As a homeowner, you probably already know about Florida’s homeowners insurance crisis. Floridians pay a lot of money to safeguard their homes, and they expect support when their roof eventually needs replacing. Unfortunately, using your coverage can be difficult, especially if you’re not used to navigating insurance systems. That’s why we’re here to tell you how to get insurance to pay for a roof replacement in Florida.
We’re PITCH Roofing, your trusted local roofing partners. Over our years of providing high-quality roofing services, we’ve learned the ins and outs of getting your roof replacement covered by insurance. Keep reading for a complete breakdown of how to get your new roof covered by your homeowners insurance!
| The Process | Action Required by Homeowner | The PITCH Advantage / Pro Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1: Review Your Policy | Check your specific coverage details for weather-related damage limits (wind, hail, falling trees). | Understand that insurance policies cover sudden storm damage, not a roof failing from old age. |
| Step 2: Collect Evidence | Take photos of the damage from the ground and document the date of the weather event. | If you can’t safely access the roof, a professional roofing crew can snap close-up photos for you. |
| Step 3: Get a Professional Inspection | Hire a licensed Florida roofer to assess the damage and write a formal report. | This is required by insurers. PITCH provides a thorough, documented inspection that insurance adjusters trust. |
| Step 4: Collect Quotes | Gather itemized replacement estimates for your insurance provider to review. | PITCH provides fully itemized, fair-market quotes that prove to the insurer they are paying a legitimate price. |
How to Get Insurance to Pay for a Roof Replacement in Florida
At first glance, the process of getting your roof replacement covered by insurance can seem daunting. The language on your policy may be confusing, you may not be sure who to contact, or you may just not know how to prove that you qualify for coverage. But with a bit of know-how, all of these hurdles become much easier to navigate.
See for yourself in these four steps to get your homeowners insurance to cover your roof replacement!
1. Review Your Policy and Roof Replacement Coverage
Many homeowners think that having insurance means you never have to pay for a roof replacement. Unfortunately, this is not the case. To get your insurance provider to pay for a new roof, you’ll likely have to meet specific criteria.
To find details on your own coverage, you’ll have to carefully read your policy. That said, most homeowners insurance policies only cover weather-related damage. This means that they probably won’t pay for a new roof if it has simply reached the end of its life due to normal aging.
However, you may be able to get insurance to pay for a roof replacement if your roof was severely damaged by:
- High winds (missing shingles, impact damage from storm debris)
- Water damage (stormwater damaging your decking)
- Hail (impact damage, dents in metal roofs)
If your roof needs replacing because of these weather-related factors, then there’s a good chance you’re covered by your insurance policy. However, the burden is on you as the homeowner to prove your case.
2. Collect Evidence for Your Roof Replacement Insurance Claim
When you’re trying to get insurance to pay for a roof replacement, you have to prove two things: first, that your roof was damaged. And second, that your roof was damaged by a major weather event.
Proving that your roof sustained damage is the easy part. Take photos of your roof to show the damaged sections. If you’re not able to access your roof yourself, most roofing companies will be happy to snap a few pictures for you as part of conducting a roof inspection. Be sure to take photos of the damage close up and farther away so that your insurance company can see both the details of the damage and the big picture.
You’ll also need to find ways to document how and when the damage occurred. If your roof was damaged in a hurricane, it should be easy to find articles showing that your area was hit by a major storm. Or if your roof was hit by a falling tree, it can be helpful to take photos of the tree from the ground to show where it fell.
This is a lot of legwork, but it’s essential to getting the insurance coverage you deserve. Once you’ve taken steps to prove that your roof was damaged by weather, the next step is proving that it needs replacing.
3. Get a Roof Inspection to Prove Your Roof Needs Replacing
In a perfect world, your photos would count as proof that your home need a roof replacement. But insurance companies are finicky, and they’ll usually only accept proof from licensed contractors. That’s why your next step to getting insurance to pay for a roof replacement is scheduling a roof inspection.
During your roof inspection, a licensed roofer will get on your roof and create a detailed report determining whether it needs to be repaired or replaced. If they determine that it needs replacing, you’ll send in that report with the other parts of your claim.
When getting a roof inspection, it’s important to make sure you’re working with experienced professionals. For one thing, if they’re not licensed in the state of Florida, your insurer won’t take the report seriously. And it pays to go with roofers who have experience with this kind of documentation. A vague report on your roof is as helpful as not having one at all.
While roof inspections aren’t typically free, they’re fairly low-cost. Generally, you can get a quality roof inspection for under $200. This price may not be reimbursed by your insurance company. But compared to the cost of a roof replacement, it’s easy to justify this investment in getting your roof covered.
You won’t just need a roof inspection to get your claim approved, though. You’ll also need a roof replacement cost estimate.
4. Collect Your Roof Replacement Quotes
The purpose of getting a roof inspection is to prove your roof needs replacing. Once that’s done, your insurance company will want numbers for how much they can expect to pay if they approve your claim. For that, you’ll need to provide several roofing estimates, although they may not need to come from different contractors.
When scheduling your estimates, you’ll need to request quotes for several different types of materials, including the original material. For example, if your shingle roof was damaged in a hurricane, you’ll want to ask for estimates for shingle, metal, and tile roofs, just to cover your bases (although we wouldn’t recommend expecting your insurance company to upgrade your roof). This is because roofing companies need to know they’re getting a fair deal, so they’ll want to see their options.
Right now, insurance companies are especially wary of roofers in Florida. That’s because storm chasers rigged the system by providing extremely costly estimates with inflated prices and then delivering sub-par work. To make sure that your claim isn’t rejected, pick roofers with a great reputation for providing fair prices and quality workmanship.
Wear and Tear is Not Covered
A common misconception is that homeowners insurance acts as a warranty for old age. It does not. If your roof is 20 years old and failing due to normal wear and tear, your insurance claim will likely be denied. To get insurance to pay for a roof replacement, you must prove the roof was compromised by a sudden, qualifying weather event like hurricane winds or severe hail.
Get Insurance to Pay for a Roof Replacement – Video
Beware of the “Storm Chasers”
After a major hurricane, out-of-state “storm chasers” flood Florida neighborhoods. They often pressure homeowners into signing an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) and submit artificially inflated quotes to your insurance company. Insurers are hyper-aware of this and will quickly reject inflated claims. To ensure your claim goes smoothly, always get your roof replacement estimate from an established, local Florida roofer.
Get Insurance to Pay for a Roof Replacement by Picking Reliable Roofers
Nobody wants to jump through all these hoops. But from the perspective of your insurance provider, they need to be sure that they’re paying a fair price for necessary work. From your perspective, the best thing you can do is work with roofers who know how to get insurance to pay for a roof replacement.
Pitch is a reliable roofing company based right here in Pinellas County. As Owens Corning Preferred Contractors with great reviews and deep local roots, we know Florida and its roofing needs better than anyone. If you need roofers to help you get approved or replace your roof after getting approval, we’ve got you covered.
To get your free, no-obligation roofing estimate, call us at 727-677-4824 or schedule your estimate online. With friendly, courteous staff and some of the best roofers in the state, we’ll get your roof replacement done right and help you handle any hurdles from your insurance company. Give us a chance to earn your business and you’ll see why Pitch is Florida’s favorite roof replacement company!
Roof Replacement Insurance FAQs
No. Most homeowners insurance policies only cover sudden, weather-related damage, such as high winds tearing off shingles, hail creating impact damage, or a fallen tree. They will not pay for a new roof if it has simply reached the end of its natural lifespan.
You need to document the damage thoroughly. Take wide and close-up photos of the damage (like missing shingles or a fallen tree), and note the exact date the storm occurred so it can be cross-referenced with local weather reports by your insurance adjuster.
Yes. Insurance companies rarely accept photos from a homeowner as sole proof that a full replacement is needed. You will need to hire a licensed Florida roofing contractor to perform a detailed inspection and generate a professional report.
Your insurance company needs to know they are paying a fair market price. You’ll typically need to provide at least one highly detailed, itemized estimate. Some insurers may request multiple quotes, or quotes for different material types, to establish a baseline cost.
Heather Ware is an In-House Roofing Specialist at PITCH Roofing. Working daily alongside our internal roofing teams, she translates complex Florida building codes and roofing techniques into clear, actionable advice for homeowners. With 4 years of experience in the Florida roofing industry, her goal is to ensure property owners have the exact facts they need to protect their investments.
