I still worry about smaller storms though... seems like you’re stuck paying out of pocket unless it’s a total disaster.
I get the concern, but have you looked at repairability with standard shingles vs impact-resistant? My neighbor swapped to impact-resistant after a bad storm, but when a smaller one hit, he still had to patch a few spots himself—insurance didn’t cover it since it was under the deductible. Honestly, I’m not sure the premium discount is worth it unless you’re in a really high-risk hail area. Sometimes, setting aside a “roof fund” for minor stuff makes more sense than chasing every possible discount.
Sometimes, setting aside a “roof fund” for minor stuff makes more sense than chasing every possible discount.
That’s honestly the most practical approach I’ve seen. Impact-resistant shingles sound great on paper, but unless you’re in hail alley, the math rarely works out. I’ve seen folks pay extra for “peace of mind,” then end up patching after every wind gust anyway. Insurance is really just for the big stuff—anything under the deductible is basically on you, no matter what shingle you pick.
Yeah, I’ve been wrestling with the same thing since moving in last year. I kept reading about all these “upgrades” but when I actually priced out impact shingles versus regular, the payback just wasn’t there for my area. I ended up just putting a little aside each month for random repairs. It’s wild how even a small windstorm can knock a few shingles loose, no matter what you pick. Insurance really does feel like it’s only there for the big disasters, not the everyday stuff.
- Totally get what you mean about the payback not being there. I’ve seen a lot of folks go with regular shingles and just budget for repairs, like you said.
-
That’s been my experience too. Most policies have a wind/hail deductible that’s way higher than the standard one, so small stuff never gets covered.“Insurance really does feel like it’s only there for the big disasters, not the everyday stuff.”
- Curious—did your insurance company offer any premium discount for impact-rated shingles? Some carriers in my area (Midwest) do, but it’s not always enough to offset the upfront cost.
- Also, have you looked into starter strip upgrades or better underlayment? Sometimes those help with wind damage, but again, it’s all about cost vs. benefit.
That’s spot on. I’ve inspected plenty of roofs where minor shingle loss or flashing damage just isn’t worth filing a claim. Impact-rated shingles can help, but like you said, the premium discount rarely covers the upfront cost unless you’re in a high-risk zone. Upgrading underlayment or starter strips does improve wind resistance—synthetic underlayment especially holds up better than felt in my experience—but again, it’s all about weighing that initial investment against how often you actually see severe storms in your area.“Most policies have a wind/hail deductible that’s way higher than the standard one, so small stuff never gets covered.”
