I’m a little partial to homes with metal roofs. They are resilient, look pretty, and there’s nothing like falling asleep to the sound of rain falling on one. Most home insurance companies tend like them too as they last long and are fire and hail resistant. There are some home insurance policies though, that may contain a surprise most homeowners aren’t aware of.
Most home insurance companies will write a home with a steel or metal roof. There are a few though that won’t if it’s a tin roof, but they tend to be the exception. There are several carriers, however, that exclude cosmetic damage to a metal roof whether caused by hail or a falling tree limb. In these instances, a roof covered with dings from hail which doesn’t leak won’t be replaced since cosmetic damage is excluded.
The reason for excluding cosmetic damage is simple, the carrier does not want to pay for replacing a roof that looks damaged, but is still structurally sound. This is largely due to metal roofs costing more than composition shingle roofs. If you’re not aware of this exclusion, it can be an awful surprise for the homeowner!
Such was the case with a woman who called me to help her with a policy on her new home. The new home has a metal roof and she was concerned that cosmetic damage not be excluded from the policy I recommended. Her concern was due to watching what a friend experienced when their hail claim had been declined by a carrier who excludes cosmetic damage to metal roofs in their home insurance policy.
The policy I recommended to her includes coverage for cosmetic damage from hail. This carrier, as do a couple of others, provides a discount if cosmetic damage is excluded, however, I don’t think that’s a good discount. Who wants a home with a roof that looks like it was beaten with a hammer?! Including cosmetic damage coverage for your home’s metal roof is easy if you have the right home insurance policy.
The key whenever reviewing a new home insurance quote is asking questions such as, What coverage is included? What coverage is excluded? Are there any coverage limitations with this policy? Asking these questions may have helped my new client’s friend avoid an awful surprise, although, it would have been good had the information been volunteered.
What do you think? Share your thoughts, questions, and experiences with me. I’d love to hear from you!
