Homeowners Insurance & Your New Roof

As many of you have experienced or are about to experience, insurance companies in Florida are evaluating property structures to minimize their excess liability to claims for damage caused by weather.  An old roof is definitely an excess liability.  Failure during high winds and heavy rains cost the insurance companies thousands to repair interiors caused by leaks and repair damage to roofs from storms.  

Homeowners with roofs that are over 20 years old are at risk of cancellation unless a qualified roofing expert can inspect the roof and ensure that the roof will last at least 3 years from the time of inspection.  With some insurance companies the 20 year old roof is the hard line for cancellation even if the roof would pass such an inspection.  

A homeowner or commercial property owner at risk of cancellation has no choice.  To be insured they must replace the roof.  Owning a home or property outright will allow you to go uninsured, but, for many of us the bank holds the paper and has insurance coverage written into the mortgage contract.

Not good news here for those who have not planned on this expense.  For those who will replace the roof there is at least one way to get a break.  Plan on having a qualified contractor perform a Wind Mitigation Report and file this to your insurance company after the roof is done.  The insurance company will discount your homeowners policy for each wind/storm damage feature you can prove exists on the structure.

If you are replacing your roof and plan on providing a Wind Mitigation Report to your insurance company, here are a few suggestions that will help this go smoothly.

Insist that the roofing contractor take extensive pictures throughout the project or take them yourself.  The pictures are required for the Wind Mitigation Report.  Here is a list of must have photos and procedures that should be followed to adhere to the report requirements and get you the maximum discount.  Download the 4 page Mitigation form here.

1. Picture of the house showing property address
2. Picture of the permit showing the home address.
3. Include the permit in all subsequent photos.
4. Picture of entire structure showing the basic shape and style.  (Hip roof, Gabled, Flat)
5. Picture of the roof deck that has just been re-nailed to code.  Best to show the seams with the nail pattern clearly visible.  Lay a tape measure next to the nailed deck to prove appropriate nail pattern and include some loose roofing nails in the photo.  Don't forget to include the permit.
6. Have the roofer expose the roof to wall connection.  You must include a photo of this connection whether it is toenailed, strapped or clipped.  Do not forget to include the second floor connections if present and the garage if detached or constructed differently.  Include the permit in the photos.
7. Picture of shingle underlayment before shingles are fastened.  This is impossible to get after the shingle are on so do not forget.  The only discount available for the homeowner for the type of underlayment used is when these exact words, "Self Adhered Secondary Water Barrier" can be provided with pictures on the Wind Mitigation Report.
8. Picture of the finished roof.

Provide these pictures to the Wind Mitigation inspector.  A Mitigation inspector may not be able to get these pictures any other way.  They will chose the best photos for accuracy.  There are those who may argue that all these pictures are not required.  Make it easy for yourself to get the discounts you deserve by not allowing the insurance company to disqualify your entitled discount due to missing information.

Your roofing contractor can advise you who is available to perform the report.  A roofing contractor that is not also a General Contractor is not qualified.

One more thing.  If you have had a Wind Mitigation Report filed to the insurance company prior to a new roof due to the installation of windows or hurricane shutters, these items MUST be included in the new report or you may lose the discount for them.

Visit us for our next Blog installment topic:  Shingle Underlayments

Thank You!