Your commercial property is the place from where your business operates, and any damage to its structure can adversely impact your business and even result in crippling losses. Among other types of damage to your property, roof damage can cause immense financial loss to your business. You must ask your insurance provider about roof damage-specific coverage offered on your commercial property.
In this blog, we will cover the scenarios when a roof collapse will be covered by your insurance providers and when your claim will be denied.
While roof collapse occurs suddenly and may take you by complete surprise, the cause that leads to its collapse may be a longstanding one. This may create problems for you during filing a claim when after an assessment of the roof damage, your insurance provider may deny your claim and refuse to pay for the damage.
Lack of maintenance is one of the most common causes of roof damage, and it is not covered by your commercial property insurance. As part of regular maintenance, you must look out for leakages and identify their cause. Some of the causes are:
The detection and repair of roof damage in its initial stage not only saves you money but also may avert incidents such as roof collapse.
Due to several ambiguities in the coverage, your insurer may not agree to your claim demands. In the event of a disagreement with your insurer about the compensation, you may seek legal counsel.
If the roof damage and its subsequent collapse are caused by the factors mentioned below, the repair and replacement cost may not be included in your coverage.
Leaks and other types of water damage will not be covered if it is due to maintenance negligence or wear and tear. However, if the damage is caused by a covered peril, you may be covered, but if the peril is not listed as a covered item in your policy, your claim may be denied.
In most cases, if the roof is over 20 years old, it may not be covered. Also, if you have replaced only the upper layer and the lower layer remains the same, it will be considered an old roof.
You will be responsible for roof damage if you fail to get regular maintenance done, neglect leakages and other maintenance issues, or cause more damage by performing D-I-Y repairs.
Certain roofing materials are considered high-risk and may not be covered by your insurance. You must ask your insurance provider for a list of safe and unsafe roofing materials to know whether your roof damage claim will be accepted or denied.
If you want to learn more about commercial property insurance, contact our team today. At Corbett & Associates Insurance Agents & Brokers, our experts ensure comprehensive coverage and maximum security for your business property.
