“that ‘pizza money’ discount is way too real.”
Right? I was hoping for a steak dinner, not just a slice. I switched to metal last year (Midwest here), and the insurance break barely covered my first oil change. Still, I sleep better when the hail rolls in. Paperwork was a circus though—my installer had to resend the invoice three times because the adjuster wanted “more detail.” Wouldn’t trade back to asphalt, but yeah, it’s not the windfall they make it sound like.
“the insurance break barely covered my first oil change.”
That’s pretty common, honestly. But I’ve seen some clients get a bit more—depends a lot on the insurer and how new the metal is. Midwest hail is no joke though, and you’re right, peace of mind counts for something. Just wish the paperwork wasn’t such a hassle every single time.
I hear you on the paperwork—feels like I need a PhD just to fill out a claim. My “discount” after the inspection was about enough for a couple pizzas, but hey, at least my old shingles aren’t leaking...yet. Midwest weather loves to keep us humble.
Yeah, the paperwork is a beast. I swear, every time I deal with insurance, I end up with a stack of forms and a headache. I did the same roof inspection thing last year—mine’s a 17-year-old asphalt shingle roof, and I was hoping for a bigger break on my premium. Ended up saving maybe enough for a nice dinner, but not much more. Still, I guess it’s better than nothing.
One thing I noticed: the inspector was way more interested in the flashing and gutters than I expected. He barely glanced at the shingles themselves. Maybe that’s just how they do it around here (I’m in central Illinois), but it surprised me. Midwest storms are no joke, and I’ve had to replace a few blown-off tabs after those spring wind gusts.
Honestly, I keep thinking about switching to metal next time, but the upfront cost is hard to swallow. At least the old shingles are hanging in there for now...knock on wood.
That’s interesting about the inspector focusing on flashing and gutters. I just went through my first inspection a couple months ago, and honestly, I thought they’d be all about the shingles too. Instead, he spent most of his time poking around the edges and checking for water marks near the downspouts. Maybe it’s because leaks usually start at those weak spots? I’m in northern Indiana, so kind of similar weather.
I’ve been debating metal too, but the price tag freaks me out a bit. Did your inspector mention anything about attic ventilation or insulation? Mine flagged that as a big deal for insurance discounts, which I didn’t expect.
