I've dealt with both metal and asphalt roofs after hailstorms, and honestly, insurance claims can be a bit of a crapshoot either way. Metal roofs are great for durability, but insurers often label dents as "cosmetic," which can be frustrating. Asphalt shingles, on the other hand, seem straightforward until you get into the granule-loss debate—some adjusters shrug it off as normal wear and tear.
If you're trying to navigate this mess, here's what I'd suggest: first, document everything thoroughly—photos, dates, even weather reports if you can. Next, don't just accept the first adjuster's opinion as gospel; politely push back if something feels off. I've seen second opinions turn a denial into an approval more than once. Lastly, it never hurts to shop around for insurance providers every few years. Some companies are definitely more lenient about cosmetic damage than others.
Bottom line: neither roof type guarantees smooth sailing with insurance claims...but being proactive and persistent usually pays off in the end.
Had a similar headache last year after a nasty hailstorm. Adjuster tried to tell me dents in my metal roof were "just cosmetic," but I pushed back with tons of photos and weather reports. Eventually got them to cover partial replacement... persistence pays off, for sure.
"Adjuster tried to tell me dents in my metal roof were 'just cosmetic'"
Yeah, adjusters often label metal roof dents as cosmetic because they don't immediately compromise structural integrity or waterproofing. But keep in mind, asphalt shingles can sometimes make insurance claims simpler since hail damage is usually obvious (granule loss, cracks, etc.) and harder for adjusters to dismiss. Metal roofs are great long-term, but from a purely insurance standpoint, asphalt might save you some headache... even if it means replacing more frequently. Just something to consider.
- Had same issue with our metal roof—adjuster shrugged off dents as "cosmetic," but honestly, looked like a golf ball afterward.
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True, but doesn't asphalt mean more frequent replacements and deductibles?"Metal roofs are great long-term, but from a purely insurance standpoint, asphalt might save you some headache..."
- Wondering if anyone's crunched the numbers on metal vs asphalt over, say, 20 years...?
We went through this exact debate a few years back. Ended up sticking with asphalt because the upfront cost of metal was pretty steep, and honestly, insurance didn't seem to favor metal roofs much anyway. We've replaced shingles once already after a hailstorm—yeah, deductible hurt—but even factoring that in, it still felt cheaper long-term. Curious if anyone's done a detailed breakdown though...might've missed something in our math.
