Storm damage insurance claims: a homeowner's guide
After a big storm, the difference between a covered repair and a denied claim often comes down to what you do in the first few days, and what your policy said before the storm ever hit. Here is how wind and hail coverage works, the terms that decide your payout, and how to file a claim that gets paid.
Key takeaways
- Wind and hail damage is typically covered by homeowners insurance; flood is not (it needs a separate flood policy).
- Replacement cost value (RCV) pays to repair or replace without deducting for age; actual cash value (ACV) pays the depreciated amount.
- Many insurers are shifting roofs to ACV or age-based depreciation schedules, especially for older roofs, so read your policy.
- Wind and hail often carry a separate, percentage-based deductible (a share of your home's insured value), not a flat dollar amount.
- Document damage early, file promptly, and be wary of storm-chaser contractors and signing over your claim.
What's covered, and what's not
Standard homeowners policies generally cover sudden storm damage from wind and hail, the perils that most often hurt roofs and siding. They do not cover flood, which requires a separate flood insurance policy, and they do not cover gradual wear, age, or neglect. An insurer can deny a claim if the damage looks like an old, untreated problem rather than a specific storm, which is one reason documentation matters.
The two terms that set your payout
Many carriers are moving roofs toward ACV or a payment schedule that depreciates by age, especially for older roofs. Check which one your policy uses for the roof before a storm, because it can mean thousands of dollars of difference.
- Replacement cost value (RCV): pays the cost to repair or replace the damage with like materials, without subtracting for age or wear. This is the better coverage.
- Actual cash value (ACV): pays the depreciated value, what the damaged item was worth given its age, so you cover the gap to replace it.
Deductibles: wind and hail are often separate
Beyond your standard deductible, many policies carry a separate wind/hail (or named-storm) deductible, and it is frequently a percentage of your home's insured value rather than a flat amount. On a $400,000 home, a 2 percent wind/hail deductible is $8,000 out of pocket before coverage kicks in. Nineteen states and Washington, D.C. allow hurricane, windstorm, or named-storm deductibles, so know yours before you file.
How to file a claim that gets paid
- Document everything: dated photos and video of the damage, and a list of affected areas, before any repairs.
- Make temporary repairs to prevent further damage (tarp a roof) and keep the receipts; do not start permanent repairs yet.
- File promptly and get an inspection; a reputable local contractor's estimate helps, but the insurer's adjuster sets the claim.
- Be wary of storm-chaser contractors who appear door to door, and think hard before signing an assignment of benefits that hands your claim to a contractor.
Frequently asked questions
Does homeowners insurance cover roof storm damage?
What is the difference between replacement cost and actual cash value?
Why is my roof claim deductible so high?
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