The Differences between Roofing Materials

Not all roofing materials are made the same. Learn more about the differences in materials used in roofing and how that might impact your home insurance.

One of the most important things that you can do to ensure finding cheap insurance for a home is to make sure that your house is as safe and well-protected against damage as possible. Although accidents and natural disasters happen and there is no way to 100 percent protect your home from every possible eventuality, taking proactive steps can greatly reduce your level of risk. In turn, this makes your home less of a risk to insure for providers - making you the type of home owner they want and leading you to get a better home insurance quote.

An important feature of the home that many people don't consider is the materials used to create their roof. While many people know that having a new or repaired roof can protect them from flood or storm damage, they don't consider the materials being used when doing work on their roof. This can lead to big headaches down the road if a problem occurs, including having to pay higher premiums on their home owner insurance.

Here is a quick list of different roofing material options, and the benefits and risks of each:

Asphalt shingles: Are cheap and easy to install, and offer a high level of resistance to fire and impact damage such as hail.

Metal: Is very cheap and long-lasting. Can be damaged by hail, even though the damage is usually cosmetic.

Slate: Extremely strong and long-lasting, but can be too heavy for certain structures and lead to the potential for collapses.

Tile: Good for dry climates, but can be susceptible to rain, hail and heavy winds. Not recommended for areas with frequent, heavy storms.

Wood: Does not age as well as other materials. Thinner cuts of wood can be damaged by hail and heavy rains. May not be Class A rated for fire protection without a factory applied fire-resistant treatment.

Before getting a quote for home insurance online, it's important to understand how the safety of your house can impact the savings that you might realize. It's a good idea to talk to a contractor about making improvements to your home before applying for new home insurance - a few changes can save you a lot of money in the long term.

Lou Albini is a freelance writer specializing in financial services and insurance. His work has been published in major print and online news sites. He lives in Brooklyn, NY.