Can a new roof reduce your insurance premiums in Illinois? Impact-rated shingles, insurance discounts, and what to ask your carrier.
Short answer: yes, in many cases. Here's how a new roof can reduce your homeowners insurance premium in Illinois, and which upgrades make the biggest difference.
Impact-Rated Shingles: The Biggest Insurance Discount
The single most impactful upgrade for insurance savings is installing Class 4 impact-rated shingles. Class 4 is the highest impact resistance rating, meaning the shingles are tested to withstand a 2-inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet. Many Illinois insurance carriers offer wind/hail premium discounts of 10-28% for roofs with Class 4 rated shingles.
Shingles with Class 4 options include Malarkey Vista AR (Class 4 standard), GAF Timberline HDZ IR, Owens Corning Duration STORM, and CertainTeed impact-resistant options. See our complete shingle comparison →
Age-Related Premium Reductions
Insurance carriers charge more for older roofs because they're more likely to fail during storms. A brand new roof resets that clock. Many carriers reduce premiums immediately when you provide proof of a new roof installation, with the biggest reductions for roofs under 5 years old.
What to Do
- Call your insurance carrier BEFORE getting a new roof and ask what discounts they offer for Class 4 impact-rated shingles and new roof installations
- Get the discount amount in writing so you can factor it into your roofing decision
- After installation, send your carrier a copy of the paid invoice and the shingle manufacturer's impact rating certification
- Verify the discount is applied to your next renewal
We help homeowners navigate this process during every roofing consultation. Schedule your free roof inspection →
Document before anything else
Insurance decisions are made on evidence. Note the date of the storm, photograph dents in gutters, vents and the air conditioner, and keep any hailstones in the freezer or photograph them next to a coin. Save weather alerts from that day. If something needs a temporary repair to prevent more damage, keep the receipts. Then get a professional inspection with photos of every slope before the adjuster comes.
Know what you are signing
After a big storm, crews from out of state go door to door. Some are fine; many leave when the work dries up, and their warranties leave with them. Before signing anything, read it. A contingency agreement can commit you to that contractor if the claim is approved. Check that the company has a local address, references nearby and insurance, and never sign over your claim payment. In Illinois a contractor cannot lawfully offer to pay or waive your deductible.
What an inspection should include
A real roof inspection covers more than a look from the driveway. It should include every slope, the flashing at chimneys and walls, pipe boots, valleys, the condition of the decking at the eaves, the gutters and, where there is access, the attic: daylight, staining, damp insulation and ventilation. You should get photos and a plain statement of whether the roof needs nothing, a repair or replacement. Ours is free.
Why ventilation decides roof life
A hot attic bakes shingles from below in summer, and in winter warm moist air condenses on the underside of the deck. Both shorten the life of a roof. Balanced ventilation, with intake at the soffits and exhaust at the ridge, keeps the deck close to outdoor temperature. We check it on every estimate, because adding a ridge vent during a re-roof costs little and adding it later costs a lot.
Common questions
Ready to Get Started?
Free consultation, transparent pricing, no pressure.
Free Consultation →Or call (331) 250-3726