We're roofers, not insurers or loss adjusters, so we can't tell you whether a particular claim will be paid. What we can do is explain how the storm-damage versus wear-and-tear distinction usually works, what insurers commonly ask for, and how to avoid the mistakes that make a claim harder. Your policy's Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and your insurer's assessment are what decide the outcome.
Storm damage versus wear and tear
Most home insurance policies distinguish between sudden events, such as storm, wind, hail or a fallen tree, and gradual deterioration. Allianz, for example, explains that home insurance generally doesn't cover wear and tear or poor maintenance, while storm damage is generally covered subject to assessment. In roofing terms, a sheet peeled back by a storm or tiles smashed by a branch is the kind of event insurers assess as storm damage. Rust, perished screw washers, cracked pointing and worn-out flashings that have developed over years are the kind of thing insurers typically treat as wear and tear. Real roofs often have both, and it's the insurer who decides how they're assessed.
Why this matters on the Northern Rivers
Salt air, humidity and years of heavy weather mean many local roofs have some age-related corrosion or fixing failure even when they've been a good roof for decades. When a big storm then hits, it can be hard to separate what the storm did from what the years did. That's why good records of the roof's condition before an event, such as maintenance receipts, photos and roof reports, can be useful.
Make-safe versus full repair
A make-safe is the minimum needed to stop further damage, for example tarping an opening or securing a loose sheet. A full repair is the permanent fix. Insurers generally expect the first as soon as possible and want to assess before the second. If your roof is leaking now, do the safe containment steps in our guide on what to do when your roof leaks in heavy rain, document everything, and call your insurer promptly.
What insurers commonly want to see
Every insurer is different, but they commonly ask for dated photos of the damage from as many angles as possible, a description of what happened and when, details of the roof's age and any maintenance, and sometimes a written report or quote from a roofer. Keep receipts for anything you spend, and keep any damaged material if you can, in case an assessor wants to see it.
What a roof report can and can't do
A photo-documented roof report from a roofer records the condition of the roof on the day: what's damaged, what's worn, where the likely water entry points are, and what work is recommended. That's useful evidence and can help you and your insurer talk about the same facts. What it can't do is decide your claim. We don't tell insurers what to decide, we don't promise outcomes, and we won't write a report to fit a claim. If the damage is old wear, the report will say so.
If your claim is declined or you disagree
Ask your insurer for their reasons in writing and re-read the relevant parts of your PDS. If you still disagree, ask about the insurer's internal dispute process. The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) provides an external dispute resolution service for financial disputes, and you can check its current process on its website. We can't give legal or insurance advice, so if a lot is at stake, consider speaking to an independent adviser.
Reducing the wear-and-tear problem in the first place
Regular maintenance is the one part you control. On coastal metal roofs that means an inspection around the 10-year mark, replacing perished screws with Class 4 fixings, treating rust early, and keeping gutters and valleys clear. Keep the receipts and photos. Our coastal roof maintenance checklist and maintenance plans are built around exactly this.
When to book us
If you've had storm damage, call us for a make-safe and an inspection, and talk to your insurer at the same time. If you'd like your roof's condition on record before the next storm season, book a roof report. We cover Lennox Head, Ballina, Byron Bay, Lismore and the wider Northern Rivers.
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We're local to Lennox Head and cover the whole Northern Rivers. Every job is photo-documented and warranted.
Coastal Roofing Repairs
Local Northern Rivers roofers · 28 years on the tools · insured
Written by the Coastal Roofing Repairs team, 28 years roofing on the NSW North Coast. We work on coastal metal and tile roofs every day — these guides come straight from what we see on the tools, not a marketing desk.
