As a homeowner, when it comes to the roof on your property you may not give it a lot of thought unless your roof needs maintenance or repairing. Your home insurance can be affected by the type of roof you have on your property. If there is a standard roof on your property, it can be a lot cheaper for repairs then a non-standard one, which would then requires more specialist materials.
Homeowners insurance may cover you however it depends on what caused the issue. For instance, if a tree fell down on top of your house and damages occurred your insurance may help pay for the repair costs.
Home insurance cover
Home insurance from leading providers such as https://www.quotedevil.ie/house-insurance protects you against losses such as storms, flooding, fire, and theft that may occur to your home and its contents. The policy usually covers the structure of the home and its contents inside. Under your standard home insurance policy includes buildings and contents insurance.
– Buildings Insurance
Buildings insurance covers the entire structure of the home including the roof, windows, doors, ceilings, and floors. A standard building policy should cover the full cost of rebuild or repair of your roof and other parts of the home in the event of a storm, flood, theft, or fire.
– Contents Insurance
Contents cover all your household belongings including furniture, appliances, goods, valuables, and personal items in the event of a fire, theft, damage by flooding, and vandalism.
Ways my roof can affect my homeowner’s insurance policy
The roof on your house is the primary protection against wind, fire, and other hazards. Many insurers can be concerned about the condition, age, shape, and material of your roof and can change the price accordingly.
– Roof Material and Type
Insurance companies will take into consideration the roof material and type into the costs of a rebuild. If they are made of tile, slate, metal, and concrete shingles you are ensured for the leading protection, however, it will cost more for a replacement. Any roof that performs the best will cost less on the insurance as you are more than likely not going to make a claim if your roof has become damaged.
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- Wood – comprises of shakes or shingles. This roof type is not fire-resistant. Many insurers may not be able to offer cover for a non-fire-resistant roof. You may need to apply for a fire-retardant to get the cover you need.
- Asphalt Shingle – this is a very common type of roof due to its affordability and its long life span. It will decay a bit quicker than slate and metal.
- Tile/Slate – slate protects against insects, fire, and rotting and it requires very little maintenance. Tiled roofing can crack more easily; however, it will not burn or rot and provides great insulation.
- Metal – this type of roofing is most appealing to insurance companies. It is lower in cost to insure as it is fire resistant and ultra-durable.
– Age
The newer your roof, the less your homeowner’s insurance cost will be. Older roofs will cost a lot more on insurance.
The different types of roof shapes
There are many different types of roofs available on the market, chances are your roof type is standard so the material is likely to be tile or slate. Metal and glass would be referred to as a non-standard roof material. A cottage with a thatched roof would be considered as a non-standard material.
– Flat Roofs
It must be declared to your insurance provider if your home is flat-roofed. Flat roofs are covered by many insurance companies however some may not offer this. Your home is at risk if you have a flat roof as water can stay in certain areas, unlike a roof that is sloped this will allow the water to flow away and down via the guttering. Any water that has accumulated will be the cause of damp and sagging, therefore flat roofs will require regular maintenance and repairs. Having a home with a flat roof can also increase the risk of theft and can also affect your homeowner’s insurance.
– Thatched Roofs
A thatched roof is considered a non-standard roof. They look lovely but can pose a fire risk which would make it expensive to insure or even some insurers will not insure your home if it has a thatched roof. With many insurance companies, you will pay higher premiums to insure your roof as it may need regular maintenance and repairs.
– Gable Roofs
Gable roofs have two faces and look like an upside-down V shape. This type of roofing costs a lot more on insurance and is more vulnerable to high winds.
– Hip Roofs
A hip roof consists of four sides all which go upwards in a slope to meet at the rooftop seam. It is resistant to winds and costs a lot more to build. Hip roofs have been proven in wind tests so therefore this may bring down the cost of your insurance.
Does my home insurance policy cover roof damage?
Building insurance covers your home if it is destroyed and you can’t live in it. The insurance policy will usually pay for the cost of having to move out and rent another home. You are usually covered by any damage caused by the following lightning, fire, flooding, storm, burglary, falling branches and trees, and water or oil escape.
Always have a Certified Annual Inspection
Many may not notice but your roof is what protects you from all elements. You need to make sure your roof stays in great shape and remains leak-free by having an annual inspection performed by a fully insured and qualified roofing contractor. The life expectancy of your roof really depends on a number of factors which include how severe the weather is, the climate, and the type of roof you have. Professional inspectors have all the correct equipment available. Schedule a roof inspection it will save you a lot of money and time in the long term. Don’t let minor issues become major repairs.