For any homeowner, dry rot can be a serious issue. It all begins with a small amount of moisture, which can welcome a wood-eating fungus into your home, slowly spreading and devouring your walls and floors. Because dry rot requires just a small amount of moisture to flourish, there is no evident leak to identify its presence, as there is with mold.
It can bring down your floor or worse if it is allowed to spread unnoticed for too long. In humid and poorly ventilated areas of your home, such as the basement, attic, laundry room, and under the refrigerator, dry rot thrives.
Dry rot, like mold, isn’t usually covered by a conventional homeowner’s policy. However, depending on the origin of the dry rot, there are certain exceptions to this rule, just as there are with mold. If a pipe bursts and you catch it before mold grows, but you miss a speck of moisture in the cleanup that evolves into dry rot, your insurance company will most likely cover it, depending on your policy. If the dry rot is caused by the wood just being old or not being properly maintained, your insurance policy is unlikely to cover the damage.
The insurance industry believes that regular maintenance can prevent dry rot; however, the difficulty with this argument is that dry rot is frequently hidden, such as beneath the floor, behind something in the basement, or elsewhere. Even if you keep your home in pristine condition, if you aren’t crawling about the walls and under the house looking for symptoms of dry rot, you may miss it.
When pursuing an insurance claim for dry rot for something that was covered, you may find that it was specifically excluded from your policy. Because dry rot is difficult to detect until it has progressed, proving that the rot was caused by something hidden can be challenging. A public adjuster can help you persuade your insurance carrier to pay for the covered damage if your policy covers the triggering event but your insurance company claims the rot was caused by negligence or regular wear and tear.
Why is dry rot not covered by insurance?
We had to relocate into my parents’ house for a few weeks because the job was so disturbing. There, I spent all of my free time studying dry-rot insurance online, chatting with insurance specialists, and attempting to contact Axa because the damage was caused by a hidden leak of water for which we were insured.
As dry rot victims have discovered, insurance policies frequently cover the causes but not the rot itself. Insurers are masters at wiggling their way out of paying claims.
I became increasingly irritated, and I couldn’t image how other victims, who were frequently befuddled by insurance industry lingo, would cope.
Many people, I assume, simply give up in the face of the complicated and scary insurance process, allowing the companies to save millions of dollars each year.
The total cost of the dry rot work came to over £15,000. I was furious, and in a last-ditch effort to hold Axa accountable, I engaged loss assessor Douglas Greenston of DPG.
I supplied Doug the same reports we’d sent to Axa, and he spent weeks representing us in front of the corporation.
I had mixed feelings when Doug called with the excellent news that Axa had agreed to a ‘ex-gratia’ payment of 40% of the cost, effectively declaring it was out of kindness rather than a legal requirement.
I was overjoyed to get money and grateful to Doug – even more so when he went back to Axa and the sum increased to 65%, or £9,750, leaving us with roughly £8,000 to pay after costs. We were able to purchase our new home as well.
But why the hasty agreement? I was left with the impression that the odds are stacked against ordinary people, and that the only way to beat an insurance is to hire a professional.
‘Insurance plans are intended to respond to specific, identifiable incidents and mitigate the damage caused by those,’ explains an Axa spokesman.
‘Policies do not cover wear and tear or damage caused by a lack of upkeep.’ Dry rot is typically not covered by homeowner’s insurance because it is the result of continuous problems and a lack of maintenance.’
Does homeowners insurance cover wood rot from water damage?
Wood rot is usually only covered by homeowners insurance when it is caused by a covered risk, which is usually fire “Sudden and unintended.” Most homeowner insurance, for example, cover the accidental release or overflow of water from a household device.
If a pipe bursts and causes water damage to your floor joists, you may be able to file a claim at the time of the damage and have it approved. If, on the other hand, the rot appears to be the product of aging materials and possibly poor care rather than a specific occurrence, you are unlikely to get your claim approved.
What if mold is present? Mold would have to be linked to a covered risk, such as a burst pipe, in order to be covered. Mold that is caused by water from condensation, extreme humidity, or floods is often not covered by a homeowner’s insurance policy. (As an example, see “Mold coverage is difficult to come by in homeowner’s insurance policy.”)
Does home insurance cover rotted siding?
Keep in mind that typical wear and tear, such as rotten siding, will not be covered by your homes insurance.
If your damaged original siding is no longer available, matching siding coverage can help. Damage to your home’s siding caused by normal wear and tear, such as fading from sun exposure or filth and grime, is your responsibility and will not be reimbursed for replacement costs. Taking care of problems as soon as they arise and doing routine maintenance will help you save money in the long run.
Is Rotted wood covered by insurance?
Unless it is caused by a covered risk in your policy, wood rot is usually not covered by homes insurance.
If a pipe bursts and causes wood rot in your floor or ceiling joists, your homeowner’s insurance will most likely pay the repairs. However, any fungus or damp rot that develops over time is unlikely to be covered.
If the damage is covered, the extent of the damage and repair costs will determine whether or not you should file a claim.
Does homeowners insurance cover rotted porch?
The majority of your home’s components are covered by home insurance. This includes any linked features outside your home, such as your porch, patio, or a set of stairs. Your insurance company may cover your costs depending on the cause of the harm. It’s critical to keep these spaces in good functioning order.
Summary: Wood Dry Rot Repair Prices
Repairing a small, easily accessible area of wood dry rot will cost $100 to $300. Repairing siding dry rot costs roughly $1,000 on average, but can cost up to $2,500. The cost of replacing structurally important components such as floor joists, which can cost anywhere from $4,000 to $12,000, has increased.
Dry rot is a fungus that attacks wood and causes structural damage. Dry rot occurs in moist environments, therefore the label is deceptive. This is explained by the affected wood’s tendency to become dry, brittle, and often blocky in appearance. Continue reading to learn more about dry rot and how much it costs to fix it.
How quickly does dry rot spread?
If the conditions are ideal for growth, dry rot can spread up to 80 mm each day. Dry rot requires temperatures between 66 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit to produce this severe growth. Dry rot, unlike many other fungi, does not require a lot of moisture to thrive. Moisture levels between 30 and 40 percent are ideal.
Dry rot spreads swiftly even when temperatures and moisture aren’t optimal. Because of this rapid spread, most roofers and other dry rot experts would advise you to seek treatment as soon as possible.
Does homeowners insurance cover mold?
Your homeowners insurance policy does not guarantee mold coverage. Mold damage is usually only covered if it is caused by a covered risk. Flood-related mold damage would necessitate the purchase of a separate flood insurance policy.
Will insurance cover hidden water damage?
Do you want to be sure your property is well-prepared to withstand flood damage? Consider American Family Insurance’s Hidden Water policy, which covers water damage caused by persistent or recurring seepage or leakage of water or steam from within a plumbing, heating, or air conditioning system, or within a household appliance that is hidden from view. Wear and tear, degradation, corrosion, or rust in your home’s interior systems might cause a hidden water leak.
Simply defined, it pays for the expense of repairing damage caused by a hidden water leak in walls, floors, ceilings, cabinets, beneath the flooring, or behind or under a home appliance. Many types of water damage, including concealed water leaks, are not covered by a standard homeowners policy. That is why having this coverage is so critical. This optional coverage will give you a broader range of protection against water damage that sneaks up on you and causes costly damage to your house.
Keep in mind that this coverage only covers the damage caused by the leak, not the appliance or system that caused it.