Are You Covered for Roof Damage Insurance Claims?

Flat roofs are the most common style of roofing for both residential apartment and commercial buildings, but they are also prone to water leaks, especially after a heavy rainfall from hurricanes, tropical storms, or slow-moving thunderstorms. While many homeowners and property managers regularly check the roof drainage system and clean out debris, there are a number of ways that a flat roof can cause interior water damage to walls, floors, and ceilings.

With extreme weather conditions, United Public Adjusters & Appraisers, Inc. has seen roof drains plugged by golf balls, tennis balls, bottle caps, and other flying debris that ultimately creates a roof swimming pool that leads to water seepage issues. On the other hand, the commercial flat roof may experience wind uplift causing damage to the fascia, edge flashing, and roofing membrane leaving the interior exposed to potential water damage from heavy rains.

Are Leaking Roof Damages to Building Interiors Covered by My Insurance Company?

Depending on your insurance policy language, its interpretation, and the facts surrounding the cause of loss, there may be coverage for your property damages. Taking on the insurance company on your own while documenting and estimating building, business personal property, and loss of revenue damages can be an overwhelming task. This is where hiring an experienced and licensed public adjuster to handle your roof damage insurance claims comes in!

Typical commercial insurance policies range from 100-300 pages which discuss coverages, exclusions and limitations. With years of handling residential and commercial building damages, United Public Adjusters know exactly what policy language to look for and how it affects your leaking roof insurance claim for damages.

Since not all policies and claim situations are alike, below is a recent case study:  

Our client who owns a restaurant group throughout the U.S. including NYC called our firm after experiencing the remnants of a tropical storm as their flat roof drain was clogged with debris which resulted in water seepage to the interior of the building. Immediately after requesting a copy of the full policy with all forms and endorsements, we discovered within the “Causes of Loss – Special form” that there were coverage limitations that would cause the restaurant group to not get paid for water damages to the interior of the building. The policy language was as follows:

Limitations:

1. We will not pay for loss of or damage to property, as described and limited in this section. In addition, we will not pay for any loss that is a consequence of loss or damage as described and limited in this section.

    The interior of any building or structure, or to personal property in the building or structure, caused by or resulting from rain, snow, sleet, ice, sand or dust, whether driven by wind or not, unless :

        a) The building or structure first sustains damage by a Covered Cause of Loss to its roof or walls through which the rain, snow, sleet, ice, sand or dust enters.

Considering the above language was found within a typical commercial property policy form, we then began to search the policy for additional policy endorsements or enhancements which may delete the above limitations while providing coverage for interior water damages even if the building or structure didn’t first sustain damage by a covered cause of loss. As we continued our policy review, we discovered the policy had a “Restaurant Coverage changes endorsement” which stated:

Interior of Building

        a) We will pay for loss to the interior of any building or structure, or to personal property in the building or structure, caused by or resulting from rain, snow, sleet or ice, whether driven by wind or not, whether or not the building or structure first sustains damage by a Covered Cause of Loss through which the rain, snow, sleet or ice enters.

As you can see by reviewing the above case study, knowing a licensed public adjuster with experience in handling roof damage insurance claims is key to a successful claim recovery. Our public adjusters are here to help and can be reached at 1-800-718-5677 (LOSS).