That’s a good point about the garage door—when I switched insurance last year, they actually sent someone out just to check mine. I thought it was overkill, but after hearing stories about wind getting in and causing way more damage, I get it now. If you’re looking to save more, swapping out the old door for a reinforced one made a bigger dent in my premium than new windows ever did. It’s weird what they focus on, but hey, every bit helps when you’re trying to keep costs down.
Funny you mention the garage door—I've seen insurance adjusters get way more worked up about that than the actual roof sometimes. I had a client last spring who replaced their old wood garage door with a wind-rated steel one, and their premium dropped almost as much as after we put on impact-resistant shingles. It surprised both of us. Honestly, I used to think windows were the big deal too, but in high-wind areas, those big doors are just weak spots waiting to happen. Insurance companies definitely have their own logic... but if it saves money, I guess it makes sense.
That’s wild, but honestly, I’ve seen the same thing. I always figured the roof was the main deal-breaker for insurance, but after a big storm here last year, a bunch of my neighbors got flagged for their old garage doors. One guy replaced his with a reinforced model and his premium went down more than mine did after I put on a metal roof. Kind of annoying, since the roof was way pricier.
I get that those big doors are like giant sails in high winds, but it’s still weird to see insurance companies care more about them than windows or even siding. I guess it makes sense if you think about debris flying around and the whole door caving in—once the wind gets inside, everything’s toast.
Still, I wish they’d be more upfront about what actually matters for discounts. It’s always a guessing game. If you’re in a stormy area, though, seems like swapping out the garage door is a sneaky-good move for both safety and your wallet.
Funny you mention the garage door thing—I used to think it was all about the roof too. But after that last hurricane, my adjuster basically pointed at my old rickety door and said, “That’s your weak spot.” Ever notice how they barely care about windows unless you’ve got those fancy shutters? I guess it’s all about what lets the wind in fastest. Still feels like a weird system... anyone else get hit with random inspection notes for stuff you never thought mattered?
Ever notice how they barely care about windows unless you’ve got those fancy shutters?
Yeah, that’s been my experience too. They flagged my old mailbox post but didn’t even mention the single-pane windows. I ended up swapping out my garage door for a wind-rated one—pretty straightforward job, just needed a buddy for the heavy lifting. Insurance knocked a chunk off my premium after that, so it was worth it. Feels weird what they focus on, but I guess it comes down to what’ll blow in first.
