I’m starting to think the basics—good install, solid flashing, regular checks—matter more than the fancy upgrades.
Totally agree with this. I’ve always been a “function over flash” kind of person, especially when it comes to home projects that can get pricey fast. I went through the same thing with my last roof—contractor tried to upsell me on synthetic underlayment everywhere, but I just couldn’t justify it for my mild climate. Ended up using basic felt except for the tricky spots (chimney, valleys) where I put down ice & water shield, and honestly, it’s held up fine for six years now.
From what I’ve seen, insurance folks just want to see a roof that looks well-maintained and isn’t missing shingles or sagging. They don’t crawl up there and peel back layers to check what underlayment you used. Maybe if you’re in a hurricane zone or somewhere with crazy weather, those upgrades matter more, but for most of us, a solid install and keeping up with minor repairs seems to be what really counts.
And yeah, my premium dropped after the inspection too. Guess they just want to know you’re not going to be filing a claim every time it rains...
Funny, I had a similar experience when I replaced my roof last year. My guy tried to talk me into all sorts of “extras” but I stuck with the basics—good shingles, proper flashing, and just kept an eye on things after storms. The inspector barely glanced at the details, just checked for obvious issues. My premium dropped too, which honestly surprised me since I didn’t go for any of the fancy stuff. Makes me wonder if all those upgrades are really worth it unless you’re in a rough climate.
My guy tried to talk me into all sorts of “extras” but I stuck with the basics—good shingles, proper flashing, and just kept an eye on things after storms.
That’s basically my playbook too. Here’s my step-by-step: 1) Politely nod at every “premium underlayment” pitch. 2) Ask for regular shingles, not the ones that sound like they come with Bluetooth. 3) Make sure flashing doesn’t look like it was installed by a raccoon. 4) Wait for the inspector to do their 2-minute walk-around. My insurance dropped too, which was wild. I guess unless you live where hail falls like golf balls, the basics get the job done.
I was honestly kind of shocked when my insurance went down after the roof inspection. I figured, at best, they’d just leave my rate alone, but apparently having a “newer” roof (mine’s only five years old but it replaced a 30-year-old mess) is enough to make them happy. I didn’t go for any of the fancy upgrades either—just regular architectural shingles and made sure the flashing was actually tucked in right. No ice shield or “lifetime” underlayment or whatever they were pushing.
The inspector barely looked at anything. He kind of glanced up, took a couple photos, and then left. I was worried he’d nitpick stuff like a missing shingle tab or a nail pop, but nope. Maybe it’s just because we’re not in tornado alley or anything—just your average midwest storms here.
I do wonder if skipping the extras will bite me down the road though. My neighbor paid for all the bells and whistles—synthetic underlayment, ridge vent, upgraded drip edge—and his insurance didn’t go down at all. He’s convinced it’ll last longer, but I’m not sure if that’s worth double the price up front.
I’m definitely keeping an eye out after storms, just in case. Had a small leak over the bathroom last spring that turned out to be a cracked vent boot—nothing to do with shingles or underlayment at all. Stuff like that makes me think most of these “extras” are just peace-of-mind add-ons unless you’re in some wild weather zone.
Curious if anyone’s had issues with insurance not paying out because you didn’t get those upgrades? I haven’t heard of it happening around here, but maybe that’s just luck so far...
Stuff like that makes me think most of these “extras” are just peace-of-mind add-ons unless you’re in some wild weather zone.
You’re not wrong—most standard insurance policies in the Midwest don’t require those upgrades for coverage. Inspectors are usually just checking for overall condition, age, and whether it’s up to code. The fact that your rate dropped after a basic architectural shingle install lines up with what I’ve seen. Insurance companies mostly care about risk, and a new roof (even without all the bells and whistles) is way less likely to leak or blow off than a 30-year-old one.
I’ve never seen an insurer deny a claim just because someone skipped synthetic underlayment or a ridge vent. If you lived somewhere with hurricanes or wildfires, maybe they’d push for more, but around here, it’s rare. That said, your neighbor’s upgrades probably will help with longevity—less maintenance, maybe fewer repairs down the road—but it’s hard to say if that’s worth double the cost up front unless you plan to stay put for decades.
Keeping an eye out after storms is honestly the best move. Most leaks I’ve dealt with come from flashing or vent boots, not the fancy extras anyway.
