Although secondary water resistance (self-sealing peel-and-stick underlayment installed instead of standard roofing felt when you reroof) will save you up to 8% on the windstorm part of your homeowners insurance policy when it is verified by a wind mitigation inspection report, the return on your investment is typically not that generous. It will cost you an about $45 per 100 square foot of roof area, and a 2,000 sq. ft. house with a two-car garage has about 3,000 sq. ft. of roof area. That translates to an additional $1350 tacked on to the price of a new roof. 

    Also, “up to 8%” does not mean a full 8%. It could be much less, based on how many other qualifying discounts the insurance company grants you. And remember that it is not 8% off the full premium, just the windstorm portion of it. So, if the only reason you are considering adding secondary water resistance is to reduce the price of your annual insurance premium, it may not be a great investment.

    But that self-sealing peel-and-stick underlayment will save your home interior from major water damage if a portion of your primary roof blows off in a hurricane. That’s worth a lot.

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