Yeah, the deductible situation in Texas is a real headache. I’ve seen folks get burned thinking they had a flat deductible, only to find out wind/hail is a percentage—usually at the worst possible time. Splitting by peril would make so much sense, but I haven’t seen it offered here either. Maybe someday.
On metal roofs, I hear you about the numbers not quite adding up. The premium drop is usually underwhelming, and if your shingles still have life left, it’s tough to justify the upfront cost. That said, after last spring’s hailstorm, I saw a bunch of neighbors with asphalt shingles fighting with adjusters over what counted as “damage.” The folks with metal roofs just shrugged and went about their day. Less hassle isn’t nothing, especially if you’re tired of patch jobs or insurance runarounds.
If your shingles are already curling or you’re seeing granules in the gutters, that’s when I’d say metal starts making more sense—at least from a long-term headache perspective. But yeah, it’s not a magic bullet financially unless you plan to stay put for a while.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually seen metal roofs pay off sooner than people expect—especially after a couple of those Texas hail seasons. Yeah, the upfront is a gut punch, but I’ve had customers who didn’t have to mess with insurance claims for decades, while their neighbors replaced shingles twice. Plus, the “premium drop” isn’t always huge, but some carriers will bump your policy to actual cash value for older shingles, which can sting way more long-term. Not saying metal’s always the answer, but sometimes the numbers do work out if you factor in all the headaches saved.
That’s a good point about the long-term headaches. I put off switching to metal for years because of the sticker shock, but after the third hail claim in five years, it started making more sense. I’ll admit, my insurance premium didn’t drop as much as I hoped, but not having to worry every time there’s a thunderstorm is worth something too. It’s not a magic fix for everyone, but I’m glad I finally bit the bullet.
- I hear you on the peace of mind, but for me, the upfront cost of metal just wasn’t doable.
- Ended up patching my asphalt roof after hail last year—cheaper short term, but yeah, now I’m crossing my fingers every spring.
- Insurance barely budged either way. Sometimes I wonder if they factor in neighborhood claims more than material.
- Not sure it’s a win for everyone, especially if you’re not planning to stay put long term...
Insurance barely budged either way. Sometimes I wonder if they factor in neighborhood claims more than material.
Honestly, I’ve seen that too—folks shell out for metal thinking their premiums will drop, but the insurance company just shrugs. They’re looking at zip codes and claim history more than what’s actually on your roof, at least around here. Had a neighbor swap to metal after a nasty hailstorm, and his rates didn’t move an inch. Meanwhile, my cousin patched his old shingles and got dinged with the same deductible as everyone else when the next storm hit. It’s a bit of a gamble either way, especially if you’re not planning to stick around long. Sometimes the “peace of mind” is just knowing you won’t be fighting with adjusters every spring...
