Did your insurance company just tell you they won't renew your home insurance because of your roof? You might feel shocked and stressed. You may even wonder if it's a scam.
Most of the time, these notices are real. If this happened to you, you're not alone. Many homeowners face this same problem, often without any warning and with little time to fix it.
At Equity Roofing, we help homeowners in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Michigan deal with insurance issues. We've made hundreds of detailed roof inspection reports. We also help homeowners appeal these decisions and find ways to save money. Often, we help them avoid getting a new roof when they don't really need one.
In this article, you'll learn a simple three-step plan to keep your insurance coverage. This might mean getting an inspection, asking for more time, or replacing your roof before the deadline.
Clickable Table of Contents
Your insurance company likely flagged your roof due to its age, visible condition, or material type. Insurance companies have specific timelines when they start requiring action:
At these ages, insurers want either a full replacement or an inspection showing at least five years of remaining life. Even a visibly rusted metal roof could trigger cancellation, even if it's still functional.
The inspection process changed significantly after COVID. Previously, insurance agents would conduct visual inspections themselves. Now, most companies rely on third-party inspectors who may visit your property without advance notice as part of the renewal process.
If you ignore the notice, your insurance company will cancel your policy. Then you'll have very little time to find new insurance.
If you have a mortgage, here's what happens when your policy gets canceled:
If you don't have a mortgage, the problem is even worse. No one will make you get insurance, but without it, your home has no protection at all.
If you receive this notice because of your roof, don't let worry stop you from taking action. You can resolve this issue with three simple steps. We'll show you how below.
If you receive a non-renewal notice, your first step should be to contact your insurance agency to confirm their specific requirements. The sooner you begin, the more time you’ll have to resolve the issue and avoid losing your insurance.
Don't assume that a non-renewal notice means you have to get a new roof. Insurance companies may have different requirements depending on your situation.
Before taking action, contact your insurer to confirm:
Insurance companies often just want documentation that the roof is still in good condition. Sometimes, when damage is obvious from satellite images or visual inspection, they do require a new roof to continue coverage.
Understanding exactly what your insurance company needs can save you time and money in addressing their concerns.
Be sure to confirm with your roofer that this is a formal report and not just an estimate. An insurance-grade inspection includes detailed documentation that regular estimates don't provide.
A professional insurance inspection includes:
Expect to pay around $250 for a formal insurance report. Providing this documentation to your insurer may reverse a non-renewal.
If you need a roof repair or replacement, begin researching your options for local roofers. You should choose your roofer based on whether they are:
A free Golden Standard Checklist PDF is available to help you rank your potential contractors, no matter where you’re located.
Getting new insurance might seem like the cheapest choice, but it's only a short-term fix. Most insurance companies use the same people to check roofs. So you'll probably face the same problem with a new company in a year or two.
The truth is, you can't really avoid roof problems with insurance. It's usually better to address the problem directly than to continue searching for different insurance companies.
Insurance companies have become more selective about roofs due to adverse weather conditions and increased repair costs. Severe weather that was relatively rare 20 years ago is now more common, resulting in $30 billion in roof-related claims in 2024.
To stop this from happening again:
Taking care of your roof helps you avoid problems. If you see shingles in your yard, address the issue immediately. Don't wait for your insurance company to find problems when they check your roof.
If your insurance company won't renew your policy because of your roof, don't panic. You're not helpless, and you might not need a new roof right away.
Discover exactly what your insurance company requires and have your roof inspected by a professional. This will help protect your insurance and stop you from making a quick decision you might regret.
Your roof might be flagged just because it's getting old or doesn't look good to the person who checked it. That's annoying, but it can be fixed.
The next step is to find a reputable roofer to inspect your roof. Look at our 2025 list of the best roofers in Central PA, Northern Indiana, and Southern Michigan. These roofers meet the standards that insurance companies want.
At Equity Roofing, we help hundreds of homeowners deal with these insurance problems. We write detailed reports, give professional advice, and tell you the truth about your roof. Whether you want to fight the notice or figure out what to do next, we're here to help keep you covered.