You see the cracks in your walls or on the ceiling. You hear the subtle creaks and groans from time to time. That must mean that your house’s foundation is settling.
A home’s foundations shift and settle as the earth below also moves and shifts. Settling can cause cracks in ceilings, along with shifting, leaking pipes and cracked walls.
In some cases, shifting foundations cause minor changes to a home’s structure that may not be threatening. Other foundation damages can be noticeable and threaten your home’s structure and your safety.
Repairing damaged foundations can be expensive. You may wonder if you can use homeowners insurance to afford repairs?
You can use homeowners insurance in some cases for foundation repairs. In other cases, you cannot. This is a complicated answer.
Why Homeowners Insurance May Not Cover Damages
Many policyholders often need to remember one thing. Homeowners insurance is generally meant to help you repair sudden or unforeseen damages.
Some foundation problems like cracks in walls are usually considered part of a home's normal wear and tear. Homeowners insurance may not cover home damages that develop because of normal wear and tear.
Insurance companies usually consider it a homeowner’s responsibility to watch for developing foundation changes. If a homeowner begins to notice problems, they should have the foundation inspected. Foundation inspections can catch potential problems early. A homeowner might be able to repair these at a lower cost than massive costs where insurance would be needed.
Certain Perils Are Also Not Covered
You should always be clear about what perils your homeowners policy covers. Foundation damages caused by storms, wind or fire are usually covered by homeowners insurance.
Other occurrences like earthquakes and floods generally are not covered by homeowners insurance. Earthquakes, sinkholes, floods and other events can damage foundations. These damages are often much harder to repair than simple settling.
If you live in an area that is prone to events that can damage a home’s foundations, purchasing special insurance might be a good idea.
If you have questions about how your Houston homeowners insurance policy will cover foundation damages, call Turrentine Insurance Agency at (281) 476-0557.