Does Your Roof Type Impact Your Home Insurance Rates?

Your home is your haven and is meant to protect you from the outside world. Your roof takes the brunt of all Mother Nature’s elements from the harsh summer suns, to cold snowy and icy winters, and every raindrop or hail storm in between. Keeping your roof in good condition is not only crucial for protecting your home but it could mean savings on your home insurance.

Roof Factors That Affect Your Home Insurance Rate 

1. Roof Shape

Your roof’s shape impacts your home insurance premium because of its sustainability against the elements. What does this mean exactly? We’ll explain. 

• Hip roofs are shaped with inclines on all sides, so to an insurance carrier, this means they can hold up against higher winds without being blown off. 
• Gable roofs are the most common in the U.S. and look like an upside-down V. These roofs tend to be a bit more to insure because they’re more vulnerable to high winds, but they can shed water and debris easily. 
• Flat roofs have no pitch or slope and typically aren’t favored by insurance companies because flat roofs pool water easily.

Average Home Insurance Rates By Roof Shape

Roof replacement year	Material	Roof shape	Cost
2016	Asphalt shingle	Hip 100%	$933
2016	Asphalt shingle	Partial hip - 60%+	$992
2016	Asphalt shingle	Gable roof	$1,050
2016	Asphalt shingle	Flat roof	$1,050

Methodology: We used one of our most popular insurance carriers and ran quotes based on a $250K home value, two homeowners with average credit, located in Houston, TX, with a two-story home, with siding made of brick veneer.

2. Roof Material

Insurers will look at what your roof is made of because they’re trying to decide ultimately their rebuild costs and the life expectancy of your roof. Roofs made of more durable materials will be cheaper to insure and vice versa. Let’s review the most common roof materials and how they affect your home insurance premium: 

• Metal roofs are more durable and fire-resistant and oftentimes the most favored by insurance companies. 
• Slate or tile roofs require little maintenance and are strong against fire, rotting, and insects. Slate or tile roofs also won’t burn or rot, provide good insulation but may crack a bit easier. 
• Asphalt roofs are the most common roof type because they’re affordable, durable against almost all the elements, and have a long lifespan. The downside to asphalt shingles however is that they can decay easier than metal or slate. 
• Wood roofs are made from shingles or shakes and aren’t fire resistant and least favored by home insurance companies. Usually, if your home has a wood roof, you may be required to apply a fire retardant to get coverage or you may be denied coverage altogether. 

Average Home Insurance Rates By Roof Type and Material

Roof replacement year	Material	Roof shape	Cost
2016	Metal	Partial hip - 60%+	$971
2016	Slate or tile	Partial hip - 60%+	$992
2016	Asphalt shingle	Partial hip - 60%+	$992
2016	Wood	Partial hip - 60%+	Won't insure

Methodology: We used one of our most popular insurance carriers and ran quotes based on a $250K home value, two homeowners with average credit, located in Houston, TX, with a two-story home, with siding made of brick veneer.

3. Roof Age 

Generally, insurance companies will charge homeowners more on their home insurance premium for older roofs or will refuse to write a policy at all because they’re riskier to insure. Most home insurance policies won’t pay for a new roof due to general wear and tear or poor maintenance so if you’re hoping your home insurance policy will help you out, chances are they won’t, unless a covered peril caused damage, and even then it can get a bit tricky. 

When it comes to insuring your roof, the insurance company will go about it two different ways depending on the age. Your roof is usually covered by either actual cash value or replacement cash value. If your home insurance policy is for actual cash value, then your insurance carrier will pay the actual cash value of your roof at the time of covered loss (ex: hurricane). What does this mean? It means the actual cash value of your roof, minus the depreciation cost according to your roof’s age, and of course, minus your deductible. If your roof is older, the higher the depreciation value. If your home insurance policy is for replacement cash value, then your insurance carrier will pay for the replacement cost value of your roof, which means the replacement cost value minus your deductible. Under replacement cost value, there is no deduction for depreciation. 

Bottom line: newer roof = lower premium, older roof = higher premium. 

Average Home Insurance Rates By on Roof Age

Roof replacement year	Material	Roof shape	Cost
2016	Asphalt shingle	Partial hip - 60%+	$992
2011	Asphalt shingle	Partial hip - 60%+	$1,421
2006	Asphalt shingle	Partial hip - 60%+	$1,668
2001	Asphalt shingle	Partial hip - 60%+	$2,061

Methodology: We used one of our most popular insurance carriers and ran quotes based on a $250K home value, two homeowners with average credit, located in Houston, TX, with a two-story home, with siding made of brick veneer.

Does Home Insurance Cover Roof Damage? 

Your home insurance policy will cover roof damage if the damage was caused by a covered peril. However, home insurance will not compensate you for any damage caused by general wear and tear or lack of proper maintenance. Your home insurance policy will likely cover damage from the following perils: 

• Fire
• Falling objects
• Hail
• Hurricanes
• Rain
• Tornadoes
• Wind 
• Vandalism

It’s important that you check your home insurance policy to make sure you’ve got the right coverage for common perils in your area, such as hurricanes or tornadoes. If not, you’ll be left paying out of pocket for any damages incurred as a result of either no coverage or not enough. 

In the event you need to file a claim, there are a few things that could either cause your claim to be denied, or your insurance company won’t pay out as much as you would have hoped. The age of your roof, its condition, policy exclusions, and where your home is located can all affect a future claim. The best thing to do is review your policy and go over what coverages you do and don’t have. Have an expert from TGS Insurance review your home insurance policy to make sure you’ve got the coverage you need based on you and your home’s needs so you’re not unprotected when you think you are. 

How to Keep Your Home Insurance Rates Down With The Right Roof  

Your roof is a major influence on how much you’ll pay for home insurance. However, homeowners aren’t left completely out of ways to help lower their rate. There are a few things you can do that will save you some money on home insurance. 

Proper Home Maintenance: Like any part of your home, proper maintenance and upkeep are essential. A few simple things you can do that will not only extend the longevity of your roof, but also lower your home insurance, or reduce your risk of filing a claim are: 

• Keep gutters clean 
• Replace damaged or broken shingles
• Remove any debris (branches, leaves, moss, and mold) 
• Cut down any overhanging branches 
• Don’t walk on your roof 
• Have your roof routinely inspected every 2-3 years 
• Check for pests

Choose The Right Roofing Materials: If you’re building a new home or replacing your roof, be sure to choose materials that make sense for both your home and where you live. Asphalt shingles are the most popular choice because they’re affordable and hold up in just about any type of weather. Licensed roofers in your area will know what works best, so be sure to listen to the professionals and what they advise is best! The roofing material you choose will have a major influence on your home insurance premium, so be sure to pick wisely. 

Correct Installation: Your roof is one of the most important components of your home and should always be handled by a licensed professional. Whether you’re going to have a new roof installed or have work done on your roof, hire a certified, licensed professional and ask for proof of licensure. If for whatever reason you need to file a claim, the insurance company could deny your claim because the roof was not handled by a professional. 

Always Document: Speaking of claims, always document everything! Whatever work you’ve done to your roof, keep the paperwork. If your roof recently sustained damage, take pictures. If you ever need to file a claim, keeping a paper trail will help tremendously in the claims process and oftentimes help speed things along. If you do any maintenance to your roof, share that information with your insurance agent! Upgrades to your roof could be a lower home insurance rate. 

Get The Proper Home Insurance: We can’t speak on the proper home insurance policy enough. Your home insurance is meant to be a financial safety and help you protect your home, everything, and everyone in it. Don’t be left out thousands of dollars because your home insurance policy didn’t have the proper coverage or had exclusions you were unaware of. Talk to a TGS Insurance agent about your home insurance policy so you can ensure that A) your policy offers the full protection you need and B) you’re not overpaying for coverage. 

Get Insured With TGS Insurance

At TGS Insurance, we offer our clients the easiest way to shop and buy home insurance. Our agents will shop your home insurance policy across 35+ different A-rated (or better) carriers to find you a policy that’s perfectly balanced in value and protection. We don’t stop there though, we’ll handle everything from enrollment to setting up payment, and everything in between for a seamless, stress-free experience. The best part? We’ll do this year after year so you never overpay for insurance again! What do you have to lose? Get your hassle-free home insurance quote now in just 15 seconds or less, using just your address!