeling, or missing
- A repair was recently done, but the issue persists (like missing shingles being replaced, only for more to lift off from the roof)
- You just had a new roof installed and experienced a leak during rainstorms
When to File an Insurance Claim
If your roof was damaged by something sudden and not related to installation or material defects, it's likely time to file an insurance claim. Most homeowner policies are designed to step in when nature (or bad luck) strikes.
- There's visible damage after a storm, wind event, or hail
- A tree branch or other debris has fallen and damaged the roof
- Water stains or leaks appeared suddenly after bad weather
Below is a photo of shingle damage caused by hail impact:
Both warranties and insurance policies typically have a limited window for filing a claim. If you wait too long or contact the wrong party first, you could miss your chance to get coverage.
Can I File Both a Roof Warranty and an Insurance Claim?
Technically, you can file both a warranty claim and an insurance claim. But in most cases, you won't need to (and can't) use both for the same issue.
Casting a larger net when trying to get any roof damage covered seems like a way to increase your odds, but it can come with some drawbacks in certain situations. If you try to submit a claim for both of these options without a valid reason, it could cause more harm than good.
We've seen situations where the insurance company flags the damage as non-insurable after their initial assessment. If the cause for the damage is outside the scope of their coverage, and the roof is found to be in poor condition overall, your insurer could refuse future coverage altogether until the issue is resolved.
Insurance and warranties cover different causes of damage, and a single problem would rarely qualify under both.
How to Handle Roof Damage When You're Unsure If Your Issue Falls Under Your Roof Warranty Or Insurance
Roofing issues aren't always easy to diagnose, and something like missing shingles could be caused by poor adhesive from the factory, poor installation practices, or even strong windstorms.
In cases like this, how do you know whether the damage should be covered by your manufacturer's warranty, your contractor's workmanship warranty, or your insurance?
If you're not sure whether to turn to your warranty or your insurance, here's a simple process to help you make the right move with confidence:
Step 1: Start with an inspection. Before jumping into a claim, it's smart to have a qualified roofing professional inspect the damage. A trained eye can often spot whether the issue stems from a recent storm, long-term wear, or installation problems—something most homeowners can't determine on their own. Having this clarity upfront helps you plan your next steps without having to fumble through multiple pages of coverage terms for each policy.
Step 2: Ask before filing. Once the root cause is clear, your roofer can advise whether the issue falls under warranty, insurance, or neither. This is a good opportunity to ask them any questions you may have about the claims process and to gather documentation, like photos of the issue, to prepare.
Step 3: Review your coverage. After you know which option is better suited for your home's needs, you can review the details of that policy or agreement. Look for any exclusions, time limits, or maintenance requirements that could impact whether your claim is approved. If anything is unclear, don't hesitate to ask your roofer or insurance agent for clarification before submitting the claim.
Getting a Thorough Roof Inspection
When it comes to choosing between a roof warranty and an insurance claim, the right decision starts with a solid inspection. A rushed or vague walkthrough can leave you guessing about the real cause of the issue and your odds for approval.
With factors like proper ventilation being a popular requirement in both warranty and insurance terms, a thorough roof inspection can help you realistically plan your next steps. To learn what a professional roof inspection should include in its assessment, check out our guide: What Should Be Included in a Professional Roof Inspection?
If you've noticed an issue with your roof and are unsure who to file a claim with, or if you have a good chance at coverage, we offer no-commitment inspections to give you clarity and recommendations with no obligation to move forward.
