Usually, yes, if a storm caused the damage. Homeowners policies in Oklahoma are written to pay for sudden damage from things like hail, wind and fire.
They are not written to replace a roof that simply wore out. So the real question is less "am I covered?" and more "what happened to my roof, and what does my policy say about it?"
Here's how to work that out before you pick up the phone to file.
What insurance usually pays for
A standard homeowners policy covers sudden, accidental damage. For a roof in Green Country, that mostly means:
Hail. Bruised or cracked shingles, granules knocked loose, dents in vents and flashing.
Wind. Shingles lifted, creased or torn off.
Falling trees and limbs that come down in a storm.
Fire.
If the damage is widespread enough that repairing it doesn't make sense, the carrier pays toward a full roof replacement. If it's a few shingles, they pay for a repair.
What insurance usually won't pay for
Age and wear. A 25-year-old roof that's curling and losing granules on its own isn't a claim.
Poor installation or skipped maintenance. Clogged gutters that backed water under the shingles, flashing that was never sealed right.
Damage that's been there a while. Carriers ask when the damage happened. Old damage from a storm three years ago is a hard sell.
Cosmetic damage, on some policies. Some Oklahoma policies carry a cosmetic damage exclusion. If hail dented metal panels or scuffed shingles but the roof still keeps water out, the carrier may not pay. Read your policy for the word "cosmetic."
Four things in your policy that decide how much you get
Two homeowners on the same street, same storm, can get very different checks. These are usually why.
1. How your roof is valued. Your policy pays either replacement cost (RCV) or actual cash value (ACV). Replacement cost covers what a new roof costs today. Actual cash value takes off depreciation for the age of your old roof, and that gap is yours to cover. Some policies switch a roof to ACV once it passes a certain age. Our ACV vs. RCV breakdown walks through how each one pays out.
2. Your wind and hail deductible. Many Oklahoma policies use a separate deductible for wind and hail, set as a percentage of your dwelling coverage instead of a flat amount. A 1% or 2% deductible on a house insured at a few hundred thousand dollars adds up fast. Find this number before you file.
3. Roof surface payment schedules. Some policies pay roofs on a schedule based on age, no matter which valuation the rest of the house uses. It's often tucked into an endorsement at the back of the policy.
4. Your claim deadline. Policies set a window for reporting storm damage. Don't sit on it. The longer you wait, the harder it is to show which storm did the damage.
If any of this is unclear, call your agent and ask straight out: "Is my roof covered at replacement cost or actual cash value, and what's my wind and hail deductible?" Those two answers tell you most of what you need to know.
A word on deductibles and roofers
Oklahoma law (House Bill 1940, in effect since November 2022) says a roofing contractor paid out of insurance money can't advertise or promise to cover your deductible. If a roofer at your door offers to "take care of your deductible," that's a red flag, and it can put your claim at risk. The deductible is yours to pay.
Should you call a roofer or your insurance company first?
Get a roofer to look first. A free inspection tells you whether there's real storm damage worth filing on, and it gets photos on record. If the damage is minor or it's really age, you can skip a claim that would sit on your record for nothing.
That's the one step most people skip. Before you call your carrier, get a free roof inspection first. We'll get on the roof, photograph what we find and tell you plainly whether it looks like storm damage.
If you do file, here's how we help: we document the damage, we meet your adjuster at the house so nothing gets missed, and we walk you through each step. We don't act as your adjuster, and we can't promise what your carrier will pay. What we can do is make sure the damage on your roof is the damage in their report.
And if water is already coming in, call us. We'll tarp the roof so the inside of your house doesn't become a second claim.
Not sure it's even storm damage?
Hail damage is easy to miss from the yard, and some wear looks like hail to an untrained eye. This guide on what storm damage looks like from the ground is a good place to start. But the only way to know for sure is to get someone on the roof.
Find out where you stand
If a storm came through and you don't know what your insurance will cover, start with what's actually on your roof. Schedule your free inspection and we'll walk you through every step, insurance included.
Rather talk to a person? Call us at (918) 604-2039. We're locally owned, we serve Tulsa and all of Green Country, and our neighbors have left us more than 100 five-star Google reviews.
Frequently asked questions
Will homeowners insurance pay for a new roof if my roof is old?
If a storm damaged it, an old roof can still be covered. But age changes how much you get. On an actual cash value policy, or a policy with an age-based roof schedule, the carrier subtracts depreciation, so an older roof means a smaller check.
Does insurance cover a roof leak?
It depends on the cause. A leak from hail or wind damage is usually covered. A leak from worn-out shingles or old flashing usually isn't.
Will filing a roof claim raise my premium?
It can. That's one reason to get an inspection before you file, so you only file when there's real storm damage.
How long do I have to file a roof claim in Oklahoma?
Your policy sets the deadline, so check it or ask your agent. Either way, file soon after the storm while the damage is fresh and easy to tie to a date.
Can a roofer handle my insurance claim for me?
A roofer can document the damage, meet your adjuster and help you understand the process. You still file the claim yourself, and in Oklahoma a roofer can't cover or waive your deductible.
What if my claim is denied?
Ask the carrier for the denial in writing and the reason. If you believe the damage is from a covered storm, you can ask for a re-inspection, and photos from an independent inspection help.
