Before we get into the answer to this question, we want to make it absolutely clear that your roofing contractor cannot interpret your insurance policy for you. Only your insurance agent, or your insurance adjuster, or someone at your insurance company can do that.
So, the question is: Will your insurance company pay for roof upgrades?
The short answer is: No, your insurance company will not pay for roof upgrades.
Let's say your roof has standard laminate shingles. You want to upgrade to impact resistant shingles. Will your insurance company pay for the new shingles? No, it will not. This upgrade will be an out-of-pocket expense for you, the homeowner, every time.
Maybe you're wondering why this is even a question. It's a question that we get asked because there is a misleading term that insurance agents and insurance adjusters and roofing contractors like to use. It's called ‘code upgrade.
Code upgrade mistakenly refers to the ordinance and law coverage on your insurance policy. Ordinance and law makes sure that the necessary repairs are paid to be code compliant. If you have ordinance and law coverage on your home insurance policy, then part of the insurance money is put aside to make you compliant with current code.
If your roof does not meet the current local code, then your insurance company will use that "code upgrade" money to make you compliant to the code. For example, if your local law says that your roof needs ice and water shield to be up to code, then your insurance should pay for that ice and water shield. (Want to learn more about ice and water shield and how they keep your home safe? (Check out this informative article.)
Important Note: It's always best to either read your policy or check with your insurance agent or rep to find out if you have ordinance and law coverage before you file a claim. If you don't have it, you'll have to pay for the items needed to make your project comply with current building codes.
Any kind of roofing work that would fall under the ordinance and law category of your insurance policy is not considered an actual roofing upgrade. It's something done to your home to make you compliant with code.
When in doubt about whether something you are doing to your roof is a code issue, the best thing to do is read your insurance policy. If you still have questions, talk to your insurance agent. Here in Colorado, your roofing contractor is not legally allowed to try to interpret your policy to determine if you have ordinance and law coverage, or if your coverage will pay for any code compliance issues.
If you have any questions about obtaining roof upgrades for your home, contact Homestead Roofing today to speak with a member of our expert team.