Are you a homeowner wondering if your homeowners insurance policy will cover your exterior repair?
You’re not alone. We did a deep dive into the questions homeowners search for most online regarding insurance coverage and their homes. From your windows to your siding, roof, and garage door, here are the answers to your biggest — and most searched — exterior home coverage questions.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Siding?
Siding performs both protective and decorative functions for your home, protecting it against weather, insects, and impact. Siding creates a watertight envelope, keeping rain, water, and water-related damage outside your home while insulating and protecting the interior.
Since siding is your home's initial line of defense, siding might be one of the first places you need a repair or replacement.
Does homeowners insurance cover siding replacement?
Your homeowners insurance policy will cover repairs and replacements from covered perils for damages to your home’s structure and anything permanently attached to it, including siding.
It’s important to note the phrase "covered perils" here. If the damage to your siding is a result of a covered peril, then yes, your siding is included in your policy’s protection.
Does homeowners insurance cover melted siding?
Commonly covered perils may include damage resulting from storms, extreme weather, vandalism, fire, or smoke. If your siding melted as a result of fire, then it is very likely that damage will be covered, as fire damage is commonly covered by insurance.
Does homeowners insurance cover stucco damage?
Your homeowners policy may cover stucco damage, so long as the damage to your stucco resulted from a covered peril and not a lack of maintenance. Typical wear and tear is not considered a covered peril.
Most stucco damage is the result of water damage, staining, or mold. It may be covered if an intense winter storm damages your stucco. But staining and wear and tear that happens over time are not usually covered, so be sure to keep up on your stucco maintenance.
It’s important to read your policy and understand what is listed as a covered peril and what is specifically excluded from your policy.
Still have questions? Discover answers to 12 of your biggest questions about homeowners insurance.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Gutters?
Regular maintenance can go a long way to preventing damage to your roof, gutters, and other exterior home features. Sagging, clogged, or leaking gutters can cause hardware to fail, gutters to collapse, foundations to erode, and even lead to roof damage.
If your gutters have not been properly maintained and damage is a result of wear and tear, your gutters will not be covered by your homeowners insurance. Improper maintenance and everyday wear are generally excluded and not considered "covered peril" for most policies.
Does homeowners insurance cover gutter replacement?
If you need to replace your gutters, your homeowners insurance policy should cover the replacement if the damage results from a covered peril. Again, fire, extreme weather, storms, and vandalism are some of the more commonly listed covered perils.
Check your insurance policy to find out what your policy lists as covered perils and exclusions.
Are Windows Covered by Homeowners Insurance?
Windows are another form+ function feature on your home. Windows are part of the building envelope; they work hard to let light in while keeping your home well-insulated and eco-friendly. Windows can also enhance your home's aesthetics and curb appeal and range in price from affordable to hand-crafted luxury. Paying out of pocket to replace or repair windows could be costly, so it’s no wonder that many of the most searched exterior coverage questions include replacing old or broken windows.
Does homeowners insurance cover a broken window?
Some homeowners policies are written on an all-peril basis rather than a covered peril (or "named" peril) basis. An "all-peril" policy means that any damage to your home is covered unless specifically excluded. If you have an all-peril policy, your broken windows will be covered unless the cause of the damage is specifically named as an exclusion.
Whether your policy is written on a covered peril or named peril basis, the cause of the broken window is usually the deciding factor when it comes to coverage. Home break-ins, vandalism, or fire are examples of incidents typically covered by homeowners insurance.
If the neighbor’s kid hits a baseball through the window in your den, that damage would most likely be covered by your neighbor’s liability coverage.
But if your windows need to be replaced because they’re old or in disrepair, that’s usually not considered damage resulting from a covered incident.
Does homeowners insurance cover old windows?
The age of your windows will not prevent coverage so long as the damage is the result of a covered peril. For example, it won’t matter if your windows are two years old or twenty years old if they are broken as a result of vandalism or a home break-in.
However, if your windows need to be replaced or repaired because they are old, in disrepair, or have just met too many decades of normal wear and tear, they won’t likely be covered by your policy. Insurance coverage usually kicks in after a specific and unforeseen event occurs, such as an unexpected fire or act of vandalism. Insurance isn’t designed to cover the gradual wear and tear or aging of your home’s building materials, so be sure to keep them maintained.
Does homeowners insurance cover broken window seals?
Broken window seals and rotted windows are common maintenance issues and aren’t usually covered by homeowners insurance. Be sure to maintain your home’s windows, seals, and sliding glass doors to prevent damage that your policy won’t cover.
Does homeowners insurance cover a broken sliding glass door?
Your sliding glass doors, french doors, and other exterior glass doors will be covered like your other windows — per your policy. If you have an all-peril policy, then anything is covered unless specifically named as an exclusion.
However, all-peril policies are pretty rare, and most policies are written on a covered peril or named peril basis. That means broken sliding glass doors or glass windows are covered if the damage is a result of a covered event, such as vandalism or an extreme storm. But they won’t be covered if not named in the policy.
How to get homeowners insurance to pay for new windows
There’s no trick to getting homeowners insurance to pay for new windows. Call your insurance carrier and describe the incident. Your carrier will check your policy and go over what’s covered and what’s excluded. If your broken window is a result of a covered peril, then you can file a claim.
Your insurance carrier will pay for the cost to replace your windows up to the limit of your policy, minus the amount of your deductible. Let’s say you have a policy limit of $300,000 and a deductible amount of $2,500.
An extreme storm sent a tree crashing into the side of your home, smashing multiple windows and sliding glass doors. You’ve received a bid of $15,000 to replace all of the broken windows and doors. After you pay the $2,500 deductible, your policy will cover the remaining $12,500 for the replacement.
Are Garage Doors Covered by Homeowners Insurance?
Replacing your garage door can cost up to thousands of dollars, so it’s no surprise that homeowners want to know if repairs or replacements will be covered by insurance. Both attached and detached garage structures can be covered by your homeowners insurance. However, the cause and type of the damage will determine if homeowners insurance will cover your garage door.
Does homeowners insurance cover garage door repairs?
If the repair to your garage door is the result of a covered incident, such as damage from hail, wind, or vandalism, then yes, your insurance should cover the repairs. However, if the repair is mechanical and/or not related to a covered peril, insurance probably won’t pay for it.
Does homeowners insurance cover garage door replacement?
If the damage to your garage door is intensive enough to warrant a replacement of your garage door, the same rules apply.
- Damage from a covered peril (fire, vandalism, extreme weather) is typically covered.
- Damage from normal wear and tear or failing to maintain the garage door will not be covered.
- Intentional damage is typically excluded, so be sure you or your family members aren’t doing anything that could be construed as intentionally damaging the door.
Is a broken garage door covered by homeowners insurance?
"Broken" garage doors usually mean a garage door whose mechanical functions need repair. Common garage door issues include broken springs and cables, often resulting from normal wear and tear. Maintenance issues and wear and tear are not usually covered by homeowners insurance. Be sure to regularly maintain and service your garage door to avoid these types of uncovered incidents.
Does homeowners insurance cover garage door damage by your car?
If you’ve accidentally damaged your garage door with your own vehicle, you may wonder if the incident is covered and which of your policies will cover it: home or auto?
Your auto insurance isn’t designed to cover damage to your home if you accidentally crash your car into your garage. However, your auto insurance may cover necessary auto repairs if you have collision coverage in place.
Your homeowners insurance should cover the damage to your garage but not the damage to your vehicle. If you have significant damage to the car and the garage, be prepared to file two claims, one with your homeowners insurance and one with your auto insurance.
Also, be sure the damage was accidental and not intentional. Most homeowners policies include an exclusion for intentional acts.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Roof and Chimney Repairs?
The average life expectancy of a shingle roof is 15-18 years. The older your roof, the more severe the damage can be if affected by rain, leaks, or extreme weather. Repairing or replacing a roof can be costly, and insurance won’t always cover it.
Does homeowners insurance cover roof collapse from snow?
Yes, your roof collapse will most likely be covered if snow, ice, or sleet is the culprit. Snow can be heavy, and most roofs can withstand up to 20 pounds per square foot of snow before becoming distressed. However, if your roof was previously in disrepair or had previous damage, a snow collapse may not be covered.
Does homeowners insurance cover roof repairs?
Roof repairs and replacements are often covered under homeowners insurance if the damage results from a sudden accidental event or an act of nature, like a storm or falling tree.
Your roof repair or replacement may not be covered if the roof has been gradually deteriorating due to wear and tear, had previous unrepaired damage, or is over twenty years old. To ensure your roof claims go through, keep records and photos of repairs, as well as inspection reports to show you’ve kept your roof well-maintained.
Does homeowners insurance cover chimney repair?
Your chimney is attached to your dwelling, so it’s covered under the protection of your homeowners insurance policy. Just like other exterior home features, your policy will cover repairs and replacement resulting from certain covered accidental events, such as a fire or extreme weather event, but not repairs from normal wear and tear.
If your chimney needs to be replaced because a winter storm sent a tree crashing into it, that’s usually a covered event. But if your chimney needs to be replaced because it’s been neglected and is falling apart over time, that’s not typically covered. Your policy may exclude certain events, such as an earthquake, so be sure to understand what events are covered and which ones are listed as exclusions.
Exterior Home Repairs Covered by Homeowners Insurance
The exterior of your home is the most affected by extreme weather and time, so we’re not surprised to see just how many online searches are related to exterior home coverage. Your roof, windows, garage door, siding, and chimneys really get the brunt of snow, wind, lightning, falling trees, and other extreme and unexpected events. Your exterior home is also your first line of defense against break-ins and vandalism, which are commonly covered by homeowners insurance.
A good rule of thumb for understanding if a repair is covered is to think of an isolated and unexpected event vs. gradual wear and tear. If the damage results from an unexpected event, it’s likely to be covered. But if the damage results from wear and tear over time, your homeowners insurance policy probably won’t cover the repair.
For questions about your policy and what it covers, be sure to review your existing policy carefully.
For a no-obligation quote for homeowners insurance, contact Aegis Insurance Markets and let us find you a policy that offers you the protection you need at a price point you can afford. Request a quote for homeowners insurance today.