Will Home Insurance Cover Foundation Repair? Yes, your home insurance cover foundation repair except the insurance policy excludes it depending on the cause of the damage.
Foundation damage may be caused by one or more of the following:
- Lightning or fire
- Windstorm
- Damage caused by aircraft
- Explosions
- Riots or civil disturbances
- Damage caused by vehicles
- Vandalism
- Falling objects
- Volcanic eruption
- Collapse from the weight of snow, ice or sleet
- Water damage from plumbing, heating or air conditioning overflow
Events that may not be covered by home insurance are:
- Natural settling, cracking, shrinking, bulging or expansion of the foundation
- Earthquakes or floods
- Pressure from tree roots
- Faulty construction
What Is Home Insurance
Homeowners insurance is a form of property insurance that covers losses and damages to an individual’s residence, along with furnishings and other assets in the home. Homeowners insurance also provides liability coverage against accidents in the home or on the property.
The homeowners insurance policy usually covers four kinds of incidents on the insured property: interior damage, exterior damage, loss or damage of personal assets/belongings, and injury that occurs while on the property. When a claim is made on any of these incidents, the homeowner will be required to pay a deductible, which in effect is the out-of-pocket costs for the insured.
Is there a difference between Home Insurance and Home Warranty?
We will consider this in the next paragraph.
Homeowners Insurance vs. Home Warranty
Though the terms sound similar, homeowners insurance is different from a home warranty. A home warranty is a contract taken out that provides for repairs or replacements of home systems and appliances such as ovens, water heaters, washers/dryers, and pools. These contracts usually expire after a certain time period, usually 12 months, and are not mandatory for a homeowner to buy in order to qualify for a mortgage. A home warranty covers issues and problems that result from poor maintenance or inevitable wear-and-tear on items—situations in which homeowners insurance doesn’t apply.
Action To Take If You Experience Foundation Damage
If you discover any form of damage in your foundation you should get in touch with your insurer as quickly as possible after a covered peril occurs. Most insurers only offer coverage for a set period of time after an event occurs. Make sure you take photos and videos of the damage when it is safe.
When you contact your insurer, ask them what evidence it will need for the claims process. After filing the claim, your insurance company might want to send an appraiser to your property to see the damage in person. You may also benefit from hiring your own foundation specialist to come out and assess the situation so you can use their report in your claim.
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Like any other insurance claim, filing a successful homeowners foundation claim comes down to meeting your insurer’s requirements.
Always ask questions where you need clarity. To help you with the process, many insurers have a network of recommended contractors. And some even guarantee the workmanship for a set period of time when you choose one of their contractors. S
Will Home Insurance Cover Foundation Repair
If it covers or not boils down to the cause of the foundation issues. If your home is destroyed by a tornado, homeowners insurance may help cover reconstruction. Other scenarios where foundation damage may be covered include plumbing backups, fires and explosions.
Most homeowners policies do not cover floods or earthquakes. If your foundation damage is a result of either of these disasters, you may likely need separate flood or earthquake insurance.
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Homeowners insurance typically does not cover wear and tear. Home foundations shift over time, which can lead to cracks in your home’s structure. Like repainting a faded wall or clearing your gutters, keeping tabs on an aging foundation is considered the homeowner’s responsibility.