Calgary homeowner forced to replace roof to renew insurance policy

A Calgary woman was given 12 months to replace her roof by her insurance provider. Some figure this could become more normalized in the industry.

A Calgary homeowner has been given 12 months to replace her aging roof in order to have her home insurance renewed by Allstate Canada.

Krystal Tait lives in the northwest community of Valley Ridge.

She says Allstate notified her in September that her 25-year-old wood shingle roof has to go – despite her hoping to put off the expense for another couple of years.

“They haven’t looked at the condition of the roof,” Tait complained. “It’s extremely frustrating.”

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The letter she received from Allstate Canada says its records indicate that Tait’s roof “exceeds” its “current underwriting guidelines.”

“Older roods usually show signs of deterioration, which could include worn, curled, torn, cracked or missing shingles or tiles,” reads the letter. “Regardless of the anticipated life expectancy of a home’s roof, our often-harsh climate can take its toll much sooner.”

Tait says she was shocked to learn she must replace her roof sooner than anticipated.

“It certainly wasn’t something we expected to have to do this coming spring,” she said. “We’ve never had any issues whatsoever with the roof; we’ve never had any leaks, never had to do any repairs, nothing at all.”

Tait is expecting to spend minimum of $15,000 on the replacement.

She says some spot replacements were made around 10 years ago.

Tyson Toth, vice-president of Epic Roofing and Exteriors, questions the need for Tait to have her whole roof redone, saying regular maintenance normally lengthens a roof’s lifespan.

“Insurance [companies], [they] always like doing a general blanket statement on a roof and not necessarily taking into account the quality of the product,” he said.

“If someone has been keeping up with that maintenance, they should be able to extend the life of their roof beyond 25 years.”

Allstate Canada says roofs play a critical role in safeguarding against weather-related damage.

“As they age, their ability to provide that protection decreases. Many insurers encourage homeowners to regularly inspect their roofs and replace materials nearing the end of their service life to reduce the risk of costly damage.”

New weather reality

The Insurance Bureau of Canada says hailstorms in Calgary have taken a toll on the insurance industry, with more than $5 billion made in claims in the past five years, and $3 billion in 2024 alone.

“What’s new here is that we simply have a new weather reality in this country, and here in this province,” said Aaron Sutherland, Insurance Bureau of Canada’s vice-president, Western and Pacific.

“What you’re seeing from the insurance industry in response is more proactive engagement with their policyholders on what proper building maintenance looks like.”

According to Sutherland, shingle roofs are expected to last 15-20 years before they become more likely to have leaks and be susceptible to weather damage.

He recommends individuals who are forced to make changes to their homes to engage with their insurance providers about what their options are.

“It’s also a healthy, competitive marketplace,” he said, adding that there are plenty of options if you don’t like the price your insurer is coming forward with or what the policy options are.