Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Roof Leaks in Arizona? A Phoenix Roofer Explains

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Roof Leaks in Arizona? A Phoenix Roofer Explains

Your roof starts leaking during a Phoenix monsoon. The first thought may be: Do I need to call my insurance company?

Not necessarily.

At Durafoam Roofing, we’ve been repairing and replacing roofs across the Valley since 1989, and we’ve inspected thousands of leaking roofs. One of the biggest things we’ve learned is that every leak is different.

The age and condition of the roof matter. The cause of the leak matters. The cost of the repair matters. And your insurance deductible matters.

That’s why our recommendation is usually simple: have the roof inspected before automatically filing a claim.

Here are some of the most common questions we hear from Arizona homeowners about roof leaks and homeowners insurance.

Does homeowners insurance cover a leaking roof in Arizona?

Sometimes.

The important question isn’t simply whether the roof is leaking. It’s why the roof is leaking.

Arizona’s Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions notes that homeowners policies generally cover roof damage caused by certain events such as wind, rain, or falling objects, depending on the individual policy. Arizona monsoon storms can also produce damaging winds and hail.

That is very different from a roof that has simply reached the end of its service life or hasn’t been properly maintained.

Ultimately, your insurance carrier determines whether damage is covered under your policy. Our job as the roofer is to figure out what actually happened to the roof.

Should I call my roofer or my insurance company first?

In most cases, we recommend calling the roofer first.

There are a lot of factors to consider before filing a claim.

Is it an older roof or a newer roof? Is there clear evidence of storm damage? Is the roof simply worn out? How much will the repair cost? What is the homeowner’s deductible?

Sometimes we inspect a roof and find that the repair is relatively minor. If a repair costs less than the homeowner’s deductible, there may be little financial reason to file an insurance claim at all.

Having Durafoam inspect the roof first allows us to determine the likely cause of the leak, explain the repair or replacement options, and help the homeowner decide whether involving insurance makes sense.

How can you tell storm damage from normal roof wear?

After a major Phoenix storm, we’re looking for evidence that something specific happened to the roof.

That can include:

Wind damage

Hail damage

Tiles that were blown off

Tree or limb impact

Other obvious storm-related damage

It typically takes fairly strong wind or severe weather to cause substantial roof damage.

Normal wear generally looks different. Roofing materials deteriorate gradually from years of Arizona heat, UV exposure, weather, and normal aging.

With an experienced inspection, we can usually distinguish between a roof that has suffered sudden storm damage and one that has simply worn out over time.

Can an older roof still have legitimate storm damage?

Absolutely.

One mistake is assuming that an older roof must automatically be a worn-out roof.

For example, a foam roof that is 15 years old might sound “old” to a homeowner. But if that foam roof has been properly maintained and recoated when needed, it could still have years of useful life remaining.

If that otherwise healthy roof is then damaged by hail or high winds, its age doesn’t change the fact that a new storm event caused damage.

That’s another reason the physical condition of the roof matters more than simply looking at the year it was installed.

An experienced roofer can evaluate what appears to be long-term deterioration and what appears to be new storm damage. The insurance carrier then determines coverage based on the homeowner’s individual policy and claim.

When does it NOT make sense to file an insurance claim?

Sometimes there really is storm damage, but filing a claim still doesn’t make financial sense.

One of the most common examples is a small repair.

If the repair costs less than your insurance deductible, why file a claim to pay for something you would effectively be paying for yourself anyway?

That’s why we prefer to inspect the roof and determine the extent and approximate cost of the damage before a homeowner automatically opens a claim.

A roof inspection gives you actual information to work with instead of making the decision based solely on the fact that you found a leak.

What does Durafoam do if the damage appears to be insurance-related?

If we believe the roof has legitimate storm damage and filing a claim makes sense, we can help with the roofing side of the process.

We provide the necessary roofing documentation and recommendations and can meet directly with the field adjuster at the property.

That allows us to show the adjuster what we found, explain the roof condition, identify the damaged areas, and provide the information needed to evaluate the roofing portion of the claim.

The insurance company and adjuster ultimately determine what the policy covers, but homeowners don’t have to try to explain roofing damage themselves.

What about water damage inside the house?

Our expertise is the roof.

If a roof leak damages drywall, insulation, flooring, furniture, personal belongings, or other parts of the home, we generally recommend contacting your insurance company directly regarding those items.

Coverage for interior damage can vary significantly by policy and circumstances.

Durafoam focuses on identifying and documenting the roof problem and determining what needs to be repaired or replaced to stop the water from getting into the home.

What are the biggest mistakes homeowners make after a roof leak?

The biggest one is waiting too long to have the roof inspected.

A small leak doesn’t necessarily stay small. Water can continue affecting roofing materials and other parts of the structure even when the immediate storm has passed.

Another mistake is filing an insurance claim before knowing what the repair will actually cost. You may discover that you’re dealing with a relatively inexpensive repair that doesn’t exceed your deductible.

And after major storms, homeowners should be cautious when choosing a roofing contractor.

Storm-chasing roofing companies aren’t automatically bad—some are legitimate and do excellent work. But homeowners should know who they’re hiring and whether that company will still be around if they need help later.

Durafoam Roofing has been serving the Phoenix Valley since 1989. We stand behind our work, and when the next monsoon comes through, we’ll still be here.

A Real Example: The 2010 Phoenix Hailstorm

One storm in particular still stands out to our team.

On October 5, 2010, severe thunderstorms moved across the Phoenix metropolitan area and dropped exceptionally large hail. The National Weather Service described it as the largest hail recorded in Phoenix and reported extensive damage throughout the area.

Durafoam worked with many homeowners following that storm.

We inspected damaged roofs, documented what we found, met with insurance adjusters at homeowners’ properties, provided roofing recommendations, and helped homeowners navigate the roofing portion of their claims.

Events like that are also a good reminder that storm damage isn’t always about the age of the roof. A roof may have been performing perfectly well before a single severe weather event damaged it.

What should I do if my roof starts leaking after a Phoenix storm?

Don’t panic, and don’t automatically assume you need to file an insurance claim.

Start with an inspection.

Let us determine what caused the leak, whether there is evidence of storm damage, what condition the rest of the roof is in, and approximately what it will take to repair it.

Once you have that information, you can make a much better decision about whether insurance should be involved.

If your roof has started leaking or you think a recent monsoon may have damaged it, schedule a free roof inspection with Durafoam Roofing or call 480-941-5373.

We’ll inspect the roof, explain what we find, and help you determine the best next step.

Insurance Disclaimer

Durafoam Roofing is a roofing contractor, not an insurance company or insurance adjuster. Insurance coverage, deductibles, claim decisions, and payment amounts depend on the individual policy and are determined by the homeowner’s insurance carrier.