[ithos]

Was shopping for new car insurance and considered switching both my car and home policies to AAA.

One criteria they have is that the roof needs to be less than 10 years(for new policies, not renewals).

This means homes with roofs older than 10 years would have to be replaced before selling if this was an industry wide requirement.

My question is do all insurers have this stipulation? Why wouldn't a roof inspection be acceptable?

[Ben Franklin]

Just renewed our insurance with State Farm and our roof is 11 years old.

[Stu from NYC]

Blame the crooks who get the insurance companies to pay to replace roofs on 10 year old houses.

The rest of us get to hold the bag in the form of higher home insurance costs.

[retiredguy123]

All insurers do not have a 10 year requirement, but many do have an age requirement that is somewhat longer. And, I don't think a roof inspection would change their age requirement.

[kathyspear]

In the last few years the requirement seems to have gone from "can't get insurance if the roof is 20 years old" to " ... 15 years old" and now, maybe 10? Yikes. Check with other companies. We have Allstate (Cabrillo Coastal) which some people think is too expensive but they were willing to write us a policy with sinkhole coverage. Bought this house about 2 yrs ago, had to replace the 20 year old roof within 30 days of closing escrow. Good luck.

kathy

[Babubhat]

Chip Merlin, president of Tampa-based Merlin Law Group, said home insurers have tightened underwriting requirements for older homes, especially when it comes to roofs, plumbing and electrical systems.

“Roofs are the biggest issue," says Merlin. "Generally, in geographic areas where the demand for insurance exceeds the insurance company's appetite for risk, the greater the underwriting criteria come into play. Florida is such a state, but we are also seeing it along all coastal areas and in areas where hail damage is most prevalent."

Merlin adds that while some companies are tightening inspection requirements and requiring homeowners to cover the cost of these inspections for renewals, most insurers are simply refusing to write new policies for homes with roofs older than 20 years. (See "7 types of homes that are hard to insure.")

"The trend is to require an older roof – 15 to 20 years plus – to have an inspection to get a renewal. This is probably a good policy because it promotes better maintenance and reduces needless loss," says Merlin.

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by ithos

Was shopping for new car insurance and considered switching both my car and home policies to AAA. One criteria they have is that the roof needs to be less than 10 years.

I guess they don't want your business. Go with one of the many insurance companies that will do 15+.

Once you've been with a company a few years they tend to be more lenient - ours insured at 22 years but said next year might be a problem for them.

[MrFlorida]

Our insurance was 15 years, and I think that's too soon....

[Babubhat]

Useful life chart of components of a Florida house

InterNACHI's Estimated Life Expectancy Chart for Florida Homes

[Velvet]

And I’ve also heard that some insurance companies do insure you but raise your roof deductible to $15000 or more so above what you would have to pay to replace the roof.

[ithos]

Originally Posted by Babubhat

Useful life chart of components of a Florida house

InterNACHI's Estimated Life Expectancy Chart for Florida Homes

wow. 50 years for vinyl siding.

[eremite06]

AAA Roofing is still soliciting door to door.

[thelegges]

Just switched insurance with a 12 yo roof. No issues

[NYCAROL]

I was told most insurance companies will not accept NEW policies if the roof is over 10 years old. I shopped and found Allstate on Cr101 is the best for homeowners insurance including sinkhole and cheaper than most others.

[l2ridehd]

These are just someone’s attempt to put a number to something and has very little to do with reality. Probably worth checking if you exceed those time lines, but does not mean to replace it. If properly maintained and repaired when needed most things will exceed those guidelines. And in some cases by a lot. And yes there will be those that break down sooner. My AC is 16 years old and still works great. I have it serviced every year and expect it to last 25 years. I except my roof to last 25 years and will never let some door to door solicitor inspect it for free. They will go up and cause damage and show you pictures of a damaged roof they took elsewhere just to sell you a new roof. If it doesn’t leak, don’t replace it. If it does leak, repair it before replacing it. Same with almost everything on that home inspectors hit list. Lists like this is why you can hire 10 home inspectors and number 10 will still find something even after you fixed everything from number 1 through 9.