Winter storms can be tough on fences, causing damage from fallen trees, high winds, and more. Luckily, if your fence is damaged due to these reasons, your homeowner’s insurance may cover the repairs or even replacement! At Fantastic Fence, we’re here to help you understand the process and make it as simple as possible.
How Does Home Insurance Cover Fences Damaged in a Storm?
Homeowners insurance policies usually have an “other structures” coverage section, which may cover structures on your property, like fences, if they’re damaged by a covered peril. Common examples of covered fence damage include:
- Storm damage: If a storm or strong wind damages your fence, this coverage can help with repairs.
- Fallen trees: Whether your tree or your neighbor’s tree falls and damages your fence, you can file a claim with your own insurance company. If the tree was diseased and not properly maintained, your insurance company may work with your neighbor’s provider to cover costs.
- Vandalism or accidents: If someone vandalizes or drives into your fence during one of these storms, insurance can also step in.
Does Home Insurance Cover Fence Damage from Wind?
Yes, homeowners’ insurance may cover fences blown down by wind and other wind related damage, as long as your policy doesn’t exclude wind coverage. While the damage might be a covered loss, the insurance company will take into what parts of the fence repair are due storm damages.
A Note on Fence Damage Caused by a Car
When a car crashes into your fence, you have multiple options. Most likely, you’ll hold the driver accountable and file a claim against their car insurance policy. Alternatively, you could file a claim with your homeowner’s policy, but you’d need to meet your deductible before coverage kicks in.
When is Fence Damage Not Covered by a Home Insurance Policy?
If your fence is damaged by a flood or earthquake, it is usually not a covered loss under your homeowners insurance policy. Hopefully your have already purchased a separate flood or earthquake insurance policy.
Know Your Coverage Limits
Typically, fences are insured up to 10% of your home’s coverage limit. You can review this against your policy in your insurance policy terms. Keep in mind that wear and tear aren’t covered by homeowners insurance, so maintaining your fence well is important for coverage eligibility.
If your fence has suffered storm damage, contact your insurance company to understand your options. They will assign you a claims adjuster and as you work with this representative, Fantastic Fence will be there to assist. You focus on staying safe and warm this winter, while we work to restore your fence to its original condition!
Easy Steps to File a Fence Damage Claim
- Document the Damage: Take clear, detailed photos of all damaged sections and undamaged areas for comparison.
- Get a Repair Estimate: Knowing your deductible and the repair costs will help you decide if filing a claim is worthwhile. On a shared fence most insurance companies cover 50% of the cost and will reduce your deductible by 50% as well. Additionally take into account the fact that the insurance company will depreciate the fence due to age. So even though your repair/replacement proposal might be $1000 the insurance company might only cover a portion of this. It is good to talk with your adjuster or insurance agent about this for your policy.
- Start Your Claim: You can file a claim by calling your insurance company, visiting their website, or contacting your agent. Be ready to describe the damage and what caused it.
What Happens After Filing a Claim?
An adjuster from the insurance company will review the damage, either in person or remotely, depending on the severity of the situation. Over the last few years, we have seen less and less of onsite adjuster visits and more adjusters working from pictures and over the phone/email.
If you have not been speaking with your neighbor yet about this repair, it is important to get this started immediately. On a shared property line fence, it is important that both property owners sign off for access and to do the repair project, regardless of if one neighbor is paying for the whole thing or the cost is being shared.
How Fantastic Fence Can Help You
Once you’ve filed a claim, Fantastic Fence will be there to answer any of the adjusters questions so they can approve your claim. From ensuring accurate cost estimates to advising on the best approach, our team’s experience will be helpful with your home insurance claim. We look to make the process of repairing your damaged fence easy and stress-free.
More Information about Wind Damaged Fence
Here is some more recent advice about how to deal with winter storm damaged fences. Check out this article!
