For Florida homeowners, roof age is driving up insurance costs earlier than they expected.
For asphalt shingle roofs, some insurers now appear to be drawing the line at 15 years rather than 20, WPTV reported.
What's happening?
Across the Sunshine State, homeowners are finding that a roof can reduce their home insurance options once it reaches 15 years old, even if it is still in good condition.
That change could make it hard for people to keep their premiums in check.
"Most companies will do asphalt or composition shingles up to 15 [years] now," Robert Norberg of Arden Insurance Associates in Lantana told WPTV. "They want 15 or newer to get the best rate; they will take older roofs on tile and metal; metal seems to be getting the best rate."
Norberg said metal roofs may continue to be viewed favorably by some insurers for up to 40 years, giving those homeowners a much longer timeline than people with asphalt shingles.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
That dynamic is already affecting people such as Kelly Hagen of Vero Beach, who told WPTV that her nearly $9,000 premium is the best deal she can get.
"Several people have checked it for me, and being that my roof turns 15 this month, they are not able to help me," Hagen wrote in an email to the station.
Why does it matter?
In Florida, roof age is increasingly influencing the price and accessibility of home insurance.
For households already strained by expenses, that can force a difficult decision between absorbing a high premium and paying thousands for a replacement roof.
"The biggest indicator of your rate and impact is the age of your roof," Melissa Burt DeVriese, president of Security First Insurance, told WPTV. In practice, that means a roof may be treated as a problem because of its age, not because it is failing.
Even if options have improved in Florida's insurance market, not every homeowner may benefit the same way.
State leaders and insurance experts say more companies are entering the market and rates are declining, yet people with old asphalt roofs may still struggle to find low quotes.
What's being done?
Not every company handles roof age the same way.
For homeowners who are considering a replacement, roofing material may matter more than before.
DeVriese said the most direct route to a lower premium can be costly up front: replacing an old roof. For some homeowners, that may be the only practical way to regain access to affordable quotes.
"If you have an old roof, getting a new roof will save you thousands of dollars a year," she said.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
