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Home warranty plans cover built-in systems and appliances, such as your HVAC system, water heater, and kitchen appliances, and some policies also offer limited roof-leak protection add-ons. Purchasing a home warranty with roof-leak coverage can help you protect all the important aspects of your home with one convenient policy. The best home warranties have user-friendly service contracts that clearly outline how much coverage you can expect for each potential breakdown, including roof issues.
Homeowners insurance will cover catastrophic roof damage from a perilous event, and manufacturers’ and contractors’ warranties will cover roof costs for a set time following the original installation. However, neither covers roof-leak repairs needed due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties fill this gap, providing convenience and financial predictability.
Top Home Warranties for Roof-Leak Coverage
According to our research of more than 35 providers, the best home warranty companies that cover roof leaks are these providers:
American Home Shield
Fast Facts:
- State Availability: 48 (all but Alaska and Hawaii)
- Service Fee: $100–$125
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit AHS site
American Home Shield (AHS) includes roof-leak protection up to $1,500 with its ShieldPlatinum plan in all states except Hawaii. Unlike other providers on this list, AHS does not offer a roof-leak protection plan as an add-on option. According to the service contract, AHS’s roof-leak protection does not cover metal roofs, partial or full green roofs, items penetrating the roof, roof-mounted installations, gutters, or downspouts.
The $1,500 coverage cap applies to all repairs, and it’s generous compared to other home warranties that cover roof leaks. Should you need to file multiple claims, they will be covered as long as the sum of the repair costs is less than $1,500. Any repairs that exceed the coverage limit will be your responsibility.
Plans
American Home Shield offers three plan options: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. ShieldSilver covers home systems. ShieldGold covers all the home systems in the ShieldSilver plan, plus several major appliances. ShieldPlatinum covers all the items in the ShieldGold plan, plus roof-leak repairs. Even if you don’t choose the ShieldPlatinum plan, you can elect roof-leak coverage to either of the first two plans.
AHS also offers a flexible service call fee model, which means you can select a $100 or $125 service call fee. If you select a $100 service call fee, your monthly fees will be higher to reflect that. If you select the $125 service call fee, your monthly fees will be lower.
- ShieldSilver ($29.99–$44.99 per month): Covers air conditioners, built-in exhaust and vent fans, ceiling fans, doorbells and chimes, ductwork, faucets and valves, garage door openers, heating units, interior electrical lines, interior plumbing lines, main breaker and fuse panel boxes, toilets, water heaters, and whirlpool tubs
- ShieldGold ($39.99–$54.99 per month): Covers all the items in the ShieldSilver plan, plus refrigerators, ranges, cooktops, ovens, dishwashers, built-in microwave ovens, garbage disposals, instant water dispensers, clothes washers, and clothes dryers
- ShieldPlatinum ($59.99–$74.99 per month): Covers all the items in the ShieldGold plan, plus roof-leak repairs up to $1,500
Read More: American Home Shield Review
Liberty Home Guard
Fast Facts:
- State Availability: 49 (all but Wisconsin)
- Service Fee: $65–$125
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit LHG’s site
Liberty Home Guard’s (LHG) limited roof-leak protection is one of 38 add-on options. LHG’s service contract outlines a $2,000 allowance for patching a roof leak over the occupied living area of single-family homes. It does not cover partial or complete shingle replacement. Like the other providers on this list, it does not cover gutters (LHG offers this as a separate add-on), metal roofs, downspouts, skylights, flashing, cracked or missing material, or chimney components.
Plans
Liberty Home Guard offers three comprehensive home warranty policies: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. Appliance Guard covers major appliances, such as your laundry machines and refrigerators, and Systems Guard covers home systems, such as your air conditioning and water heaters. Total Home Guard combines the coverage of the two basic plans.
LHG has a variable service call fee model, which means the company assigns a service call fee to your account based on your location, plan, and add-ons. When we reached out to a representative, we were told this fee will always fall between $65 and $125. However, we’ve received different service call fee estimates within this range, so we’d recommend clarifying your service call fee with a representative during the quote process.
- Appliance Guard ($49.99 per month): Covers built-in microwave ovens, ceiling and exhaust fans, clothes washer, clothes dryer, cooktops, dishwasher, garbage disposal, garage door openers, oven, range, and refrigerator with ice-maker and display
- Systems Guard ($54.99 per month): Covers air conditioning, ductwork, electrical, heating, plumbing, and water heaters
- Total Home Guard ($59.99 per month): Covers all the items in the two earlier plans
Read More: Liberty Home Guard Review
Select Home Warranty
Fast Facts:
- State Availability: 47 (all but Nevada, Washington, and Wisconsin)
- Service Fee: $75
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit Select’s site
Select Home Warranty offers roof-leak coverage with all three of its plans. The coverage is capped at $400, which is $100 less than the typical roof-leak protection offered by other providers. Like the providers mentioned above, Select covers roof-leak repairs over the occupied living area.
Plans
Select Home Warranty offers three plans: Bronze Care, Gold Care, and Platinum Care. Bronze Care covers home appliances, including your cooktop, dishwasher, and garbage disposal. Gold Care covers home systems, such as your air conditioning, ductwork, and plumbing. Platinum Care combines the coverage of the Bronze and Gold Care plans and adds coverage for garage door openers and plumbing stoppages.
Select charges a straightforward $75 service call fee each time you request service.
- Bronze Care ($40.67 per month): Covers your built-in microwave, clothes washer, clothes dryer, cooktop, dishwasher, garbage disposal, oven, refrigerator, and stove
- Gold Care ($40.67 per month): Covers air conditioning, ductwork, electrical, heating, plumbing, and water heater
- Platinum Care ($46.08 per month): Covers all the items listed in the two earlier plans
Read More: Select Home Warranty Review
Compare the Top Home Warranties for Roof Coverage
You can compare costs associated with the best home warranties for roof-leak coverage in the table below.
Our Recommendation
If you’re already interested in protecting your home systems and major appliances, adding roof-leak coverage should be an easy choice. While many newly installed roofs will come with a manufacturer’s or contractor’s workmanship warranty, these guarantees are not typically transferable. Purchasing a home warranty allows you to protect yourself or prospective home buyers from the burden of tracking down a contractor to complete minor roof repairs, such as patching leaks.
American Home Shield offers one of the most generous roof-leak protection plans in the industry. While it does not offer it as an add-on option, AHS’s ShieldPlatinum plan includes a wide range of covered items, including your clothes washer, plumbing system, electrical system, $1,500 toward roof-leak repairs, and code violations up to $1,000.
Liberty Home Guard offers up to $2,000 toward roof-leak repairs for single-family homes. Select Home Warranty is the only provider on this list to include roof-leak coverage with all three of its plan tiers.
To ensure you’re making the right decision for your home’s needs, we recommend requesting a quote from at least three providers on this list, reading service contracts, comparing quotes, and considering the other major systems and appliances you’d like to cover.
Do Home Warranty Plans Cover Roof Leaks?
Home warranty plans typically offer limited roof-leak coverage as an add-on option. These plans cover the repair of shake (a type of wooden shingle) and composition (like asphalt shingles) when the roof is over an occupied living area. Unfortunately, this means if you have a roof leak over your detached garage, it’s likely excluded from coverage.
Metal roofs are typically not included in home warranty roof coverage. The other common exclusions are these:
- Antennae
- Cemwood shakes
- Chimneys
- Decks
- Downspouts flashing
- Flat roofs
- Foam roof
- Gutters
- Patios
- Patio covers
- Partial or full roof replacement
- Porches
- Roof-mounted installations, such as air conditioning equipment
- Satellite components
- Skylights
- Solar equipment
- Tar and gravel roof
Basics of Home Warranty Roof-Leak Coverage
Home warranty providers rarely include roof-leak coverage in their base plan offerings, but it is a common add-on. While the coverage caps will vary from company to company, home warranties cover roof leaks that occur due to normal wear and tear.
Homeowners insurance will cover roof leaks that result from a perilous event, such as an unexpected hailstorm or fire. However, it’s common for home insurance to deny roof-leak claims if they result from mold, pest damage, wet rot, code violations, improper installation, or insufficient maintenance.
How to Take Care of Your Roof
Routine maintenance is the best way to avoid roof leaks. Whether you are shopping for a new home or you’ve owned your home for a while already, it’s a good idea to start with an inspection, so you are aware of your roof’s current condition.
After an inspection, you will better understand what your roof needs. You can maintain your roof with DIY methods or hire a professional. In either case, thorough roof maintenance typically includes the following steps:
- Clean gutters consistently and remove debris.
- Trim all trees and landscaping at least a few feet away from the roof.
- Remove ice and snow quickly, and don’t allow either to sit indefinitely until melting.
- Replace cracked and missing shingles as soon as you see an issue.
- Remove moss, mold, and other organic matter.
- Check insulation to ensure its efficiency.
- Visually inspect the ceiling and attic frequently to check for water damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you know if your roof has a warranty?
If you are purchasing a new home, you can ask your real estate agent whether the shingles and roofing materials are still within the manufacturer’s warranty. If you have installed a new roof, you can purchase a warranty from your shingle manufacturer. You can review the terms of your warranty on the manufacturer’s website. Shingles are often covered by a limited lifetime warranty, typically 25 to 30 years. Limited warranties guarantee that the roofing materials aren’t defective, but they do not protect against installation errors. Reputable roofing contractors offer homeowners a workmanship warranty. These warranties vary from contractor to contractor, but they’ll guarantee your roof has been installed according to industry standards and codes.Sellers sometimes purchase a home warranty as an additional incentive for prospective home buyers. Home warranties add another layer of protection from the inconvenience of minor roof-leak repairs.
Can a loose shingle cause a roof leak?
On its own, a loose shingle will not cause your roof to leak, but it exposes your underlayment and roofing materials to the elements. Over time, this exposure causes other shingles to tear, loosen, curl, and deteriorate, leading to more extensive repair and replacement costs. If you notice a loose or curling shingle, it’s important to act quickly to avoid further roof damage.
How much does a roof warranty cost?
Extended warranties for high-end roofing materials can vary depending on the material and don’t always offer a consistent protection standard. Home warranties offer an easy way to bundle limited roof-leak protection with coverage for your major systems and home appliances. The average home warranty costs between $39 and $63 a month.American Home Shield and Select Home Warranty include limited roof-leak coverage with at least one of their plans at no additional cost. Other home warranty companies offer roof-leak protection as an add-on.
What are the pros and cons of a roof warranty?
All significant purchases will have benefits and drawbacks, but the benefit of roof-leak protection generally outweighs the negatives. Manufacturers’ and roofing contractors’ warranties provide protection against manufacturer defects and offer peace of mind regarding the quality of installation; however, they typically don’t cover normal wear and tear after years of weathering. With a home warranty, you can quickly address minor roof leaks before a bigger problem arises. All warranties will have their own set of limitations and exclusions, so it’s important to read the contract carefully to confirm you understand the degree of protection you can expect.
How We Chose the Top Home Warranty Providers
Our team reviewed and researched dozens of home warranty providers, thoroughly analyzed sample agreements, and identified customer pain points based on our analysis of customer reviews and interviews with industry experts. Our in-depth methodology outlines our review process to provide transparent information about the companies we review.
We determined that the following factors are the most important when comparing home warranty companies: available plans, plan coverage, price range, industry reputation, customer support, and additional features. Our research supported that plan coverage, customer service, and industry reputation should carry the most weight. While important, the other factors should not have as much influence when choosing a home warranty provider.