Most insurance companies will cover clay and tile roofs if they’re up to 15-20 years old, depending on condition. Clay and Tile Roofs – Clay and tile are a bit stronger than asphalt shingles but not quite as strong as metal.It’s not hard to find coverage even if your metal roof is around 20 years old. Metal Roofs – Metal is the strongest type of roofing material, which is why insurance companies will accept older roofs.Although ten years might not seem like a long window, architectural shingles offer the most insurance credits of any roofing material. While some shingles have warranties of up to 50 years, insurance companies want them to be ten years or newer to offer coverage. Architectural Shingles – This is the most popular type of roofing material, used in over 75% of homes in the United States.Here’s a quick rundown of the most common roofing materials: Some materials withstand the elements better than others. What your roof is made of will also have an impact on your insurance coverage. Different Rules for Different Roofing Materials Insurance companies have seen their expenses in this regard rise dramatically-on top of a general increase in the number of hurricane and storm losses in recent years-and when insurance company expenses rise, the cost of insurance (and the number of new rules) rises too. Some were even doing unnecessary repairs to take advantage of insurance coverage. Like a lot of things, there is no single factor, but unfortunately, much of this extra scrutiny comes from bad players in the roofing industry charging too much for storm repairs paid for by insurance claims. If it’s too old, even a well-maintained roof in perfect condition could prevent your insurance company from offering replacement cost coverage.Īt this point, you may be asking yourself why. Sometimes it doesn’t even matter what condition your roof is in. As with most things insurance, exceptions can be made under certain circumstances, but we’ve seen many instances of insurance companies declining coverage or only offering limited coverage for a roof that they deem too old. Naturally, with more risk comes more cost and/or less coverage.Ĭurrently (January 2021) in Florida, if your roof is more than a decade old, you may start noticing fewer options in the market. Old roofs are more likely to have problems and not keep out wind and rain-especially in hurricane-prone areas like Florida. Your roof’s age will greatly impact your insurance coverage. If it’s too old or not in good shape, insurance companies may offer limited coverage, increased rates, or deny coverage outright.īefore you start looking for new insurance, here’s what you need to know about how your insurance covers the part of your home that literally covers you. When it comes to homeowner’s insurance, your roof is one of the major things insurance companies review. From something as obvious as the condition of the home to lesser known elements like the type of electrical panel in your house, providers may increase your rates or deny coverage outright if there’s something that doesn’t fit their risk “appetite”. Before offering coverage, insurance companies review specifics of each individual case to try to determine their risk (this is what we call “underwriting”).

Types of roofs for insurance purposes