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By Thomas Sullivan•Last Updated May 14, 2025

Home Warranty Coverage: What You Need to Know About Roof Protection

Understand home warranty coverage for roofs

Homeowners oftentimes wonder if their home warranty covers roof damage and repairs. The short answer is: it depends on your specific policy, but almost standard home warranties do not include comprehensive roof coverage.

Home warranties typically cover the repair or replacement of major home systems and appliances that fail due to normal wear and tear. These usually include HVAC systems, electrical systems, plumbing, water heaters, and kitchen appliances. Roof coverage, notwithstanding, is more limited and frequently require additional consideration.

Standard home warranty coverage

Most basic home warranty plan focus on internal systems and appliances preferably than structural elements of your home. Here’s what you can typically expect from standard coverage:

Heating and air conditioning systems
Electrical systems
Plumbing systems
Water heaters
Kitchen appliances (refrigerator, oven, dishwasher )
Washer and dryer
Garbage disposal

Perceptibly absent from this list is roof coverage. This is because roofs are loosely considered part of the home’s structure kinda than a system or appliance.

Limited roof coverage in some home warranties

While complete roof replacement is seldom covered by standard home warranties, some companies do offer limited roof coverage as part of premium plans or as aadd-onon option. This limited coverage typicallincludesde:

Repair of leaks in specific areas of the roof
Coverage for flash issues
Repair of damage shingles or tiles in limited areas

It’s important to note that flush when roof coverage is included, it’s commonlyrestrictedt to repairs of leaks over living spaces and come with significant limitations and exclusions.

Common limitations of home warranty roof coverage

When home warranties do include some form of roof coverage, they typically come with several restrictions:

Coverage limit caps (much between $$500$1,500 per contract term ))
Repairs solely, not full replacement
Coverage limit to specific roofing materials
Coverage solely for leaks, not cosmetic or structural issues
Pre-exist conditions are excexcluded
Coverage may be limited to certain areas of the roof

For example, a home warranty might cover the repair of a leak over your living room but exclude issues with the entire roofing system, gutters, or damage cause by severe weather events.

Read the fine print: what’s typically exclude

Yet when a home warranty includes some roof coverage, many types of damage and roof relate issues are specificallyexcludede. Common exclusions include:

Damage from weather events (wind, hail, snow, ice )
Structural damage to the roof
Damage cause by improper installation
Skylights, chimneys, and roof mount equipment
Damage from fall objects
Roof replacement
Preventative maintenance
Cosmetic issues that don’t affect functionality

These exclusions mean that yet with roof coverage, your home warranty won’t will protect against many of the almost common causes of roof damage.

Home warranty companies that offer roof coverage

Some home warranty providers do offer limited roof leak coverage either as part of premium plans or as an optional add-on. Companies that sometimes offer some form of roof coverage include:

American home shield: offer roof leak coverage as an add-on in some states
Choice home warranty: has included limited roof leak coverage in some of their plans
First American home warranty: offer roof coverage as an optional add-on in certain markets
Select home warranty: has included limited roof leak protection in some comprehensive plans
Liberty home guard: offer roof leak coverage as an add-on option

The availability, cost, and extent of coverage vary importantly between companies and plans, so it’s essential to cautiously review the terms before purchase.

What roof relate issues might be cover

When home warranties do include roof coverage, they typically exclusively cover specific issues:

Leaks in the roof over living areas
Repair of damage shingles immediately relate to a cover leak
Issues with flash around vents, chimneys, or skylights that cause leaks
Water damage to interior ceilings immediately cause by a cover roof leak

Coverage is typically limit to the specific area where the leak occurs kinda than address systematic issues with the entire roof.

Homeowners insurance vs. Home warranty for roof coverage

It’s important to understand the difference between homeowners insurance and home warranties when it comes to roof protection:

Homeowners insurance

Covers damage from sudden, unexpected events like storms, fire, or fall trees
May cover full roof replacement if damage by a cover peril
Typically, have higher coverage limits
Doesn’t cover normal wear and tear or age relate deterioration
Normally have a deductible that must be meet before coverage kicks in

Home warranty

May cover leaks result from normal wear and tear
Typically, solely cover repairs, not replacement
Have lots lower coverage limits than insurance
Doesn’t cover damage from storms or other sudden events
Normally charge a service fee for each claim kinda than a deductible

These two types of coverage are complementary quite than redundant. Homeowners insurance protects against sudden, major damage, while home warranties (when they include roof coverage )address normal wear and tear issues.

Alternatives to home warranty roof coverage

Give the limitations of home warranty roof coverage, homeowners should consider these alternatives for protecting their roofs:

Comprehensive homeowners’ insurance

A robust homeowners insurance policy offer better protection against major roof damage from covered perils like storms, fire, and fall trees. Some insurance companies besides offer endorsements that provide additional roof coverage.

Roof warranty from manufacturer or installer

Many roofing materials come with manufacturer warranties that can last 20 50 years. Additionally, reputable roofing contractors oftentimes provide workmanship warranties on installation. These warranties are typically more comprehensive for roof specific issues than home warranties.

Regular maintenance and inspections

Preventative maintenance is frequently the nearly cost-effective approach to roof protection. Regular inspections (ideally twice a year )can identify minor issues before they become major problems. Many roofing companies offer maintenance programs for a reasonable annual fee.

Dedicated roof insurance

Some insurance companies offer specialized roof insurance policies that provide more comprehensive coverage than standard homeowners insurance or home warranties.

Emergency fund for home repairs

Set aside money specifically for home repairs, include potential roof issues, provide financial flexibility when problems arise.

Questions to ask before purchasing roof coverage

If you’re considered a home warranty with roof coverage, ask these questions before purchasing:

What specific roof issues are cover and exclude?
What’s the maximum coverage limit for roof repairs?
Is there a separate deductible or service fee for roof claims?
Are there restrictions base on roof age, material, or previous repairs?
Does coverage include water damage to the interior result from roof leaks?
How promptly will repairs be will schedule after a claim is will approve?
Can you choose your own contractor, or must you use the warranty company’s network?
What documentation is required to prove the issue isn’tpre-existt?

Get clear answers to these questions help you understand just what protection you’re purchase.

Make a roof claim under a home warranty

If your home warranty does include roof coverage, and you need to make a claim, follow these steps:

Document the issue:

Take photos of the leak and any result damage
Review your contract:

Verify that the specific issue is cover under your warranty
Submit a claim:

Contact your warranty company through their preferred method (phone, oonlineportal, etc. ))
Pay the service fee:

Most home warranties require a service fee (typically $$75$125 ))or each claim
Schedule the inspection:

The warranty company will arrange for a contractor to will assess the issue
Get approval:

The contractor will determine if the issue is will cover and will submit their findings to the warranty company
Complete repairs:

If approverove, repairs will be will schedule and will complete

Be prepared for the possibility that your claim might be denied if the issue fall under an exclusion or exceed coverage limits.

Is home warranty roof coverage worth it?

Whether limited roof coverage in a home warranty is worth the cost depend on several factors:

When it might be worth it

Your roof is age but not old sufficiency to need replacement
You want protection against minor leaks from normal wear and tear
You’re already purchased a home warranty for other systems and the roof coverage isincludede or available as an inexpensivadd-onon
You’re on a tight budget and prefer predictable service fees to potentially larger repair costs

When it’s likely not worth it

Your roof is rattling old and likely to need full replacement shortly
You live in an area with extreme weather where storm damage is the primary concern
The coverage limits are importantly lower than typical repair costs in your area
You have a specialized or complex roof that may not be adequately cover

The bottom line on home warranty roof coverage

Most standard home warranties do not include comprehensive roof coverage. When roof coverage is offer, it’s typically limited to leak repairs with significant restrictions and comparatively low coverage caps.

For complete roof protection, homeowners should rely on a combination of:

Robust homeowners’ insurance for sudden, major damage
Manufacturer and workmanship warranties for defects
Regular maintenance and inspections to prevent issues
A dedicated home repair fund for costs not cover by warranties or insurance

If you do opt for a home warranty with roof coverage, read the contract cautiously to understand precisely what’s and isn’t cover. The fine print matter staggeringly when it comes to roof claims.

Remember that the best protection for your roof is preventative maintenance. Regular inspections and prompt attention to minor issues can extend your roof’s lifespan and help you avoid the limitations and exclusions that come with most home warranty roof coverage.

By understand the realities of home warranty roof coverage and explore all available options, you can make informed decisions about how best to protect one of your home’s about important structural elements.