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Why a new roof will decrease your homeowners insurance

Whether it’s raining, hailing, or windy outside, your roof takes the brunt of all the harsh elements. However, if your roof has been neglected and isn’t in tip-top shape when bad weather hits, then you could be putting your home at risk for leaks or other potential severe damage. If your home does suffer damages from the weather, then you’ll most likely file a claim with your home insurance company.

Prior to even offering coverage to homes, insurance companies go through great lengths to assess the risk level of a home, looking closely at the integrity of the home. If your roof is old, faulty, or on its last legs, an insurance company will categorize your home as high risk for filing a claim. This also means the insurance company will offer you a higher premium for your policy. Here, we’ll review what’s typically covered for roof damages and why a new roof will decrease your homeowners insurance.

Roof damages covered by insurance

Keeping your roof well-maintained is a general best practice to avoid extensive repairs or premature replacements of your roof. It’s also beneficial when it comes to filing a claim as insurance companies can deny a claim if your roof isn’t well-maintained or it has already lived past its lifespan. Typically, insurance policies may cover the following roof damages:

  • Rain
  • Hail
  • Wind
  • Fire
  • Fallen objects
  • Hurricanes
  • Tornadoes

While hurricanes and tornadoes aren’t prevalent in the Pacific Northwest, we experience our fair share of rain, hail, and wind, so having a strong, well-maintained roof is extremely important in our neck of the woods. Now, we’ll look at why a new roof will decrease your homeowners insurance.

Insurance discounts for new roofsInsurance Discounts For New Roofs

Some insurance companies will provide discounts to homeowners after they’ve installed a new roof. An asphalt shingle roof that’s 15 years old is more prone to leaks simply due to the fact that it’s near the end of its lifespan and has taken the brunt of 15 years of weather. For this reason, insurance companies see older roofs as high-risk since homeowners are more likely to file a claim for damage, which results in a higher insurance premium.

On the other hand, a newer roof is less likely to be susceptible to weather damage simply due to the fact that it’s new. Different states and different insurance companies have their own discounts for new roofs, so you’ll want to consult with your insurance agent to determine how much of a discount you can receive as each insurance company has their own set of requirements for what qualifies for a new-roof discount.

Impact-resistant discountsImpact-resistant Discounts

Replacing a roof can be costly. It rains a lot here, so the last thing you want is a leak in your home because your roof is damaged. Or perhaps there was a wind storm, where tree branches caused damage to your roof. When you file a claim for a damaged roof, it costs your insurance money. Having an impact-resistant roof reduces the chances that you’ll file a claim with your insurance company, so some insurance companies will offer different rates depending on your roofing material.

As we mentioned earlier, the Pacific Northwest experiences wet weather year-round. The ideal roof for this environment is one that is resistant to moisture and cracks that can result from constantly changing weather patterns. At State Roofing, we offer three different types of roofing material that are ideal for the Pacific Northwest:

  • Composition shingles: We offer two choices for composition shingles—350# Sawtooth and Rubberlast 50. Both roofing materials have algae and moss inhibitors that helps to reduce moisture-related growth. Plus, they feature a class-4 impact resistance, which is the industry’s highest rating for protecting your roof from falling debris. Specifically, the Rubberlast 50 can withstand winds up to 110 MPH and features a double-rain seal to offer twice the protection against leaks.
  • Rubber shingle roofs: We offer two choices for rubber shingles—Euroshake and Euroslate—both of which feature tongue-and-groove interlocking tiles that will help keep the rain out. This roofing material is resistant to splitting, cracking, curling, and other surface wear, in addition to being highly resistant to impact from falling tree branches and limbs.
  • Metal roofs: We offer three choices for metal roofs—Standing Seam, Ironwood, and Metal Shake. All of these metal roofs feature galvanized steel construction that’s 50% stronger than the industry standard. These metal roofs can withstand winds from 110-120 MPH. The Standing Seam roof is designed with the seam raised above the roof, which protects the most-common weak point: the seam.

Prior to fully committing to a new roof, you’ll want to consult with your insurance agent to learn which roofing material qualifies for an impact-resistant discount. Generally, insurance companies will offer discounts anywhere between 5% and some may even go as high as 20% because you’re significantly lowering the risk of filing a claim.

Getting homeowners insurance will allow you to protect your home in the case of unexpected damages during storms or inclement weather. However, the price of protection can be hefty if you have an older roof. Some insurance companies will offer discounts for new roofs simply because it’s a new roof that hasn’t taken the brunt of the Pacific Northwest’s ever-changing weather. In addition, some insurance companies will offer discounts for impact-resistant roofs. Fortunately, new technological advances in the roofing industry has allowed manufacturers to develop roofs that can withstand high winds, are resistant to moisture-related growth, and are resistant to impact from falling tree branches. Be sure to check with your insurance agent to see what kind of discount you can get if you decide it’s time to get a new roof.

Want to learn more about our roofing options and how well they can handle the Pacific Northwest weather? Give us a call at (360) 794-7164 or fill out our contact form for further inquiries or to request a free estimate in Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Bellevue, Snohomish, Sammamish, or any surrounding areas.

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