There are many reasons to improve your home. Enhancing your comfort, protecting your investment, and increasing the visual appeal of your house are all excellent benefits. What about financial advantages? It’s always nice to know that you’re increasing your home’s value, but some improvements, like a new roof, can bring prompt financial rewards that give your budget more breathing room. If you need proof, consider how your roof affects your home insurance.
Saving Money on Home Insurance with a New Roof
In a 2022 post, Angi reported on eight home improvements that could provide potential savings on your home insurance. While many of the upgrades offered the chance of small discounts of 5 percent or 10 percent, there was one that stood out. Installing a new roof was the improvement that offered the opportunity to save the most. In fact, a new roof brought possible savings of up to 35 percent on home insurance.
Discovering Why the Roof Matters to Insurers
A roof is an essential part of any structure’s building envelope. It keeps the elements out, which protects against water damage and mold issues. If the roof is compromised, the possibility of expensive harm to both the structure and its contents increases substantially. As a result, many insurers won’t insure homes with roofs that are reaching the end of their lifespans, or they’ll offer only limited policies.
Replacing a worn and possibly weakened roof with a newer, stronger roof increases the odds of your home surviving if disaster strikes. That’s good news for both you and your insurer. You’re less likely to deal with a damaged home, and they’re less likely to be faced with a claim.
Exploring Whether Home Insurance Might Pay for Your Roof Replacement
When you’re thinking about how your roof affects your home insurance, it’s natural to wonder if your insurer might help fund a roof replacement. As Investopedia notes, it depends. If you need a new roof simply because yours is old, the answer is no. Your chance of getting a payout for a damaged roof, regardless of the cause, also decreases if your roof is over 20 years old.
On the other hand, if your roof is newer and was damaged by Mother Nature or an accident, there’s a chance that your insurer may help pay for its repair or replacement. The amount that you’ll receive will depend on the age and condition of your roof before the event and the cause of the damage. For the best results, file a claim promptly and document everything thoroughly. In addition, work with an experienced roofing professional.
Claiming Your Savings After You Install a New Roof
Once you learn how your roof affects your home insurance, you’ll also want to know how you can claim your savings for installing a new roof. First, it’s important to recognize that the amount that you’ll save varies by insurer and location.
To find out if your insurer will offer a discount, contact them. If you’re simply considering an upgrade, you may choose to do it before you make any changes. This would let you see if using different materials would offer notable benefits. However, many homeowners replace their roofs because it has to be done, and their priority is avoiding damage to their homes. If you’re in this situation, get the work done. Be sure to use a certified roofing professional to get a quality roof and take full advantage of all warranties. Then, take proof of the completed work to your insurer.
_____
Planning to purchase a new roof? If you live in southwest Missouri, contact Taylor-Made Roofing for help. With over 20 years of experience in residential and commercial roofing, Taylor-Made Roofing is a company that you can trust with all of your roofing needs. Our family-owned business offers quality services, a reassuring warranty, and free estimates. For more information, please give us a call at 417-326-8778 or contact us online. We look forward to hearing from you!