Roof stains can cause harm to shingles, forcing roof repair. Consistently cleaning a roof prevents needing roofing contractors to install a new roof or from inspectors reporting poor conditions to a homeowner’s insurance company. Many homeowners take the roof over their heads for granted until an issue arises.  Often, homeowners will contact roofing contractors as well as alert their insurance companies to cover the cost of the roof damage only when faced with an unexpected potential repair or replacement. However, a recent trend in insurance companies canceling policies due to roof maintenance has forced policyholders to pay closer attention to the overall general condition of their home’s roofing structure. 

Essentially, many insurance companies are threatening to cancel or refuse renewal on coverage due to dirty and unsightly stained roofs. This new development has surprised homeowners as they never thought that mere stains could cause them to lose their insurance. However, many insurance providers feel that these problems will lead to more situations that will impact the quality of the home, causing roof repair. These difficulties can eventually allow mold into the home, resulting in costly claims. Consistently Cleaning Shingles Helps To avoid the threat of policy cancellation, the first priority must be to keep the surface clean. Consistently cleaning the shingles can help to both maintain the surface integrity and potentially prevent the frustration of trying to find a new insurer in the unforeseen event of damage and required restoration. And, while insurance shopping as needed may sound easier than consistent surface maintenance, it’s important to remember that, once one company has canceled or rejected a policy, it’s more likely that other agencies will reject coverage as well. Ultimately, consistent cleaning and maintenance is the safest route to avoid the hassle of cancellation.

How The Inspection Process Can Affect Your Policy Status

While an inspection can occur at any time, the most common reasons for an examiner to show up are a new policy application, annual policy renewals, change in coverage amounts, or addition of riders. An appointed inspector will review the current status of the home’s roofing structure and report the condition to the insurance company. Based on the inspection report, the insurance company can demand that the top of the house be cleaned or threaten the cancellation of your policy entirely.

Besides reducing the risk of cancellation, ensuring the covering is clean prior to an inspector showing up also contributes to an improved overall appearance of your home. Research has shown that stains on shingles can allow heat to accumulate in the house. Spots also decrease the value of a home. Most homeowners can’t afford to contact roofing contractors to have a new top installed, but they can take precautions to keep from having to pay for this costly renovation while simultaneously working to keep coverage current. 

The Cause Of Damage

Understanding what causes unsightly spots on the home’s upper exterior can also help individuals to avoid dealing with unexpected roof repair as well as coverage cancellation. Algae and shingles damaged by mold show up as black, brown, or gray marks on the asphalt shingles. Some spots are also the result of leakage and crushed limestone that appears on modern-day shingles. 

Large concentrations of fungus, mold, and mildew grow on housetops almost throughout the entire United States. However, states that contain higher levels of moisture in the air are especially prone to this problem. Getting rid of the stain can be done by individuals or a company hired to take care of the job. Weather, how well the roof is maintained, and the type of asphalt shingles used affect how severe the stains are as well as how quickly they appear. In order to spread, algae must have weather conditions of heat and moisture along with nutritional elements. 
Ultimately, informed homeowners can counteract this trend towards rejected policies. Simply knowing what to look for and following these simple preventive methods can help avoid roof repair and reduce the possibility of losing homeowner’s insurance.