Imagine standing on your front porch, sipping your morning coffee and watching the sun rise over your dream property — then your policy renewal notice arrives. Your premiums have gone up. You haven’t moved. You haven’t filed a claim. So what happened?
For more and more homeowners, the answer may be buried in the walls, under the shingles, or behind the garage door. Construction choices can play a major role in whether a home is insurable, at what price, and on what terms.
As extreme weather events like wildfires, hailstorms, hurricanes, and other perils become more frequent and severe, insurers are raising rates or, in some instances, canceling policies altogether. At the same time, carriers are taking a closer look at how homes are built, and in some cases, offering better terms when resilient materials and building practices are in place.
Here are some common construction mistakes to avoid, along with steps you can take to build a home that better withstands the risks in your region.
From the volcanic slopes of Hawaii’s Big Island to the fog-wrapped canyons of Malibu, California, the Pacific region is one of the most breathtaking places to own a home — and one of the most unforgiving. Yet, builders here don’t always put resilient practices at the center of construction decisions, which can raise concerns for insurers who may be unwilling to take on that risk.
Building or renovating with standard wood framing in wildfire-prone areas is like pouring fuel on a future fire. The Palisades and Eaton wildfires in Los Angeles in January 2025 destroyed nearly 16,000 structures. Many of those homes were traditional wood-frame builds without ember-resistant upgrades. More resilient alternatives include concrete and steel framing.
Carriers are pulling back from wildfire-exposed ZIP codes across California, Oregon, and Washington. Homes that don’t meet Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) FORTIFIED standards or wildland-urban interface (WUI) construction guidelines may be harder to insure on the standard market and could be pushed into surplus lines at higher premiums.
What’s on the outside can help protect the whole home. Siding, decking, and fencing materials should all be part of the conversation. Fire-resilient options like cement, stucco, or metal — along with avoiding wood fencing near the home — can help reduce ignition risk and may support more favorable insurance outcomes over time.
Attic and crawl space vents are one of the primary pathways for wildfires to ignite homes from the inside out. Standard mesh vents can allow embers to enter and smolder undetected. Ember-resistant vents are one of the most widely recommended wildfire mitigation measures by insurers.
A rural homeowner in Washington state describes how she worked with one of our advisors to guide her new-construction home build to be more insurable and more resilient against disasters as risks grow.
The Gulf Coast is no stranger to severe weather. Hurricanes, tropical storms, and high humidity have shaped construction practices for generations, yet many of the same vulnerabilities still show up after major storms.
In flood-prone coastal areas, a home’s elevation relative to base flood elevation can determine whether it is insurable — or not. If you build in a location prone to flooding, our insurance professionals recommend elevating your home at least two to three feet above the 500-year floodplain.
Coastal homes are better protected with impact-rated windows and doors that can withstand extreme wind and flying debris. Impact-rated windows are more resistant to shattering than standard windows and can also improve energy efficiency.
The garage door is the largest and most vulnerable opening in most homes. During wind events, an under-reinforced garage door can fail — and when it does, the resulting pressure change can lift the roof. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends installing a reinforced garage door or using bracing kits to help prevent failure. An impact-rated garage door is designed to withstand flying debris and help keep wind and water out.
This is the detail people rarely think about until hurricane-force winds are rattling the eaves. The connection between the roof, walls, and foundation — including straps, clips, and fastening systems — helps determine whether a roof stays in place or becomes a projectile in a major storm.
Tornado Alley is more than a nickname — it reflects a real, ongoing risk for homeowners. The Midwest and Plains also experience some of the country’s most widespread hail events. As hail and severe wind losses rise, many insurers are applying separate wind/hail deductibles and actual cash value loss settlements, which can increase a homeowner’s out-of-pocket costs.
Hail is also a major contributor to higher insurance costs across the region. Our claims advisors note that in some areas, hail can occur up to 15 days per year.
Because of this, homes across the Midwest and Plains should be designed and maintained with the region’s defining weather hazards in mind.
Standard residential windows are not built to withstand high winds or large hail. Builders in this region may install windows that fail during tornadoes or hailstorms, leading to claims that can increase premiums regionally. Hurricane windows can help a home withstand high wind speeds during a tornado, while impact windows provide added protection against hail and flying debris. If a window fails, pressure can enter the home and cause the roof of a home to lift.
A resilient roof can be the difference between minor repairs and major damage after a storm. Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material in the U.S., but as asphalt shingles age, they don't hold up as well to the elements as some other materials. Homeowners in hail and wind-prone areas should consider more impact-resistant options to improve roof performance. Look for roofing products with a Class 4 impact rating, the highest widely used impact-resistance classification for roofing. Many synthetic roofing products are available with Class 4 ratings, and some manufacturers also rate their systems for high-wind performance, often 100 mph or more.
Northeastern homes are among the oldest in the country. Character, craftsmanship, and centuries of architectural charm can also come with structural risks. In a region where spring snowmelt and nor’easters routinely make an appearance, water damage is one of the leading causes of homeowner claims.
Improper Insulation
Ice dam vulnerability is closely tied to attic heat loss. When heat escapes into the attic, it warms the roof deck, melting snow that later refreezes and forms a dam. Water can then intrude under shingles and leak into the structure. Reducing ice-dam risk typically starts with robust air sealing at the ceiling plane and adequate, continuous attic insulation to keep the roof surface cold and more uniform. Installing a FORTIFIED Roof can also help because it's designed to reduce the risk of ice damming.
The best time to retrofit your home or upgrade construction materials is before a claim. Our team of experienced advisors reviews new-construction plans and existing home renovations, identifies the gaps that standard policies may not cover and some contractors may miss, and works with clients to build lasting resilience.
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Global Client Executive Leader
Risk Advisory Leader
