Most homeowner’s insurance policies include wind damage, which is one of the most common types of storm damage. According to the Insurance Information Institute, homeowners made more claims for wind and hail damage than any other type of loss1 between 2014 and 2018, including fire, water damage, and theft.
In most cases, homeowners insurance will cover the price of wind damage.
Storm damage necessitates repairs and replacement. Check your homeowners insurance policy to see what it covers.
What Is Considered Wind Damage Under a Homeowners Policy?
The majority of damage produced by wind in any type of storm is classified as wind damage and is covered by a homeowners insurance policy. Roofs, windows, and other structures can be destroyed by strong winds.
Wind damage can be caused by a variety of storms that are normally covered by a homeowners insurance policy, including:
Is Wind Damage Covered by Home Insurance?
Yes, as previously stated, most types of wind damage are often covered by homeowners insurance. Typically, your homes policy’s dwelling coverage will assist in the repair or replacement of damage to the roof, siding, or windows caused by a windstorm. Personal property coverage is included in your homes policy, and it can help you repair or replace goods that have been destroyed by a windstorm.
You should familiarize yourself with your policy’s coverage limits, deductibles, and exclusions. In some states, specific deductibles for certain windstorms, such as hurricanes, may apply.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Wind Damage to Roofs?
Your homeowners insurance may cover wind damage to your home’s roof, depending on the type of policy you have. Wind damage to roofs on other structures on your property, such as a shed or free-standing garage, may be covered if you have other structures coverage.
The coverage for roof damage repair or replacement due to a wind event will be explained in your policy. Certain factors, such as the age of your roof or unresolved maintenance issues, may influence how much of the cost of repairing or replacing the roof is covered. Your insurance company will assess the damage, as well as any damage that may have occurred before to the windstorm, and decide the appropriate amount of compensation. If you’d like to learn more about the procedure, contact your Travelers salesperson.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Wind Damage to Siding?
Siding, like your roof, is a crucial component that preserves your home’s appearance and structure. Fortunately, wind damage to vinyl, aluminum, and other types of siding is usually covered by homeowners insurance. Your insurance will cover the cost of replacing wind-damaged siding with siding that has a more uniform appearance.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Wind Damage to Fences?
Wind damage to a fence on your property is usually covered if you have other structures coverage in your homeowners insurance. Ordinarily, ordinary homeowners policies reimburse you for the fence’s real monetary worth if it is damaged or destroyed. You will be paid up to the value of the fence, less the deductible and the amount the fence has depreciated since it was purchased.
Protect Your Home
Wind-driven events have the ability to do a lot of damage to your house. While your homeowners insurance protects your investment, it’s also critical to take proactive precautions to protect your property against high-wind damage. Here are some options:
- Keep an eye on your roof. Roof inspections should be done on a regular basis. You might begin by conducting your own site assessment. Take a short walk away from your house and view your roof with a pair of binoculars. Notify a licensed contractor if any shingles or tiles are missing or loose, and have them repaired or replaced. Check spots where wire enters your roof from the attic. Seal any spots where you can see daylight. Last but not least, inspect your gutters and downspouts. Make that they’re free of debris and securely fastened to your home.
- Examine your soffit and fascia. Examine your siding for any signs of degradation and make any necessary repairs. Reattaching loose siding and resealing siding around doors and windows, water lines, the dryer vent, and where wires enter the property are all examples of this.
- Projectiles must be eliminated. Remove or secure all exterior items that could become projectiles and cause damage to your home if a windstorm is forecast. Lawn furniture, hanging baskets, grills, bicycles, toys, and dead or overhanging tree limbs are just a few examples.
Be Prepared
These extra recommendations from Travelers can help you prepare for windy weather ahead of time:
Your home is your most valuable asset. Make sure it’s sheltered from the elements. To obtain a home insurance quote, find a Travelers salesperson near you.
Does insurance cover damaged siding?
Homeowners insurance normally only covers the replacement of damaged siding and does not cover siding replacement on other portions of the house. As a result, homeowners may end up with new siding that looks different from the rest of the house. If this happens to you, look over your policy to see if there’s anything in there about what happens if there’s a mismatch. Many policies exclude siding mismatches, although others will cover siding for other portions of the house if you can show that the mismatch reduces the home’s value.
What does wind damage look like on siding?
The most damage to your home’s exterior is caused by strong winds, flying debris, and wind-driven hail. If your home’s exterior siding has been damaged by wind, you’re likely to have a lot of questions for both your insurance company and the contractor you hire to restore the damaged material.
Wind-Damaged Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding, despite its durability, cheap maintenance, and attractive appearance, can be severely damaged during a storm. Splits, cracks, chips, breaks, and holes are all symptoms of storm damage, which can be caused by the wind itself as well as flying debris and hail. Some sorts of injury necessitate prompt intervention. If your siding is cracked or has holes in it, it is no longer shielding your home from the elements, and you should have it evaluated as soon as possible by a reputable professional.
Wind-Damaged Aluminum Siding
Dings and dents in the siding are the most common symptoms of storm damage if you have aluminum siding. It’s not uncommon for huge portions of aluminum siding to be pulled off during a violent storm. If your home has been hit by a hailstorm and there doesn’t appear to be any damage at first glance, you should inspect your aluminum siding closely when the sun is low in the sky, which will make the damage easier to spot in the early morning or late evening.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I submit a claim, would my homeowners insurance rates go up? Unlike auto insurance, which is based on your driving record, homeowner’s insurance is not based on your unique home record. Actuaries assess risk by looking at the hundreds of thousands of residences in a given area. Whether you call or not, they will not raise your individual rate for “Act of God” accuracies like wind, storm, and hail damage.
How do I select the finest siding replacement contractor? First and foremost, stay away from storm chasing companies from outside of town. They charge a low rate, but once the job is completed, they depart for the next storm. These businesses frequently take shortcuts on the job since they expect to never see you again. Find a local business that has been in operation for a long time, can provide references, knows what they’re doing, and can truly assist you with your insurance claim.
Before I file my claim, how many estimates do I need? Many homeowners believe they need three estimates to submit to their insurance carrier when in reality, they only need one. Find a contractor who can collaborate with your insurance agent to guarantee that the claim is complete, that all damage-related costs are covered, and that you are protected from fraud.
What if my house was only damaged on one side? When only one side of a home’s exterior is damaged, homeowners face the challenge of matching replacement siding to the color and substance of the original siding. Before filing an insurance claim, contact a reliable contractor who uses the same software as the insurance company to receive an estimate of the damage. If there are no options that match your home’s existing siding, your contractor can assist you avoid having to settle for a less-than-ideal solution. For example, your policy may include an endorsement that allows you to re-siding the entire house even if just one area was damaged.
Is it possible to upgrade my replacement siding to premium vinyl siding? Vinyl has an advantage over aluminum because of its durability and price. Vinyl, unlike aluminum, does not damage, chip, or rub off on your clothes since the color is embedded in the material rather than being sprayed on. Vinyl siding is also roughly a third less expensive than aluminum siding. Because insurance companies must pay for the value of aluminum, if you have wind-damaged aluminum siding, you may be able to upgrade to premium vinyl.
Homeowners around the country are experiencing siding damage as a result of the increased frequency of catastrophic weather events in recent years.
Aside from being ugly, siding damage exposes your home’s underlying wood to decay, which can lead to much more serious issues. It’s critical to act quickly to safeguard your home. Install tarps if necessary to keep water out while you’re waiting for your claim to be processed. Most homeowner’s insurance plans cover the cost of hiring a contractor to put up tarps and other protective barriers while you work out your claim.
How much does it cost to replace one piece of vinyl siding?
Vinyl siding is the most common siding material in the United States, because to its simplicity of installation, low cost, and attractive looks but it’s also criticized for its short lifespan, since it can fade or crack in harsh weather after 10 to 15 years.
Repairing vinyl siding costs between $2 and $4 per square foot. Budget $800 for a 200-square-foot repair job.
When fixing vinyl siding, you or your contractor may run into a color matching issue. Because vinyl deteriorates in the sun, old siding that needs to be replaced may not match any new siding colors. As a result, you have the option of replacing an individual wall or your entire home. The cost of installing vinyl is approximately $5 per square foot.
To ensure that everything matches, painting over your siding is a wonderful alternative. This cost varies, but it will be around $4,000 for a 2,500-square-foot home.
Is hurricane insurance same as wind?
There’s technically no single policy known as “hurricane insurance. Instead, you’ll need to protect your house against the two main sources of hurricane damage: water and wind. You may need to obtain three individual policies to secure comprehensive storm coverage: Flood insurance.
Does homeowners cover wind driven rain?
Wind-driven rain damage, regardless of the cause, is a covered risk, similar to wind or lightning, because it may have caused an opening through which rain has entered, causing water damage to the residence or personal property. Your property coverage may have a separate Wind and Hail Deductible.
Which of the following causes of loss would typically be covered under a standard property insurance policy?
Fire, lightning, explosion, smoke, windstorm, hail, riot, civil unrest, aircraft, automobiles, vandalism, sprinkler leakage, sinkhole collapse, and volcanic eruption are all covered by the fundamental causes of loss form (CP 10 10).
How do I know if my siding has hail damage?
Hail damage is indicated by dents, cracks, and holes in your siding. Siding damage from hail may necessitate rapid treatment. When large, dense, or fast-falling hailstones strike vinyl siding, it can break or chip. When hail hits vinyl siding, it usually doesn’t leave a dent. Older vinyl siding is more prone to cracking.
You may also notice holes or puncture marks where the hail has struck. This is an obvious way to identify whether there is damage, but keep in mind that just because you don’t see any problems doesn’t imply your siding hasn’t been damaged by hail.
Details of vinyl siding damage include:
- Siding panels break in arching patterns, most commonly between the ridge and valley, where they are unsupported.
- Chips – Chips appear on the bottom of vinyl siding panels and are most visible when viewed from below.
Also, check for any buckling or warping, which is frequent in damaged vinyl siding. Siding that has been buckled or warped is much less efficient than siding that has not been damaged.
How do I know if my house has hail damage?
Dings/dents/splatter marks on your roof vents, gutters, roof flashing, and other roof penetrations are also evidence of hail damage. There’s a significant possibility you’ll need to file a homeowners insurance claim if your roof has any of the problems outlined above.
How does hail damage a house?
Hailstones can cause significant damage to homes, depending on the size and speed with which they fall. In fact, hail damage is one of the most common causes of homeowner claims each year, with one in every 35 residences reporting a claim.
Hail can dent aluminum siding, shingles, and gutters, as well as crack vinyl siding, asphalt roofs, and wood shakes. The rising popularity and use of vinyl siding for home exteriors is one reason for an increase in claims. Vinyl siding’s lightweight design, which is designed to withstand high winds, allows it to tolerate most weather conditions. When large, fast-falling hailstones strike the panels, it can break or chip. Even minor hailstorms can cause significant damage to metal siding. Hail damaged 10.7 million houses in the United States in 2017.
During a storm, anything exposed to the elements becomes subject to harm, but there are a few things you can do to prepare for when hail begins to fall.
- Regularly inspect and maintain your roof. Minor flaws in your roof should not be overlooked because they can make it more vulnerable to damage.
- Hail can cause limbs and even trees to fall on your vehicle or house, so keep your trees and shrubbery trimmed around your home.
- Maintain your yard by storing decorations and furnishings to prevent debris from blowing around during strong winds.
Hailstorms are unavoidable, so it’s crucial to know how to stay safe during one and how to see the damage hail can cause to your property.