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Does a Home Warranty Cover My Roof?
Most home warranty plans cover roof leaks, but some require you to pay an extra fee.
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Whitney Vandiver writes for NerdWallet, currently focusing on home services, and has been published in the The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, The Seattle Times and The Independent. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading with a hot latte and spending time with her family. She is based in Houston.
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Several home warranty companies offer roof coverage, but they often limit what qualifies for a repair. For example, most home warranty companies won’t pay to repair a leak caused by a hurricane. Some companies don’t include roof coverage in their plans; you have to pay an extra monthly fee.
Regardless of whether roof coverage is in your plan or an add-on option, take the time to read through the coverage exclusions to ensure you know what type of coverage you’re buying.
NerdWallet's best home warranties
Our top picks for 2024 offer good coverage options at a reasonable cost.
What’s included in home warranty roof coverage?
Most home warranties only pay to repair roof leaks, not major repairs or replacements.
Each home warranty provider specifies which types of roofs it will repair and in which circumstances, but it’s more common for them to clarify what’s excluded from coverage rather than list every type of roof leak that they will repair.
Home warranties typically won’t cover:
Tar, gravel and metal roofs.
Eco or green roofs.
Flat roofs or roofs that are built up.
Roofs on mobile homes, condominiums or townhomes.
Home warranties also typically exclude:
Specific parts of a traditional roof, including shingles or tiles, flashing and vents.
Items that are connected to your roof as part of the home’s design, such as skylights or chimneys.
Items that you’ve installed on your home, even if you used a licensed contractor, such as solar panels, satellite dishes or guttering.
Structural components that are damaged by a roof leak.
Most home warranties don’t cover solar panels or related systems. They also usually exclude damage the solar installer may do to your roof.
In other words, a home warranty might help repair the leak enough to stop more water from getting into your house, but it probably won’t repair every type of roof leak or fix everything involved.
A home warranty usually won’t cover roof damage caused by weather. Whether it was strong winds, hail, heavy rain or a major hurricane, most home warranty companies won’t repair your roof if they suspect that the damage was caused by a natural disaster.
M-F 9:30am-9:30pm ET, Sa 10am-7pm ET, Su 10am-6pm ET
Call Liberty Home Guard
Limited-Time Deal: $200 off plus 2 free months of coverage
when the payment is annual
on Liberty Home Guard's website
Monthly fees
$50 and up
Service fees
$70–$125
per claim
States available
50
states, and Washington, D.C.
Roof coverage: Home warranty vs. homeowners insurance
Homeowners insurance is likely to cover roof repairs that a home warranty won’t cover. For example, depending on your policy, homeowners insurance might cover roof damage caused by natural disasters, hail, a structural fire and items striking or penetrating your roof, such as falling trees.
You might need an additional policy to cover some natural disasters. Not all homeowners policies cover damage caused by every type of natural disaster, and some specifically exclude damage due to wind, hail or floods. If your homeowners policy doesn’t cover these and your house is at risk, you can purchase an additional policy specifically for these types of situations.
Homeowners insurance might also pay for roof damage to structures that aren’t attached to the main house, such as a detached garage or barn.
A homeowners insurance policy usually doesn’t cover roof leaks caused by a lack of maintenance or age, but some home warranties might pay to repair such a leak. Be sure to read the contract before signing.
When comparing home warranty plans for roof coverage, answer these questions to determine which company offers the best plan for your needs.
Is roof coverage included in a plan or do I have to pay extra? If a provider doesn’t include the roof as part of a plan’s coverage, it will often offer it as an add-on item. Optional coverage items usually come with an extra monthly fee that you pay on top of your monthly premium.
What are the coverage limits? Pay attention to how much a company will pay toward a qualifying roof repair. Limits generally range from $400 to $1,000, but some companies cap the total amount and how much they’ll pay at a time.
What's excluded? Every home warranty service agreement has exclusions, but what each company excludes varies. If you want coverage for a particular part of your roof or in a certain situation, read through the exclusions to ensure you won’t be paying for different roof coverage than expected.
Reading the coverage and exclusions information in your contract is one of the most impactful things you can do to avoid costly misunderstandings in the future. You have a right to read your contract before purchasing a plan, and it’s important to understand that home warranties:
Always have exclusions to coverage, no matter what their sales pitches say. Read your contract carefully before purchasing a plan — especially anything listed as an exclusion or limit of liability. For example, a company might cover air conditioning systems but exclude certain parts or components, such as coils. Other companies cover plumbing repairs but won’t pay to clear all plumbing stoppages or repair certain types of leaks.
Are not a type of insurance. Even though some companies call their service fees deductibles, home warranties do not work the same way as insurance policies. They differ in what they cover and how they pay for repairs or replacements. A home warranty is not a supplement for homeowners insurance.
Limit how much they pay. If the cost of a repair or replacement goes beyond a limit stated in your contract, you’ll have to pay the difference. For example, if the bill for a repair is $2,000 and the limit is $1,500, you’re required to cover $500. This is in addition to your monthly premium and service fee.
Can deny your claim for several reasons. Examples include if you had work performed on a covered item without approval or you modified the system or appliance.
May not pay enough to cover the full cost of replacing a covered item. Home warranties often depreciate the value of items as they age, so you’ll likely have to pay at least some money to replace an item, even if it’s covered by the contract.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of home warranty being reviewed and the warranty's cost, coverage levels, customer reviews and other features.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of home warranty being reviewed and the warranty's cost, coverage levels, customer reviews and other features.
This cost is based on quotes gathered in February 2024.
$20 and up
Service fees
$100 or $125
per claim
States available
Excludes Alaska and Hawaii.
48
states, and Washington, D.C.
Key facts
Unlike most plans, the ShieldPlatinum plan includes roof leak coverage. Usually, this coverage is only available as an add-on.
Pros
Will pay for wall damage when accessing plumbing or electrical items.
High coverage limits on electrical and plumbing.
Can choose your own contractor.
Coverage in most states.
Cons
Low customer satisfaction ratings.
Monthly premiums
This cost is based on quotes gathered in February 2024.
$20 and up
Service fees
$100 or $125
per claim
States available
Excludes Alaska and Hawaii.
48
states, and Washington, D.C.
IS THIS COMPANY AVAILABLE IN MY STATE?
IS THIS COMPANY AVAILABLE IN MY STATE?
Key facts
Unlike most plans, the ShieldPlatinum plan includes roof leak coverage. Usually, this coverage is only available as an add-on.
Pros
Will pay for wall damage when accessing plumbing or electrical items.
High coverage limits on electrical and plumbing.
Can choose your own contractor.
Coverage in most states.
Cons
Low customer satisfaction ratings.
With relatively high coverage limits and smaller sets of exclusions, American Home Shield’s coverage is a good one to consider.
Coverage limit: $1,000.
Covered repairs: Nonstructural roof leaks.
Notable repair exclusions: Leaks caused by nonroof items such as skylights or chimneys, items installed on roofs such as solar panels and guttering sections.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of home warranty being reviewed and the warranty's cost, coverage levels, customer reviews and other features.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of home warranty being reviewed and the warranty's cost, coverage levels, customer reviews and other features.
The Appliance Guard plan starts at $49.99 per month, the company confirms. If you pay for an annual plan, the effective rate is $35.71 per month.
$50 and up
Service fees
$70–$125
per claim
States available
50
states, and Washington, D.C.
Key facts
Compared to competitors, Liberty earns more positive customer reviews. On the Better Business Bureau, consumer ratings average about 4.5 stars out of 5, much higher than other top home warranty companies.
Pros
Can choose your own contractor.
Coverage in all states.
High customer satisfaction ratings.
Cons
Won't pay for wall damage when accessing plumbing or electrical items.
Low coverage limits on electrical and plumbing.
Monthly premiums
The Appliance Guard plan starts at $49.99 per month, the company confirms. If you pay for an annual plan, the effective rate is $35.71 per month.
$50 and up
Service fees
$70–$125
per claim
States available
50
states, and Washington, D.C.
IS THIS COMPANY AVAILABLE IN MY STATE?
IS THIS COMPANY AVAILABLE IN MY STATE?
Key facts
Compared to competitors, Liberty earns more positive customer reviews. On the Better Business Bureau, consumer ratings average about 4.5 stars out of 5, much higher than other top home warranty companies.
Pros
Can choose your own contractor.
Coverage in all states.
High customer satisfaction ratings.
Cons
Won't pay for wall damage when accessing plumbing or electrical items.
Low coverage limits on electrical and plumbing.
Although its coverage isn’t as high as some of its competitors' limits, the company’s list of exclusions is smaller compared with most competitors.
Coverage limit: $500.
Covered repairs: Roof leak patching over the occupied living area.
Notable repair exclusions: Leaks caused by cracked or missing materials; repairs to shingles or tiles; structural damage; gutters; installed items such as skylights, flashing and chimney components.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of home warranty being reviewed and the warranty's cost, coverage levels, customer reviews and other features.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of home warranty being reviewed and the warranty's cost, coverage levels, customer reviews and other features.
This cost is based on quotes gathered in March 2024.
$45 and up
Service fees
$100 to $125
per claim
States available
Excludes Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
25
states, and Washington, D.C.
Key facts
Old Republic Home Protection's coverage limits are on the high end compared with competitors, especially for HVAC and appliances.
Pros
High coverage limits on HVAC, electrical and appliances.
May be able to choose your own contractor.
Decent customer satisfaction ratings compared to competitors.
Cons
If they have to put a hole in the wall, wall repair is only for a rough finish, no texture or paint.
Monthly premiums
This cost is based on quotes gathered in March 2024.
$45 and up
Service fees
$100 to $125
per claim
States available
Excludes Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
25
states, and Washington, D.C.
IS THIS COMPANY AVAILABLE IN MY STATE?
IS THIS COMPANY AVAILABLE IN MY STATE?
Key facts
Old Republic Home Protection's coverage limits are on the high end compared with competitors, especially for HVAC and appliances.
Pros
High coverage limits on HVAC, electrical and appliances.
May be able to choose your own contractor.
Decent customer satisfaction ratings compared to competitors.
Cons
If they have to put a hole in the wall, wall repair is only for a rough finish, no texture or paint.
With one of the higher coverage limits, Old Republic Home Protection’s roof coverage is unique. If the area where a roof leak occurs must be partially replaced to repair the leak, the company will still pay up to the coverage limit for most customers.
Coverage limit: $1,000.
Covered repairs: Roof leaks in roof or roof cap over the occupied living area of the main dwelling if normal wear, rain or deterioration caused the leak and only if the roof was watertight.
Notable repair exclusions: Leaks caused by lack of maintenance, installation of nonroof items such as skylights or solar panels, or standing or walking on the roof; flashing, ridge vents, patio or balcony covers and guttering are also excluded.
