Many people utilize fences for privacy and safety. They are also a great way to keep pets and children enclosed in a yard so that they do not wander off. Fences do not come cheap, so if a fence is blown over, it may make you consider filing an insurance claim. But does homeowners insurance cover blown-down fences?
In most cases, your homeowners insurance policy will cover a blown-down fence, especially if it is covered by a windstorm. Windstorms are a named peril and are often covered by most HO-2 and HO-3 policies. Like every policy, there are exceptions, which may be listed in the exclusions section of your homeowners insurance policy.
Home insurance can be particular when it comes to covering certain items on your property. Keep reading to learn more about insurance coverage with fences and how it may or may not have you covered.
Key Takeaways
- Homeowners insurance will cover a blown-down fence under coverage type B.
- The coverage limit for your coverage type B will vary depending on your policy.
- In some high-risk areas wind and hail damage is not covered and requires additional coverage.
- If the fence is blown-down due to an excluded peril, it will not be covered by insurance.
Instances when blown-down fences are covered
There are many different scenarios in which you can find your fence blown down and damaged. While this can be aggravating, the cost can often be mitigated by insurance. Many insurance policies consider fences to be detached structure that is covered under coverage type B, also known as other structure coverage. Below are some common scenarios that would be considered covered.
Hurricane
If you experience a hurricane that is named by the national weather service, and this hurricane causes damage and blows your fence over, it is considered a covered peril. A hurricane falls under the category windstorm, which is one of the 16 named covered perils for homeowners insurance.
However, if you live in an area that experiences a high amount of hurricanes and is considered to be an at-risk area, you may need to purchase separate hurricane coverage. This varies by location and insurance. Speaking to an agent will help you determine whether or not this applies to you.
Wind or hail storm
A fierce thunderstorm that has high winds and produces hail can cause a lot of damage to your property. It can also cause your fence to be damaged or get blown over. When this is the case, your insurance will cover the repair, less the deductible. Wind and hail storms are covered named perils under homeowners insurance policies.
However, wind and hail can be excluded from standard home insurance coverage in high-risk areas. In this case, you might need to purchase a windstorm insurance endorsement or a separate windstorm insurance policy. In other cases, it might be still covered by home insurance but might require you to pay a wind and hail deductible which is typically higher than a standard deductible.
Tornado
Another type of windstorm that you could experience that causes your fence to be blown down is a tornado. These fierce windstorms can come and go quickly while also leaving tons of damage behind. If you experience a tornado, it will be considered a windstorm and ultimately be covered under your homeowners insurance policy.
Named tropical depression/storm
Tropical depressions and storms can be just as fierce as hurricanes and cause winds to pick up. These windy instances may cause your fence to be blown over. If this is the case, your insurance company will cover the damage if the storm is named. Named storm damage might have a separate deductible in some areas. If the storm is not named, you will need to cover the repairs on your own.
Calculating coverage for your fence
Now that you know windstorm-ruined fences are covered under your home insurance policy, it is important to understand how insurance will calculate the payment for the damage. Fences are covered as “other structure” coverage type B. In most instances, this means that an insurance company will cover up to a certain amount of damage for all structures under this category, up to a certain percentage of the overall dwelling structure coverage.
For example, if you have insured your home for $400,000 and have coverage type B that allows for 10% coverage of the total dwelling structure coverage, then the maximum benefit a homeowner will receive is $40,000 less the deductible.
The good news is most fence repairs will be below this threshold in terms of cost. The bad news is, if it is only one of the many things you need to fix under this coverage, you may run out of funds to fix it faster than you think.
Rebuilding is possible
Home insurance is a great way to protect yourself and your fence. Luckily, most policies will cover a blown-down fence, so you do not need to. This will help you maintain your privacy and safety.
