Will A New Roof Lower My Insurance Premiums?

Your roof is arguably the most important aspect of your home’s structure and its quality can have a major impact on the cost of your homeowners insurance. While the cost of repairing or replacing your roof can be steep, it can certainly pay dividends when done at the right time.

There are several factors that play into your homeowners insurance rates and you may find that investing in a new roof – or committing to some serious roof repair – can help significantly lower the amount of money you pay for homeowners coverage.

Depending on how old your roof is, what materials it’s made from and how it was installed, you may qualify for a discount on your homeowners insurance premiums. Let’s take a look at some of the small changes you can make to your roof that have the potential to result in major savings.

Total roof replacement could save you hundreds of thousands of dollars on your homeowners insurance premiums every year. It’s important to see every aspect of your roof’s construction as an investment because your roof is one of the most important shields between your family and the perils that could cause damage.

No matter how big or small your roof repair changes are, make sure to update your insurance company as quickly as possible. Whether you’re considering getting a new roof or simply making some small changes to its existing structure, you may be in for a bonus of lower homeowners insurance rates and you want to ensure your insurer calculates how much you could save.

The discounts you qualify for will vary depending on where you live and your premium details, but your policy could offer between 5% and 40% for roof upgrades. However, don’t be surprised if the new roof estimates total $10,000 to $50,000. Obviously, the amount you pay and the discount you receive will heavily depend on the size of your home.

Your insurance company will also consider the material of your new roof before telling you what discount you may qualify for. On average, insurance providers may discount your policy by at least 20% for complete roof replacement.

In states like Florida, South Carolina or North Carolina, which each see a fair share of hurricane damage, those roof replacement discounts could top thousands of dollars per year — especially if your roof passes a wind mitigation inspection.

When binding a policy as a new policyholder, many insurers won’t write you a policy if your roof hasn’t been updated in the last 40 years. For policyholders renewing with their current insurer, those requirements may also be in place or they could drop your coverage entirely.

While some roofing materials may have a longer lifespan, they may also cost more to replace or repair if damaged. Your insurance provider may offer discounts based on the age of your roof and the upgrades you’ve applied to it, including the use of any storm-resistant materials. On average, here’s how long you can expect your roof to last barring any unforeseen natural disasters:

Your roof materials are an essential part of determining the overall quality of your roof. Renovating or reinforcing your roof with stronger materials means your home could be less likely to experience costly damage during harsh weather conditions.

Roof materials are rated on a scale of one to four by insurance companies, so looking for modern, Class 4 materials will help result in the biggest shift in your homeowners insurance rates. This can include stronger shingles made from copper, aluminum, resin or plastic. But let’s take a look at the most common types of roofing materials for homes

1. Asphalt Shingles

2. Wood Shingles and Shakes 

3. Concrete & Clay Tile

4. Metal

Homeowners insurance will only pay for a new roof if your roof was damaged or destroyed by a covered peril, such as a windstorm or hailstorm. A leaking roof or destroyed roof may be covered in those instances. It won’t pay to install a new roof or repair your current roof if the damage was caused by something like negligence or lack of upkeep.