When Storm-Season Roof Damage Is a Claim vs. a Repair
How King County homeowners can tell whether storm roof damage is a covered claim or an out-of-pocket repair - and why documentation decides.
Storm damage to your roof is a covered claim when a specific weather event caused sudden damage - and an out-of-pocket repair when it's wear, age, or deferred maintenance. Telling them apart, and documenting it, is what determines who pays.
Reads as a claim: missing or lifted shingles after a windstorm, impact damage, a tree-limb strike, or sudden interior leaks that appear right after a storm. There's an event with a date.
Reads as a repair: granule loss from age, curling from years of sun, or a slow leak from worn flashing. Gradual deterioration usually isn't covered.
Why documentation decides. Adjusters distinguish storm damage from age by evidence. Dated photos, the storm date, and a documented inspection make the case that this was sudden. Without that, a legitimate storm claim can get written off as wear.
The hidden risk: a compromised roof is a water claim waiting to happen. Interior water damage from a storm-damaged roof is often part of the same claim - but only if it's connected and documented.
What to do after a storm: photograph visible damage from the ground, note the storm date, check ceilings and the attic for water, and get a documented inspection before you file.