Hail-resistant roofing is coming to Alberta and it may save you tons on insurance
If there’s one thing Albertans can all agree on, it’s that our weather can be chaotic, unpredictable, and, at times, downright dangerous.
From flooding that has wreaked havoc on Edmonton homes and businesses this summer to the damaging hailstorms Calgarians are all too familiar with, severe weather is becoming an increasingly expensive reality in our lives. And with insurance premiums constantly rising, changes to how some homes are built could offer a little relief.
According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), as of Aug. 1, Homes by Avi has made hail-resistant roofing standard on all its new single-family homes in Alberta. IBC said it is the first large-volume homebuilder in the province to make this commitment.
“For years, insurers have been calling on all orders of government to better protect Canadians from natural disasters,” said IBC in a news release.
The roofing is designed to withstand severe hail and wind better, helping reduce damage and improve the long-term resilience of homes.
Using hail-resistant roofing and siding could lower home insurance premiums by as much as 50 per cent in high-risk areas such as Calgary, IBC stated,Ā because they reduce the risk of damage and the likelihood of insurance claims.
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Aaron Sutherland, IBC vice-president, Pacific and Western, said using hail-resistant materials should become standard practice for all new home construction in high-risk areas, both to help protect properties and keep insurance coverage affordable.
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Some insurers even offer financial incentives to homeowners to support retrofitting their homes with hail-resistant materials.
“With insurers stepping up to make it more attractive for homeowners to invest in hail-resistant retrofits, IBC is strongly encouraging the government to come to the table with additional financial supports for homeowners to make these improvements,” said Sutherland.
In Calgary in particular, IBC says efforts should be made such as reviving the City’s Resilient Roofing Rebate Program, mandating hail-resistant roofing and siding in new construction in high-risk areas, and improving storm notifications so residents have more time to prepare and move their vehicles out of harm’s way.
Alberta has experienced eight catastrophic weather events so far this year, according to IBC, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in insured damage.
Alberta also has seen a major hailstorm every year for the past decade, causing more than $8 billion in insured damage and putting “significant pressure” on home, auto and business insurance premiums.