As we work our way into the New Year, many of us may be soon faced with the decision of when to replace our aging roof and what type of material is best? From an insurance perspective, having things like a secondary underlayment water barrier (also called an "SWR" or "Secondary Water Resistance" layer), can make a significant difference in your home insurance costs, but perhaps even more surprising than that is the fact that spending more money up front on a metal versus asphalt shingle roof may be much more cost effective in the long run (not to mention better for the environment!).

Asphalt shingles (currently the most popular roofing material used in Florida) are known to be the most cost-effective and come in a wide variety of styles and colors. The lifespan of asphalt shingles can exceed 15 years, but many insurance carriers won't cover residences with asphalt shingles older than that, due to the number of issues that can degrade their effectiveness over time, including granular loss, peeling, water pooling and cracking (which can lead to leaks), etc. An additional downside of asphalt shingles is that they are single-use and are quickly monopolizing our landfills, taking a whopping 300-500 years to decompose!

Metal roofs also come in a few different types, but are certainly more expensive up front, both from a materials and labor perspective. However, many metal roofs outlast their 30-50 year warranties, giving them 2-5x the lifespan of their asphalt counterparts! A pretty solid return on investment if you ask us!

Metal roofs are also highly recyclable, reflect sunlight in a way that can significantly reduce your cooling costs and the material requires little maintenance over time.

A downside to metal roofs includes possible denting due to wind-borne branches, hail and projectiles, but overall they are a better choice if you can afford them.

From an insurance standpoint, there is no discernable difference in insurance credit amounts on shingle versus metal roof materials, but from a longevity perspective, carriers will not require roof replacement on a shingle roof at the frequency they will on asphalt.

In the end, it's up to you and your HOA (if applicable) on which route to choose, but being armed with the facts should help.

If you have any questions about how your upcoming roof repairs or replacement may affect your home insurance rates, simply pick up the phone and give us a call at 321-725-1440. We're always ready to help!