Question regarding a new roof

846 Views | 16 Replies | Last: 7 hrs ago by Jason_Roofer
RightWingConspirator
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10:41a, 1/12/26
AG
Guys, we're on the cusp of reroofing our home and had questions regarding the roof material. We have elected to use the GAF class 4 tiles/shingles for the reroof but had a few questions for those that have used them. Did you see any discount from your insurance company because you chose this material over the basic? It's supposed to be a higher impact resistance; hence, some insurance companies will give a discount on the homeowner insurance. Did you see a discount and who was your insurance carrier?

We use State Farm but had to get lawyers involved to get them to pay out on our roof. While it's not going to cover the cost of my roof fully, it will chip in about $13,000 after I meet my deduct. The incremental cost to using these shingles over the basic ones is about $2,400. We will be selling the home sometime in the next three or four years, so we struggled a tad on whether to use the upgraded shingles or just go with the basic. My thinking is I doubt I'll get any money back for them when we sell, but we will be better protected until we sell, so hopefully I never have to go through the headache of dealing with homeowner insurance as it pertains to a roof again.

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Sims
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11:36a, 1/12/26
AG
You likely won't get a discount until class 4.

ETA: Just checked State Farm's website.

Discounts

Quote:
If you use certain impact resistant roofing products, like hail resistant shingles or class 4 shingles, you may be eligible for a discount on your home insurance premiums.4 Please check with your State Farm agent before installing a new roof.

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RightWingConspirator
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12:18p, 1/12/26
AG
I misremembered what it is we're putting in, but I revised my OP. It is a Class 4 roof.
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Sims
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12:46p, 1/12/26
AG
I think your decision to go with class 4 is the right one.

You may not get the value back when you sell the house but it will increase your chances of being able to sell at all without giving concessions for a new roof when the buyer objects to you having installed one ply toilet paper on your roof instead of 2 ply
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RightWingConspirator
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1:48p, 1/12/26
AG
Thank you for your help.
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Whoop Delecto
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6:29p, 1/12/26
AG
Within the last year or 2, GAF Timberline HDZ shingles were classified as class 3 rating and TWIA allows a discount if you sign a cosmetic damage waiver. I think class 3 is 10% discount and class 4 is 14%.

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P.H. Dexippus
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7:31p, 1/12/26
AG
I went with class 4 in April. Did not see a meaningful discount. It may be the right product, just expect any kind of payback in the next decade.
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agchino
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9:24a, 1/13/26
AG
We actually got a discount for going with Class III through Safeco/Liberty Mutual.

When I ran the numbers the break even on additional cost going between 3 or 4 was like 7 years plus, assuming the discount stays steady over that time, so we just went with the class III that was fully covered under our replacement cost on our claim. Worth a call to your insurance just to check.
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Jason_Roofer
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11:38a, 1/13/26
I roof all over the San Antonio, Austin, Houston, BCS….Ive done thousands of roofs for the past decade.

There is a state farm discount for impact resistant roofing and you don't need Class IV to get it. The decision to get class IV is going to depend on location in the state. I am not a big pusher for Class IV. Most people in the state in the regions I listed above won't realize the benefits of it for the cost upgrade. These are all questions you should be asking your roofer. Ask him what class IV means and to enumerate how it helps you in the event of tennis ball sized hail. I have the difficult conversations with my customers. Your roofer should be well in tune with the entire situation regarding the denied claim, what has happened to get where you are, you wants, desires, and future plans. These all make a huge difference in the path forward and a good project manager should be able to guide that. If someone told me they were getting rid of the house in two years, there is no way on the planet that I would push them for a Class IV except in certain circumstances that I'd determine from talking to them. Impact resistant shingles are just that…resistant. All legitimate shingle manufacturers now hold Class III ratings and a new shingle like this will handle hail over the next several years far better than a crusty 15 year old roof. If you get hail like we had in Hondo or Austin or College Station a few years ago, your class IV won't survive it and you may have put yourself at a disadvantage by having it .

If you need more info or advice, I'm happy to field a phone call
And walk you through it if you want to bounce ideas off me. No sales BS. Just good info for anyone that wants it. Contact in profile.
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Noble07
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In reply to RightWingConspirator • 1:26p, 1/13/26
AG
RightWingConspirator said:
We use State Farm but had to get lawyers involved to get them to pay out on our roof. While it's not going to cover the cost of my roof fully, it will chip in about $13,000 after I meet my deduct.

Is the $13k because you had to pay the fees for the PA and attorney? I am in the middle of the legal process right now. I was hoping I could come out close to whole on the roof replacement.
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JP76
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1:56p, 1/13/26
From what I have seen the additional cost of class 4 is not worth it financially unless all you ever get is small hail in your area. I have seen 1 1/2 -2 inch smoke a class 4 that was under 5 years old and the homeowners were pretty upset that it did not live up to its selling point after they spent the extra cost.
Also if you want a more durable roof stay away from GAF. Owens Corning and Certain teed have consistently held up better in hail events on roofs I have looked at and or replaced.
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rlb28
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1:58p, 1/13/26
AG
With insurance companies not wanting older roofs I had a gentleman tell me the other day he was going to get a cheap, 20-year roof. Why pay a bunch for an expensive roof that insurance will want you to re-roof in 15 years anyway. Hmmm...
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JP76
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In reply to rlb28 • 2:05p, 1/13/26
Because a 20 year which is now called a 25 year shingle is a 3 tab shingle that is more prone to blowing off, usually only last 10-12 years in the field before failing from heat/weather, is much more prone to impact damage and will show every framing/decking flaw in your roof when the sun hits it.

There is a reason you see 3 tab shingles on tract housing and it's not because the builder is your friend.
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Jason_Roofer
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In reply to rlb28 • 4:26p, 1/13/26
rlb28 said:
With insurance companies not wanting older roofs I had a gentleman tell me the other day he was going to get a cheap, 20-year roof. Why pay a bunch for an expensive roof that insurance will want you to re-roof in 15 years anyway. Hmmm...


To piggyback JP76….

Be aware the cost difference between 3 tab and architectural isn't that big and there is absolutely zero reason to put on an inferior product.

Also, be aware carriers, like TXFB for instance, will not insure a 3 tab shingle. Several othe carriers are beginning to do the same. You don't want to save all this money and then have your carrier punt you away 4 years in with no way to get coverage. You'll just have to eat a roof you should have put in the first time.

Just something to consider.

Also, I no longer push GAF unless it's requested. They used to take real good care of us with pricing and fixing issues but they have opted not to keep doing that rcebtly and they've stumbled a few times on dealing with issues. I almost exclusively sell Certainteed for the reasons listed above in that I believe they are a much better product and my reps are superior in dealing with issues. At number 6 in the nation for top roofing companies, we tend to take care of the manufacturers that take care of us. I don't have a tolerance for products that aren't backed and supported.
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AgLA06
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2:36p, 1/14/26
AG
Let's say you were 40 and have determined your current house will most likely be the one you retire in. You need to replace the roof in the next couple of years, but you have this dream of it being the last time you have to do so in your lifetime. Home is in a nice older Houston neighborhood developed in the 70s with remodeled homes going for $1 million.

What are the options other than a metal roof? Europe still has great long lasting options like slate and tile. What options do we have here in the US that aren't lighting money on fire?
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akaggie05
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In reply to AgLA06 • 2:47p, 1/14/26
AG
Metal, slate, and tile.
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Jason_Roofer
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In reply to AgLA06 • 1:01p
AgLA06 said:
Let's say you were 40 and have determined your current house will most likely be the one you retire in. You need to replace the roof in the next couple of years, but you have this dream of it being the last time you have to do so in your lifetime. Home is in a nice older Houston neighborhood developed in the 70s with remodeled homes going for $1 million.

What are the options other than a metal roof? Europe still has great long lasting options like slate and tile. What options do we have here in the US that aren't lighting money on fire?

Metal, Slate and Tile. There are some slate alternatives that are made from rubberized products. They are pricey but can be done and look like tile. But, it is not tile.

Unless your house was built structurally to handle tile and slate, these will be cost prohibitive to re-engineer your homes structure to accommodate it.

Your options would then likely be stone coated steel and standing seam.

For what it's worth, I have standing seam on my house. The original part of it was just replace a few years ago and it has been there since the 1960's.

I do not recommend tile in Texas. It's fine in Arizona, but I don't care for it here and getting it replaced or repaired can be a real nightmare. I just finished a 95,000 dollar tile repair for a guy who's carrier denied coverage 4 years ago. He sued them. He lost. He now has a repaired roof that is watertight but looks like a checkerboard on his 2 Million dollar house.

Standing seam is where it's at. It's cost effective, lasts forever, and when I have golf ball sized hail at my house, I watch it from the porch with a beer without care in the world.
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