The Type Of Roof On Your House Can Impact The Home Insurance Rate You Pay

24 May 2016 by Elijah Steward

A roof protects your home from the damage that wildfires, hail, high winds, heavy rains and snowfalls, or even earthquakes can cause. When setting your home insurance premiums, an insurance company looks at the type of roof you have in relation to the potential risks in the area where you live. Since the increasing costs of construction materials and labor drive up the cost of settling claims, the durability, weight, risks, and overall cost to repair or replace a roof are all factors you need to consider when shopping for an affordable insurance rate from companies like Accredited Insurance Group Inc.

Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles are the least expensive type of roofing material to install. Although the shingles can blow off in high-wind storms, hurricanes, or a tornado, lightweight shingles are a practical option for your roof if you live in an area of the country in which earthquakes are a hazard. Heavy roof tiles can fall into your home and cause damage when the ground shakes. Lightweight roofing materials, such as asphalt shingles, tend to withstand seismic activity better and cause less structural damage if the roof collapses.

Metal Roofing Materials

Metal roofs constructed from sheets of stainless steel, copper, or aluminum can be made to look like shingles, wood shakes, slate, or clay tiles. These roofing materials are light, durable, and fire-resistant. Some are even strong enough to hold up under hurricane-force winds if they are properly installed.

Metal – particularly steel – is another lightweight roofing material that can withstand shaking and result in less structural damage to homes located in earthquake-prone areas.

Slate

Slate roofing can last a lifetime, but it's expensive to buy and install, driving up your home insurance premium. If your home doesn't have a roofing structure designed to bear the load of the extra weight, your roof framing may require reinforcement to provide additional support.

Slate is durable, won't burn, and is resistant against high winds. But if you live in a climate that sees heavy snowfalls, you might not want an already heavy roofing material covered with heavy piles of snow during the winter months.

Clay/Concrete Roofing Tiles

Concrete roofing tiles are heavier than clay tiles, which can be an advantage if you live in an area where hailstorms strike. But while the tiles are stronger, they add weight to a home's structural support.

If you prefer the look of wood shakes for your home and live in a high-risk fire area, you can get concrete tiles that are made to look like wood shakes, but they won't burn. Concrete tiles are less expensive than clay tiles, but both types are more expensive than asphalt shingles. Since the replacement cost for clay and concrete tiles is higher than for roofing materials that don't cost as much, you may have to pay a higher insurance rate.

Wood Shake Shingles

While wood shingles help to insulate your home if you live in a cold-weather region, wood shakes are expensive and offer little protection against fire. Some roofing manufacturers treat wood shingles with flame retardant coatings, but many home insurance companies will still charge you a higher premium rate if your home has a wood shake roof. Some insurers won't even write up a policy if you live in an area that is prone to wildfires or brush fires and your home has wood shakes or wood shingles on the roof.

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