What's usually covered

Most home insurance policies cover sudden, accidental damage. On a roof, that typically means storm damage — broken or dislodged tiles after high wind, hail damage, falling tree branches, and water ingress caused by a sudden event. Make-safe work (tarping, emergency leak stops) is also usually covered while the claim is processed.

What's not typically covered is wear and tear. If your pointing has been cracking for ten years and a heavy rain finally pushed water through, insurers will often class that as a maintenance issue rather than storm damage. The line isn't always clear, which is where good documentation matters.

What to do straight after damage

Safety first — don't climb up there yourself, especially if it's wet. Take photos from the ground, from every angle you can get to. Photograph any debris (broken tiles, branches, sheets of metal) that's come off the roof. Note the date and time of the storm and any local news coverage of the weather event.

Then call a roofer for a make-safe — our emergency roof repair service covers the Illawarra and we can usually attend the same day. We'll tarp, photograph the damage from the roof, and give you a written report you can hand straight to your insurer.

Working with the insurer's assessor

Most insurers will send out their own assessor or builder to look at the roof. That's normal. What's also normal is that their first quote may be lower than what your independent roofer says is needed. You're entitled to a second opinion and to push back with your own quote.

We supply photos, written scope, and itemised pricing in the format insurers expect. We've worked through claims with most major Australian insurers and we know what they ask for. If you've got a claim in progress and want a second quote, just call.

Common pushback areas

Three things insurers commonly question:

  • Pointing replacement. Insurers will often only pay for the section directly damaged. If the rest is also failing, you may need to pay for that part yourself or argue it as a related issue.
  • Full restoration vs spot repair. If your roof was due for restoration anyway, insurers usually only pay the spot repair portion. The restoration itself is maintenance.
  • Internal water damage. Most policies cover the resulting damage (ceilings, paint, carpets) as well as the roof itself, but you'll need to claim them together.

Reducing future claim hassles

Regular maintenance is the single best thing you can do — see our South Coast roof maintenance guide. A roof that's been kept up gets clearly distinguished from wear-and-tear when storm damage hits, and insurers don't have grounds to push back. Keep receipts and photos of any maintenance work.

Need a quote, a second opinion, or a make-safe after a storm? Call 0436 443 898 or use the quote form. We cover the whole Illawarra and South Coast.