Roofs That Save on Insurance

by Kathy Ziprik, Staff Writer

Psssttt... want to know a secret?_Check with your insurance company before deciding on a roof for your home. Fire- and impact-resistant roofs may be able to save you big bucks on your yearly homeowner insurance premiums. Synthetic slate and shake roofs resist the spread of wildfire and the damaging impacts of hail, so many insurance companies (like State Farm, Liberty Mutual and AAA) offer discounts to homeowners who have these durable roofs.

Why? Because insurance companies know that composite roofs like those from DaVinci Roofscapes resist Mother Nature and her fury better than other roofing types.

Created with a state-of-the-art polymer chemistry, DaVinci polymer roofing tiles resist impact, high winds and fire. The composite tiles are manufactured from a proprietary engineered polymer that includes multiple virgin resins, organic fire retardant, state-of-the-art color and UV stabilizers and inorganic pigments that are safe for the environment.

Saving Big on Insurance Premiums

Interested in how much you can save by requesting a polymer roof on your home? Kevin Riley, a homeowner in Oklahoma, saves about $2,000 a year on his premiums since having a DaVinci roof installed.

"We were in the market for a new roof after a hail storm," says Riley. "Being in Oklahoma I wanted to put something on our roof that would stand up to future storms. The DaVinci roofing product has provided us with the durability to handle our unpredictable weather plus enhanced the architectural look of our home.

"We thought our first roof was fine, but now the polymer slate roof is spectacular. The color selection enhances our home exterior and we sleep a lot easier at night knowing this roof will help protect our house."

Since the Norman, Oklahoma, area gets impacted by severe weather regularly, another homeowner, John Simonelli, also receives a discount on his homeowner's insurance after having an imitation slate roof installed.

"Hail severely damaged our original roof," says Simonelli. "The new composite Bellaforté Slate roof we had installed got us a discount from State Farm and made our home look more elegant and tailored. We're now getting compliments on our roof, and that never happened before."

Homeowner savings aren't limited to the Midwest. Andrew Marenin, a resident of Colorado, received a discount from State Farm after having his roof replaced.

“After my roof had hail damage, my independent adjuster told me we’d save 25 to 30 percent on our annual homeowner’s insurance because the DaVinci Roofscapes polymer roof we purchased resists severe weather, hail and fire,” says Marenin. "We previously had a 22-year-old natural cedar shingle roof on our home. We loved the look, but we wanted a replacement product that would easily handle most hail storms and last longer than real wood. The Bellaforté Shake product met all our needs.

“After seeing my new roof, he (the adjuster) was so impressed by its quality and reasonable pricing that he told me he was seriously considering getting this product for his own home!”

Another Insurance Tip

If you're building a new home and live in an area prone to wildfires, it's also a good idea to contact your insurance company before selecting your roof. Some insurance companies won't cover real cedar shake shingles (and there are some code restrictions in different geographic areas prohibiting certain roofing products).

The key is that you don't want to be in the position that Nevada homeowner Emilio Ricci found himself in a few years ago.

“Our insurance company basically told us to get rid of the original cedar shake roof or they would drop us,” says Ricci. “We did some research and liked the functionality and long life span of the synthetic shake tiles recommended by Class A Roofing. We found they were within our budget and they add a strong appeal to the home."

The bottom line? Before adding a roof to your home, check with your insurance agent to determine any local restrictions... and how much savings you may be able to get each year by investing in a synthetic roof for your home!