Insurance pushes for high-performance roofs

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Growing collaboration between manufacturers and insurers could reshape roofing choices. 

In the storm-prone Southeastern United States, insurance companies are increasingly influencing what materials go on roofs and their push for durability is opening the door for synthetic products like those made by Brava Roof Tile to take center stage. “The insurance companies are the ones really [advocating] what products that homeowners, business residents, condo associations and hotels are using these days,” said Frank Bermudez, Brava’s Southeast regional manager, on this Roofing Road Trips® podcast. “They’re wanting to see more hardened products.” 

Frank explained how premium discounts may be available for homeowners who install certain performance-rated materials, such as Class 4 impact-resistant or Class A fire-rated products. The problem, he said, is that many homeowners don’t know about them and contractors aren’t always explaining the benefits. “When you save them money, that’s where referral business comes from,” Frank said.  

The stakes are high in a region where hurricanes, hail and severe winds cause repeated damage. A poorly performing roof can lead to far more than an insurance claim for shingles, it can mean months of displacement, major mold issues and the loss of interior investments. “It becomes a $50,000 roof to a $250,000 kitchen, bathroom remodel, flooring remodel,” Frank noted. “If you’re putting the cheapest roof you could put on your house and the most expensive kitchen, it just doesn’t add up.” 

New regulations are also adding pressure. Frank pointed to Florida’s high wind velocity zones and product approval standards, which he says now surpass Miami-Dade’s famously strict requirements. Some insurers have begun limiting coverage lengths for certain materials, pushing more property owners toward metal or synthetic solutions. 

For Frank, the shift is about more than weather resistance, it’s about aligning construction with long-term resilience. “The roof should be every homeowner’s number one priority,” he said. “If you don’t have a good roof, everything else underneath it is subject to damage.” 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about the role insurers, building codes and material innovation are playing in reshaping the roofing market!