A homeowners insurance policy typically covers hail damage to your roof, but don’t be surprised if your claim comes into question if the roof is old or otherwise in need of repair.
Damage that occurs because of a failure to maintain the roof could be denied coverage. The reasoning may be that a roof in good condition would have been appropriately resilient to the hail. In addition, if hail damage creates cosmetic (aesthetic) damage only, then this will most likely not be covered by your homeowners policy.
It’s tough to know when to replace your roof, but you can inspect from the inside and look from the outside to make sure that shingles are all in place and intact. If you think you have rot, degradation of shingles, or other damage, get an assessment from a contractor to see how serious the problem is. You don’t want to find out at claim time that a lack of maintenance invalidated your coverage.
If you are getting a new roof, consider impact-resistant shingles to mitigate hail damage. It is also possible in many cases to enhance your insurance to cover the cost of upgraded roofing for roofs that are currently in good condition that could be damaged in a storm.
