My Home Builder doesnt know the Roof Classification!!! (Impact: insurance, buying)

[jamx551]

Our Home Insurance is asking what type or classification of roofing we have. She says if it falls under Class 3 or 4 then we may avail of another 20% discount from our Insurance
So I asked my builder. Unfortunately his reply was that he doesnt know the class but he knows they are composite asphalt shingles and further adds that nobody has ever asked him that question in the 10 years he has been a builder.

Was my builder playing dumb? Did he really know what a class roof is? Was it because he just didn't use one because they are a little bit more expensive? Isnt it the classification system is a Texas Law and has been in effect since 1999?

So he is required by law to provide us with one if our roof qualifies.. I was told by one member here that to ask for one shingle, on the back of every shingle manufactured in TX is it's classification number.

What do you think?

[MJinAustin]

What he's telling you is C R A P. They should have all the paperwork that shows what they purchased and delivered for your house. Tell them to go look it up and tell you the mfr and the style and color, etc. and from there you can figure out if the shingles meet your insurance needs by going to the mfr's website.

Builders don't want to be bothered...with anything, including customers. I'd push for the info.

[Eastender67]

Your builder (through the roofing subcontractor if he used one) surely should have made some effort to at least provide you with the specific brand and type of shingles used. From that you could determine if he used "hail-resistant" shingles or not and that would mean Class 4, the best. The 3rd web site below shows a form that either the builder or the roofing subcontractor should have provided you if the builder did his job right. The other 2 web sites provide info you might find helpful. Now, after looking at my insurance coverage and seeing absolutely nothing regarding my roof shingles class, am going to contact my agent and get some answers as to any discounts I might have coming. If I were you, I'd make a copy of that form (see site 3 below) and show it to your builder and ask to have it completed. Good luck.

Let it Hail, Let it Hail, Let it Hail!

Roofing that Qualifies for Impact-Resistant Roof Discounts from the Texas Department of Insurance

http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/forms/pcp...roofinstal.pdf

[MaddSklz14]

First of all its not a 1, 2, 3, or 4 class. Roof classification goes A, B, C, Non-Rated. I am assuming they are meaning roof covering. An actual roof classification deals with how the roof is constructed including the covering. But A being a roof such as steel or concrete. Class B roof is something like a composition or tar and gravel roof. Class C is Manufacutred wood shingles, not good, will still burn. And Non-Rated is what it is, non-rated usually rough cut shingles made of wood and no retardant on it for fire prevention/ember intrusion. Hope that helps, let me know if not.

[d.h.badger]

This is not an excuse, but...

If he's a superintendent working for a company, lots of the work that is subcontracted is done turn-key. This does not expose your "builder" to many details that are related to buying materials.

Also, since the purchasing department issues the P.O.'s for all suppliers (and with some builders, all labor too) the "builder" never deals with selection of materials.

I learned about roof classifications on my first custom away from the production builder I was working for (for 8 years)!!