Will home insurance pay for my roof? Storm damage vs wear and tear in Canada

Canadian home insurance generally pays for roof or siding damage only when it is sudden and accidental and caused by a peril the policy covers, typically wind and hail on most homeowner policies, and then usually only for the damaged part, minus your deductible. It does not pay to replace a roof that has simply aged: wear and tear, deterioration, rot, mould, faulty workmanship and lack of maintenance are standard exclusions. Some policies settle older roofs at actual cash value (replacement cost minus depreciation) rather than full replacement cost. If your claim is refused or underpaid, ask for the reasons and the policy wording in writing, use the insurer's internal complaint process, then go to the General Insurance OmbudService (for participating insurers) or your provincial insurance regulator.

This guide is part of roofing problems and official sources. Policies differ a lot; your own wording decides. This is general information, not insurance or legal advice.

Insured damage versus wear and tear

Situation	Usually covered?	Why
Hail bruises and fractures shingles across one slope	Often yes, if hail is an insured peril	Sudden, identifiable event
Wind tears off shingles in a storm	Often yes	Sudden, identifiable event
Tree falls on the roof in a storm	Often yes	Sudden, accidental
Shingles curling and losing granules after many years	No	Wear and tear
Leak from cracked flashing that failed slowly	Often no for the roof repair; resulting water damage depends on wording	Deterioration; gradual leakage exclusions
Ice dam water entering the house	Depends on wording	Some policies cover resulting damage, others exclude it or limit it
Leak due to a contractor's poor installation	Faulty workmanship excluded; resulting damage may be covered	Contractor's warranty is the route for the defect
Mould and rot in the attic from poor ventilation	Usually no	Gradual, maintenance-related

"Resulting damage" is the key idea: even when the cause is excluded, some policies cover sudden water damage to the interior that results. Read the exclusions and any exceptions to them.

Roof age, depreciation and settlement

Insurers increasingly ask for a roof's age and material at purchase and renewal. Practices you may see:

Replacement cost settlement for the damaged roof area, often conditional on actually repairing or replacing it.
Actual cash value (depreciated) settlement for roofs over a certain age, or if you do not repair.
Roof surcharges, special deductibles or restricted cover for older roofs, particularly in hail-prone areas.
Credits in some cases for impact-resistant roofing; ask your insurer.

Illustrative example: hail damages a 16-year-old asphalt roof. The insurer's estimate to replace the damaged slopes is $9,000. The policy settles roofs over 15 years at actual cash value, depreciating an assumed 4% a year.

Depreciation: 16 × 4% = 64%, so ACV = $9,000 × 36% = $3,240.
Deductible: $1,000.
Payment: $3,240 − $1,000 = $2,240.

Under a replacement cost settlement the payment would be $9,000 − $1,000 = $8,000. The wording matters more than the storm.

Matching and partial replacement

When only some slopes are damaged, insurers often pay for those slopes only. If the matching shingle is discontinued, some policies or insurer practices address matching; others do not. Ask how the insurer handles it before work starts, and get its position in writing.

Siding claims

Hail and wind can crack vinyl and dent metal siding; a fire next door can melt vinyl. The same principles apply: sudden damage from a covered peril, the damaged elevations, deductible, and matching questions. Fading and brittleness from age are wear and tear.

How to make a roof claim

Prevent further damage: arrange tarping or temporary repairs; keep receipts. Most policies require you to take reasonable steps.
Notify the insurer promptly; policies set notice requirements.
Document: dated photos of the roof from the ground, attic, interior stains, hail size if visible, and local storm reports.
Get a repair estimate from a roofer of your choice, even if the insurer sends its own adjuster.
Do not sign an assignment of your claim or a contract that lets a contractor deal with your insurer without reading it; see storm chasers.
Ask for the settlement in writing, with the scope, pricing, depreciation and deductible shown.

Your roof replacement cost estimator range can help you test whether the insurer's price per square is realistic for your area.

Disputing a refusal or low settlement

Ask the adjuster for the reasons and the specific policy clauses relied on.
Provide your evidence: an independent roofer's report on the cause of damage, photos, storm data.
Use the insurer's internal complaint process; ask for its final position in writing.
Escalate: - General Insurance OmbudService (GIO): free, independent help for disputes with participating home, auto and business insurers. - Provincial regulators: FSRA in Ontario, the Autorité des marchés financiers in Quebec (which handles complaint files and offers dispute resolution), BCFSA in British Columbia, and superintendents of insurance elsewhere.
Policies and provincial laws set appraisal processes for disputes about the amount of loss in some provinces, and limitation periods for suing. Get legal advice for large disputes.

When to replace instead of claim

If your roof is near the end of its life and damage is minor, the payment after deductible and depreciation may be small, and a claim can affect future premiums. Some homeowners choose to replace the roof themselves and not claim. That is a personal decision; ask your insurer or broker how claims affect your premium before deciding. A new roof can also help at renewal: tell your insurer the installation year and material.

FAQ

Does my insurer have to pay for a full new roof?

Not usually, unless the whole roof is damaged by a covered peril or the policy provides for it. Insurers usually pay for damaged areas.

My claim was refused because of wear and tear, but the leak started in a storm. What now?

Ask for the adjuster's report, get an independent opinion on cause, and use the complaint process. Show what the storm damaged versus what was already deteriorated.

Is ice damming covered?

It depends on the wording. Some policies cover resulting water damage, others exclude or limit it. Preventing ice dams is cheaper; see ice dams, ventilation and flashing failures.

Sources

General Insurance OmbudService — independent help with insurance disputes
Insurance Bureau of Canada — consumer guidance on home insurance and severe weather
Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario — Ontario insurance complaints
Autorité des marchés financiers — Quebec insurance complaints
BC Financial Services Authority — British Columbia insurance oversight