Home Warranty Roof-Leak Coverage
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Roof leaks can be frustrating. When left untreated, they can cause thousands of dollars of structural damage to the home beneath. Most new roof materials come with warranties, but these only cover manufacturing defects. With home warranty coverage, you’ll have added protection for roof leaks caused by normal wear and tear.
While home warranties primarily cover your home’s systems and appliances from wear and tear damage, they can also help you save on the repair costs of roof leak patching.
To help you choose the best roof-leak coverage, we’ve reviewed the nation’s best home warranty companies and identified the top providers offering roof protection. We found Liberty Home Guard to be the best home warranty provider for this coverage due to its add-on roof leak protection option.
Are Roof Leaks Covered Under a Home Warranty?
A home warranty is an annual service contract that covers repairs or replacements to major home systems and appliances such as your clothes washer, water heater, air conditioning, and plumbing system. While some home warranty companies cover roof leaks, this coverage type is usually optional or listed as an add-on that requires additional monthly fees.
Before you purchase a home warranty for your roof, it’s important to understand what it will and won’t cover. Most home warranty companies cover only basic roof leak patching, not structural roof repairs. Additionally, roof coverage applies to leaks due to normal wear and tear. It won’t cover leaks that occur due to these types of damage:
- Improper installation or repair
- Insufficient maintenance
- Pre-existing conditions
- Rust, mold, or corrosion
- Severe weather, natural disasters, or vandalism
Certain roof types are excluded from coverage, including eco-friendly and metal roofs. Most providers don’t cover attachments to your home’s roof, such as solar panels, gutters, and downspouts. Most home warranties only cover leaks that occur over a home’s living area, which excludes porches and garages.
Finally, all providers have coverage caps on roof leak coverage, usually around $500. If the cost of the repair exceeds the coverage cap, you’ll pay the difference out of pocket. Thus, no home warranty will cover the cost of a partial or full roof replacement.
How Much Do Roof Repairs Cost?
Despite these limitations, a home warranty can still save you a substantial amount of money, especially if you catch the leak early. Roof repairs can be one of the most expensive home repair costs. Depending on your house size, they can cost a few thousand dollars. For example, a roof leak repair could cost $150 if it’s in an isolated area. Larger leaks could cost as much as $1,500 before labor.
However, if roof leaks aren’t repaired quickly, they could escalate into bigger issues. Evan Greene, sales manager of Northeast Exteriors for the New England Branch of Long Home Products, says, “A roofing problem does not fix itself. The problems can snowball into other issues, such as mold and wood rot.” If your leak causes major structural damage, your costs could increase substantially.
Major repairs, such as roof replacement, could cost $8,000 or more. A home warranty won’t cover these costs, but it will allow you to act quickly as soon as you spot evidence of a leak. You won’t need to spend time finding a licensed roofer, either, since the provider will send a pre-vetted technician to your home to start the repair process. If the leak is patched quickly enough, your roof might not require structural repairs.
How Should You Shop for Roof Leak Coverage?
When comparing home warranty plans with roof leak coverage, keep the following considerations in mind. We highly recommend reviewing sample contracts and asking questions about the fine print so you fully understand your options.
Annual Home Warranty Cost Calculator
The savings you’ll get from a home warranty depend on your premium, your service fee, and the number of claims you file. We created a calculator to break down the estimated annual cost of owning a home warranty. Get a few quotes, then enter your monthly premium, service call fee, and estimated number of claims to see your projected annual cost.
Life span and repair cost data sourced from InterNACHI and Home Depot
How Can You Maintain Your Roof?
According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI), a typical asphalt shingle roof can last up to 20 years. Since your home warranty only covers normal wear and tear, practicing routine roof maintenance will help extend your roof’s durability. You may also have to show proof that you kept up with maintenance in order for your claim to be approved. To help you keep your roof in excellent condition, inspect and clean it regularly.
The Top 4 Home Warranty Companies That Cover Roof Leaks
Based on our in-depth research into roof-leak coverage, these are the best home warranties with roof plans:
Our team pulled sample quotes based on a 2,028-square-foot, single-family home in Atlanta, Georgia. Your monthly premium may vary based on your home’s location, size, type, plan choice, and add-on choices.
Liberty Home Guard
Liberty Home Guard (LHG) offers limited roof coverage as an add-on option when purchasing a plan. This coverage includes roof-leak patching on your home’s occupied area up to $250 for the first 90 days of your warranty period and up to $500 after that. It excludes flat roofs, skylights, flashing, satellite, and chimney components.
Plans and Pricing
Liberty Home Guard offers three home protection plans. The Appliance Guard protects major appliances, such as refrigerators and garbage disposals. The Systems Guard covers major systems, including ductwork and electrical systems. The Total Home Guard Plan combines the coverage of the Appliance Guard and Systems Guard. Service call fees range from $65 to $125 and vary by location, plan choice, and add-ons.
Homeowners can purchase limited roof-leak coverage as additional coverage with each plan for an extra $11.99 a month.
Although Liberty Home Guard’s monthly premiums vary by location, here are some typical prices:
- Appliance Guard: $49.99
- Systems Guard: $54.99
- Total Home Guard: $59.99
To request your free quote, fill out Liberty Home Guard’s quote form or call 866-452-9107.
Learn More: Liberty Home Guard Review
American Home Shield
American Home Shield (AHS) includes up to $1,000 for non-structural roof leak patching and shingle or tile repair with its ShieldPlatinum plan. You can add this coverage to its other plans for an extra fee. AHS actually covers more types of damage than most other companies, including unknown pre-existing conditions, insufficient maintenance, and improper repair. However, metal and eco-friendly roofs, items attached or penetrating your roof, and roof attachments such as gutters and downspouts are excluded.
Plans and Pricing
American Home Shield provides three coverage plans: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. The ShieldSilver plan covers major appliances only. ShieldGold plan combines major systems with home appliance coverage. The ShieldPlatinum plan covers all items listed in ShieldGold and increases the home appliance coverage cap. American Home Shield offers $100 or $125 service call fees. The higher your service call fee, the less you pay monthly. You can add roof-leak repair to the ShieldSilver and ShieldGold plans for an extra $10 monthly, and it’s already included in the ShieldPlatinum plan.
American Home Shield’s monthly premiums vary substantially by location, so we strongly recommend getting a free quote. However, here are the average price ranges.
- ShieldSilver: $40.56–$50.42
- ShieldGold: $65.38–$75.38
- ShieldPlatinum: $95.38–$105.38
Fill out American Home Shield’s quote form or call 844-529-9298 for your free quote.
Learn more: American Home Shield Review
Select Home Warranty
With Select Home Warranty, all plans covering single-family homes receive limited roof-leak coverage. However, patios, metal roofs, flat roofs, shingles or tiles, and structural leaks aren’t included. Select also doesn’t cover repairs that require a partial or complete roof replacement.
Plans and Pricing
Select Home Warranty provides three plans: Bronze Care, Gold Care, and Platinum Care. Its Bronze Care plan covers home appliances, and its Gold Care plan covers home systems. Its Platinum Care plan bundles the Bronze Care and Gold Care plans into one comprehensive coverage package. Service fees vary by state but could cost $75–$125.
Each plan includes up to $400 roof-leak repair coverage, whereas other providers include roof-leak coverage as an add-on. However, the company’s cap is much lower than our other reviewed companies, and it may cap repairs at $150 if you can’t show three years’ worth of roof maintenance records.
Select Home Warranty’s monthly premiums are similar in most states:
- Bronze Care: $44.42
- Gold Care: $44.42
- Platinum Care: $47.75
Fill out Select Home Warranty’s quote form or call 888-370-3956 for your free custom quote.
Learn More: Select Home Warranty Review
America’s First Choice Home Warranty
America’s First Choice Home Warranty (AFC Home Warranty) includes a $250 coverage cap for roof-leak repairs, the lowest of the providers we selected for this list. However, AFC Home Warranty allows you to choose your own roofing contractor. Most providers send their own preapproved contractor for service calls. AFC Home Warranty strictly covers roof leaks that occur over dwelling areas of your home. It excludes leaks on patios, metal, and eco-roofs, as well as roof attachments.
Plans and Pricing
AFC Home Warranty provides four coverage plans and three service call fees for homeowners who value customization. AFC Home Warranty’s Silver Plan covers home appliances, and its Gold Plan covers 15 major systems and appliances. The Platinum Plan adds coverage for a few additional items, and the Diamond Plan covers all of these plus electronics and exterior water lines.
AFC Home Warranty offers a choice of a $75, $100, or $125 service call fee. Roof-leak repair coverage is available as an add-on for an extra $2.09 per month, one of the lowest add-on costs in this review.
Below is a breakdown for AFC Home Warranty average pricing:
- Silver Plan: $44.24–$49.17
- Gold Plan: $58.99–$63.92
- Platinum Plan: $63.92–$68.83
- Diamond Plan: $98.12–$103.05
Fill out the AFC Home Warranty quote form or call 877-755-1115 for your free quote.
Our Conclusion
While home warranty roof leak coverage is necessarily limited, it can still save you time and money when it comes to patching a roof leak. Consider the age of your roof and what other systems and appliances in your home could use coverage when choosing a plan. We recommend getting quotes from at least three home warranty providers and reading sample contracts closely so there are no unpleasant surprises later.
FAQ About Home Warranty Roof Coverage
Is home warranty roof protection worth it?
If you want to have extra protection for your roof and don’t want to pay expensive repair costs, having roof coverage is definitely worth it. Many homeowners find that making a monthly payment of $30 to $80 is preferable to facing much larger expenses unexpectedly.
How long does home warranty roof coverage last?
Home warranty roof coverage lasts as long as the home warranty policy lasts, which is typically a year. If you have a multi-year plan, roof coverage will last until the policy expires.
Can you buy roof warranty coverage at any time?
Yes, you can add on roof coverage when you sign up for a home warranty or you can choose to add it on later.
How do I request service on my roof with a home warranty?
If you have a home warranty and notice your roof is leaking, and the cause is from normal wear and tear, file a claim with your home warranty provider. The company should get a contractor out to you within 48 hours to assess the damage. When the contractor arrives at your house, you’ll be required to pay a service call fee, which is an amount set by your provider when you purchase a policy. This fee typically ranges between $75–$125.
Our Rating Methodology
We back up our home warranty ratings and recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each provider. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts from each company, and conducting focus groups and consumer surveys. We then score each provider against our review standards for coverage, value, trustworthiness and transparency, availability, and customer service to arrive at a final score on a 5-point rating scale.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
