In Saskatchewan, we have many elements of weather. Whether (no pun intended) it is wind, hail, snow, ice, cold, hot or all of the above. We get hammered with it all at different times of the year. To have a building withstand all these elements is quite an accomplishment. However, it does result in a quicker lifetime for many materials in this climate. I don’t know about you, but if I’m working in -30’C or in gale force winds, my efficiency and work ethic takes a bit of a hit. Here is some information for you and how it affects your insurance policy.
Effective 2018, SGI Canada and many insurance companies decided to take a new approach to adjust roof claims. They were now going to apply “depreciation” to roofing materials/labour if damaged by wind or hail. Depreciation is the loss in value due to wear and tear on that particular item. The reason for this change was that that there is a direct result of the roofs of buildings being worn down due to years of brutality from the elements and factors in our Canadian climate. This causes the life expectancy of our building materials (particularly roofs) to drop. Here is comparison between an architectural shingle and a typical 3-tab shingle.
If you have a roof that is 16 years or older, and you have a roof claim for wind or hail, a certain percentage will be deducted from your settlement based on the roofing materials installed on the roof. The table below shows what kind of depreciation will come off your roof in an insurance claim, depending on the materials used. If you are unsure about whether your roof should be replaced or not, contact a contractor through our Kijenga app on our claims section, or find a local roofing contractor to give you an estimate. You don’t want to have a “seepage” issue in your home due to old shingles leaking. Seepage is typically not covered on most policies.
| Roofing Material Used | Annual Depreciation % after 15 years |
| Asphalt/fibreglass composition shingles (Class 1-3) |
10% |
| Asphalt/fibreglass composition shingles (Class 4) |
7% |
| Architectural Shingles |
7% |
| Membrane Roofing |
5% |
| Metal, Rubber, Synthetic, Polymer, Tiles, Slate, Concrete |
2% |
| Wood Shingles or Shakes |
4% |
| Built-up (Tar & Gravel) |
30% |
| Other |
9% |
| Soffit, fascia, eavestroughs, downspouts connected to eavestroughs |
5% |
NOTE: Maximum depreciation is 80%, regardless of age.
For example, you have a 19 year old roof with architectural shingles. In this case, SGI Canada would pay to have your roof repaired or replaced, minus 28% depreciation (7% per year for 4 years).
If you have qualified and purchased the SGI Canada “Prestige” policy this would not apply to your home and you would qualify for full replacement coverage for the damages. Please contact us to see if you qualify for this package or want to know more about it. Next week, we will discuss more about this Prestige package and what protection it can offer you and your family.