Verisk shows roof costs surge

Verisk said on May 29 that U.S. residential roof replacement costs climbed in 2025 even as overall claims volume fell. The data analytics company said average replacement costs rose 33% from the prior four-year average, while repair costs increased 25%, according to its 2026 U.S. Roof Report. Claims Journal and Insurance Journal reported the findings on June 1, citing Verisk’s analysis of residential roof losses. Verisk said hail volatility and aging roofs were major drivers of the increase. ### How much did roof work cost in 2025? Verisk said average U.S. residential roof replacement costs reached $17,631 in 2025, while average repair costs were $4,699. The company said those figures reflected a sharp increase from the prior four-year average and helped push roof-claims severity to a record high. The May 29 report said roof losses did not ease even though overall claims volume fell by nearly 20% in 2025. Insurance Journal’s June 1 report said the combination of lower storm counts and higher claim costs left carriers dealing with more expensive roof files on average. ### Why are costs rising if there were fewer claims? (claimsjournal.com) Verisk said everyday wind and hail events, not just major catastrophes, are driving higher residential replacement severity. The company said hail volatility has become a larger factor in roof losses, while older roofs are adding to claim costs when damage occurs. The Verisk report said wind and hail remain the primary drivers of roofing losses in the United States. (verisk.com) It also said economic pressure from labor inflation and regional differences in roof condition are adding to underwriting and claims challenges. ### What does Verisk say about roof condition? Verisk said aging housing stock is a central part of the loss picture. (claimsjournal.com) In an earlier roof report published in April 2025, the company said asphalt shingles cover about 80% of U.S. roofs and that average roof lifespan in hail-prone states is about 15 years, compared with 22 years in western states with less severe weather. (verisk.com) Verisk has also said roof condition can materially change loss performance. In a separate company blog post, it said properties with lower roof condition scores experience loss costs about 50% higher than properties with stronger scores. ### Where do carriers see the pressure first? Claims Journal said roofing line items account for roughly 30% of all line items within claims estimates. (verisk.com) That gives roof losses an outsized effect on property severity when replacement and repair costs rise. Verisk’s quarterly property reporting has also flagged issues around hail-claim validation. (verisk.com) In a 2025 quarterly report, the company said weather verification analysis found that 27% of hail claims had no evidence of actual hail on the reported date of loss, a finding that can affect claim timing reviews and file scrutiny. (claimsjournal.com) ### What comes next for insurers tracking property portfolios? Verisk released the 2026 U.S. Roof Report on May 29 through its property and underwriting research channel. Claims Journal and Insurance Journal published follow-up coverage on June 1, and carriers handling residential property books now have the updated cost and severity benchmarks for 2025 roof claims. (verisk.com 1) (verisk.com 2)