One of the most important parts of your home is the foundation. If it gets damaged, it can compromise the integrity of your entire building. For this reason, you should pay extra attention to its foundation and immediately fix any damage as soon as it arises.
To many people, the solution to house damage is to have a homeowners insurance policy. However, things are not always that easy. Homeowners’ insurance policies do not always cover foundation damages—the reason being some of the events that cause foundation damage are considered too risky.
When Insurance Companies Cover House Foundation Repairs
While it does not cover every possible event, your home insurance policy does cover many foundation damaging events. If any of these events result in foundation issues, there’s a high possibility your insurer will pick up the tab for repairs.
Such events include:
- Lightning or fire
- Explosions
- Falling objects (meteors and similar objects)
- A vehicle colliding with your home
- Volcanic eruption
- Vandalism
- Windstorm
- Water-induced damage as a result of AC, heating, and plumbing overflow
- Snow, ice, or sleet collapsing
When Insurance Companies Don’t Cover House Foundation Repairs
Unfortunately, most insurance companies do not offer protection from some of the most common causes of foundation damage. These causes include:
- Natural disasters like floods and earthquakes
- Normal wear and tear – insurance companies contend that homeowners should maintain their homes and that damage that occurred was caused by negligence
- Natural settling, cracking, shrinking, and shifting – these events result from temperature changes, soil fluctuations, and tree root expansion, among others; insurers claim they’re also the result of homeowner negligence
- Faulty construction
You can forestall foundation damage due to most of these issues by taking necessary precautions. For instance, you can ensure tree roots don’t grow too close to your house’s foundation. Also, you can get a home inspection before you purchase a new home to ensure its foundation is undamaged.
There’s hardly anything you can do about earthquakes and floods. However, many insurance companies offer separate policies for these events, especially in areas that are prone to their occurrence.
How to Protect Your House’s Foundation from Damage
If you’re building your house from scratch, hire a competent contractor. A good contractor will take all necessary precautions that are required to ensure your foundation doesn’t develop avoidable issues down the line. If you’re purchasing the house, hire a competent home inspector. Doing this will save you from buying a home with a faulty foundation and the problems that will eventually crop up.
Also, be a mindful homeowner. If you live in a drought-prone area, water the surrounding soil regularly. If your area has a lot of moisture, take measures to ensure the soil surrounding your home is well-drained. Also, keep an eye out for signs of a faulty foundation. These include cracks in the chimney, sheetrock, tiles, a wet crawl space, deteriorating foundation, shifting walls, floors, ceilings, etc.
If you notice any of these signs, then take action immediately. By doing this, you will be preventing major structural problems for your home.
If your house’s foundation is damaged, consult a foundation professional. Then, determine if your insurance covers the cause of the damage. If yes, file a claim. If no, you will have to cover the repair cost from your pocket.
Do you have questions regarding your homeowners insurance? Talk to the professionals at Gee-Schussler Insurance Agency to get started on your tailored policy today!
