The roof tends to be the part of a property that you don’t pay much attention to until something goes wrong. When you purchase a property, a survey may highlight potential issues that you have not even thought of.
There are many different types of roofs and they all present their own maintenance issues. The construction of your roof could also impact how much you pay on your home insurance because some types of roofs are more likely to develop faults than others. Also, some are more expensive to repair.
Here’s some more information on how your roof type could impact your home insurance.
What type of roof do you have?
Some of the more unusual types of roof often attract the highest premium. Thatched roofs, in particular, can be an issue. According to the insurers at the National Farmers Union, a thatched house can have premiums that are 55% higher than premiums for a slate or tile roof. This is partly due to the fact that specialist skills and materials are needed to replace them.
Glass and metal roofs can also attract higher premiums. It is worth checking this out before you buy a property or before you undertake any renovation work.
Flat roofs can cause problems
If you have a property with a flat roof, it is worth talking to Cheltenham roofing experts such as http://hempstedroofing.com about how you can maintain it because they can cause problems. Any roof that has a slope of less than 10 degrees is classed as a flat roof.
Not all insurers are willing to include flat roofs in a home insurance policy so it is important to check this when you take out the policy. It is vitally important that you inform the insurance company about it when you get your quote.
Flat roofs leak more often than pitched roofs. This is because water cannot run off them and does not get directed away from the roof in guttering. Instead, it tends to collect in pools which eventually causes the material to degrade. This results in sagging and water eventually works its way through the roof. They can also get damaged if people walk on them and they can be used by burglars to gain access to a property.