Homeowners insurance covers wind damage to siding in most cases. Insurance companies classify most wind damage cases as a covered peril. A covered peril is damage that your insurance policy is designed to cover. They are sudden events that occur at unpredictable intervals, such as storms and damaging winds. Because siding is also covered under homeowners insurance, the insurance company pays for this type of repair minus the deductible.
What Types of Wind Damage Are Covered?
To be covered under most homeowners policies, the wind damage must be from a sudden event. For instance, if a torrential thunderstorm strikes your area and the resulting winds rip siding from your home, your home insurance policy should pay for the repairs. In another instance, a tornado that tears siding from your home would also result in a good claim.
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However, wind damage over long periods that wears down siding may be excluded. For example, suppose you live on a windy plain, and over many years, your siding deteriorates partly because of these climatic conditions. In that case, the siding is likely not covered by your policy. Environmental factors that increase wear and tear on siding are generally considered maintenance items that are not part of your homeowners insurance coverage.
Covered Perils and Siding
Siding that is part of your domicile is always covered under your homeowners policy. This is because your policy is intended to protect your home and all attached to it, such as a garage or porch. Because of the language in these policies, siding covering your home, attached garage, or porch is included.
However, if you have structures on your property unattached to your domicile, they are covered only if you elect them as extra items on your policy. For example, if you have a shed with siding, you need to make a policy election to include that shed for it to be covered. As long as you include the additional structure, any wind damage to its siding is included, provided a covered peril caused the problem.
Homeowners insurance policies include many other covered perils, including the following:
- Wind damage
- Tornado damage
- Hail damage
- Hurricane damage
- Fire damage
- Storm damage
Mismatched Siding May Result After Wind Damage
Homeowners policies replace all siding that sustained damage from a covered peril. Wind damage often strikes a home unevenly. For example, it may rip the siding off one side of the home but not another. In another case, the wind may tear the siding off near the top of the wall but leave the bottom portions unscathed. When these uneven damages occur, the new siding may not be an exact match for the old siding.
In some cases, a homeowners policy will replace all the siding if a match is unavailable. These policies usually require the policyholder to demonstrate that the mismatch detracts from the home’s value. However, other policies include language that specifically excludes damage from mismatched siding. In those instances, policyholders must accept the mismatch or pay for the siding replacement out of pocket.
Claims Must Be Filed Within the Specified Period
Most homeowners policies establish a period by which claims must be filed. If the damage occurred because of a covered peril, but the homeowner neglects to file a claim until the window has closed, the insurer may deny the claim. To prevent this, policyholders should review their policy’s requirements and file claims promptly.
Claims adjusters usually approve claims for siding damage from wind. Most damaging winds result from a covered peril, such as a thunderstorm or tornado. This coverage gives homeowners peace of mind.
