Usually yes, if wind, hail or a falling tree damaged the roof. Usually no, if the roof simply wore out. Virginia's homeowners policy rules require insurers to cover the house for direct physical loss from any cause, then let them exclude a short list of things. Wear and tear is on that list.
This guide covers what that means for a roof, how a claim actually goes, and the new Virginia rules for roofers that start January 1, 2027.
What insurance covers, and what it doesn't
Virginia regulation 14VAC5-342-50 requires homeowners policies to cover the dwelling for "open causes of loss." In plain terms: if something sudden damages the roof, it is covered unless the policy excludes it.
The exclusions are in 14VAC5-342-60. The ones that matter for roofs:
- Wear and tear and deterioration. An old roof shedding granules is maintenance, not a claim.
- Neglect. If you don't take reasonable steps to protect the house after damage, like tarping a hole, the extra damage can be excluded.
- Water that gets in without an opening. For your belongings, insurers can exclude rain damage inside unless wind or hail first made an opening in the roof or walls.
What usually is covered: shingles torn off by wind, hail bruising, a tree limb through the deck, and the water damage that follows through that opening.
Repair or full replacement?
Insurance pays to put the roof back to its condition before the storm, so a claim can pay for a repair, a section, or the whole roof. It depends on how much is damaged and whether the damaged shingles can be matched. Your adjuster decides that, based on what they see and what the policy says.
Two policy terms drive how much you get. Replacement cost value pays what it costs to replace the roof today, usually after the work is done. Actual cash value subtracts depreciation for the roof's age. Your declarations page says which one you have, and what your deductible is. Some policies have a separate, higher deductible for wind and hail.
How a roof claim goes, step by step
Protect the house. Tarp any opening and photograph everything first. This is the "reasonable means to protect the property" your policy asks for.
Get a roof inspection. We go up, photograph the damage shingle by shingle, and tell you honestly whether it looks like storm damage or age. If it's age, we say so, and you save yourself a claim on your record.
Call your insurer and open the claim. Ask for your claim number and your adjuster's name.
Meet the adjuster. We can be on the roof with the adjuster so the damage they see matches the damage we found.
Get an itemized estimate. Every RC estimate lists the work line by line, so you can compare it to the insurer's.
Pay your deductible. That part is always yours. See the next section for why.
New Virginia rules for roofers starting January 1, 2027
Virginia's Residential Property Owners Protection Act (Code of Virginia §§ 59.1-617 to 59.1-620) takes effect January 1, 2027. It protects homeowners from the storm-chaser tactics we see every season. Under it:
- A contractor cannot pay, waive or rebate any part of your insurance deductible (§ 59.1-618 A). An offer to "cover your deductible" is a red flag.
- A contractor cannot offer gifts, cash or credits in exchange for a roof inspection or for filing a claim (§ 59.1-618 B.2).
- A contractor cannot have you authorize repairs without a good-faith, itemized estimate (§ 59.1-618 B.4).
- Roofing contracts must carry specific notices, and if the deductible notice is missing, you can void the contract within 10 days of signing (§ 59.1-618 B.5).
- If you sign within 180 days of a governor's emergency declaration for your area, you can cancel within 10 days or by the start date, whichever comes first (§ 59.1-619).
- A contractor cannot act as your public adjuster. Only a licensed public adjuster can negotiate your claim for you (§ 38.2-1845.1).
What that means with us: we document the damage, meet the adjuster, and give you an itemized estimate. We don't negotiate your settlement, and you always pay your own deductible.
From a recent claim
After a windstorm last spring, one homeowner got estimates of tens of thousands of dollars with no detail behind them. He asked the manufacturers which roofers to trust, and they sent him to us. We replaced the roof, skylights and some siding, and worked with his insurance company through the claim. In his words: "Ricardo is an effective communicator, worked directly with our insurance company, and kept us informed every step of the way." Rick Day, Google review, June 2026.