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What constitutes an unacceptable roof in terms of home insurance?

I have a 100-year-old home and the roof is in decent condition. However, I was warned that I might not be able to get home insurance with the roof in its current state. What constitutes an unacceptable roof?

avatar
Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“There are no specific conditions for roofs that render them unacceptable. The acceptance of a roof depends on each home insurance company and each underwriter’s guidelines.
However, there are some common traits insurance companies look for to deem a roof unacceptable and deny a policy, such as:
  • noticeable defects
  • lack of shingles
  • shingle damage
  • loss of granular condition of the roof
  • rust on tin roofs
  • a roof older than 15 years
In this condition, the roof is a ticking time bomb in terms of claims, just like if you bought a
used car warranty
on a high-mileage vehicle.
If you feel your roof is up to code but your current provider is still denying your policy, it might be time to shop around. Each company has different standards and you might find a company willing to work with your home in its current condition.
If you want to leave the hard work of shopping for new insurance to someone else, try using the free
Jerry
app. Jerry compares rates from the top providers and will even help wit the transfer paperwork.”
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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