What happens with homeowners insurance when the roof age is unknown?
Short answer. If you do not know your roof's age, the insurer will estimate it, often from property records, aerial images or an inspection, and that estimate may be older than the truth. Because age affects whether you can get a policy, how the roof is valued and what a claim pays, it is worth tracking down the real installation date and keeping proof.
Where to find the install date
- Building permits: many Georgia cities and counties keep searchable permit records by address. A reroof permit shows the year.
- Closing documents: seller disclosures and home inspection reports from your purchase often state the roof's age.
- The previous owner or their roofer: an invoice or warranty registration settles it.
- Manufacturer warranty registration: if the roof was registered, the manufacturer may have the date.
- The roof itself: leftover shingle bundles in the garage or attic may have a lot code, and a roofer can often narrow the age from the shingle style and condition.
- Aerial imagery: historical satellite photos sometimes show when the roof changed color.
Why it matters
- Underwriting: an older estimated age can mean an inspection request, a surcharge or a declined application.
- Valuation: payment schedules and actual cash value terms are often tied to age.
- Claims: an adjuster who assumes an older roof is more likely to call damage wear.
Fixing a wrong age on your policy
Send your agent written proof of the installation year and ask for the policy record to be corrected. Keep a copy with your insurance papers.
If the age cannot be found
A professional inspection with photos documents the roof's current condition, which is often what the insurer really wants to know.
Related: roof age and insurance and payment schedules.