Many homeowners wonder if their insurance policy will cover a collapsed deck. If you own a home with an attached outdoor deck, should you be worried if it collapses? Does homeowners insurance cover the replacement of collapsed decks?
Yes, in most cases standard home insurance will cover the replacement or repair of a damaged deck as long as the damage was not due to neglect, lack of maintenance, or one of the specifically excluded perils. Home insurance will not cover a replacement or repair of a deck that is damaged due to wear and tear. This article will give you more information about what your homeowners insurance covers and what is not included when it comes to decks.
Does home insurance cover decks?
A standard homeowners insurance (HO-3) will most likely provide coverage for a collapsed deck because it is considered an attached structure to your main dwelling. The dwelling coverage A would cover the damage as long as the deck is attached to the main dwelling unit (your house). If your deck is attached to a shed, a detached garage, or some other structure separate from your house, it would still be covered, but in this case, other structures coverage B would take care of the damage.
The exceptions would be the perils specifically mentioned in the policy, most HO-3 policies don’t include coverage for damage caused by flooding, earthquakes, war, government action, and others. If you have one of the less common HO-2 or HO-1 policies your deck will be covered only if it was damaged by one of the named perils.
Here is a list of 16 perils covered even by HO-2 policies:
- Lightning or fire
- Windstorm or hail
- Explosions
- Damage from vehicles (Unless caused by the insured)
- Damage from aircrafts
- Riots or civil commotion
- Theft (With limited liability of up to $1,000)
- Malicious mischief or vandalism
- Smoke
- Volcanic eruptions
- Falling objects
- Accidental discharge of steam or water
- Accidental tearing, cracking, bulging, or burning of pipes or household systems
- Accidental damage due to artificially generated electrical current
- Weight damage due to snow, ice, or sleet
- Freezing of household systems
The most popular HO-3 homeowners policies usually cover dwelling and other structures on an open-peril basis. This means that deck damage even from more risks is covered by HO-3s, except for the specific exclusions listed in your insurance policy.
Additionally, homeowners insurance will provide protection for the following areas and circumstances within your home which include:
- Dwelling Coverage A – Damage to the dwelling including any attached structures like plumbing, HVAC, fences, and decks will be covered.
- Other Structures Coverage B – If your deck is attached to another building or structure separate from your main house, you will need to rely on coverage B. This coverage is typically limited to 10% of your dwelling coverage’s limit, which is enough to cover the deck in most cases.
- Personal Property Coverage C– Protection for the contents or belongings inside your home this includes items like appliances, clothes, furniture, and every item that is inside your home. If your possessions on your deck get damaged by a covered peril, they would be covered by this section.
- Loss of Use Coverage D – Provide reimbursement in case you need to stay in another place due to repairs or rebuilding of your home. Other expenses like food, fuel, and clothing will also be reimbursed up to your policy’s limits.
- Liability Coverage E – Protection against lawsuits that may arise due to the accidents that occur within your property. If a guest to your home gets injured on your deck, this policy or medical payments will take care of your guest’s medical bills and other losses.
- Medical Payments To Others Coverage F – This coverage will provide protection in case guests or workers becomes injured while within your property. It will reimburse for smaller expenses like ambulance rides, x-ray, laboratory, dental work, and hospital bills.
Does home insurance cover rotting decks?
No, deck damage due to wood it is made of rotting is typically not covered by homeowners insurance. Wood root might be covered if it was caused by a covered peril such as sudden and accidental water damage caused by a pipe bursting. Except, a pipe bursting will most likely not damage your deck, but instead damage the inside of your dwelling.
If your deck is rotting due to wear and tear and/or lack of maintenance home insurance will not cover it. Regular maintenance such as regular your deck every 2 years can be a great way to prevent your deck boards from rotting.
Homes with decks
One of the many concerns that a homeowner has is the extent of the coverage their insurance provides. A deck is a great addition to any home as it provides an additional area where family members can lounge or entertain guests. However, damage to the deck can be a huge concern because not only does it ruin the aesthetics of the home, but it can also cause structural damage to the main dwelling.
Many homes see a sudden collapse of decks during emergencies like snowstorms or heavy snow. Most decks have a lifespan of 15-20 years and over time, structural support may weaken causing it to collapse.
As a homeowner, it is your responsibility to regularly check the stability and quality of your deck. This is even more crucial if you are living in older homes with outdoor decks. It will also be helpful if you check your deck when there is an expected heavy snowstorm or storm coming into your area.
Tips when filing a claim
If your deck collapsed due to a heavy snowstorm, sleet, or ice, it is important that you contact your insurance agent immediately. You must inform your insurance company of the damage so that they can arrange for an insurance inspector to visit your home.
If you have receipts of the expenses when the deck was constructed, this will also help the insurance company get an estimate of the cost of repairing your deck. You’d also want to save some photos of the deck before it was damaged to help the inspector understand the extent of the damage.
As a homeowner, it is important that you take the time to understand the ins and outs of your insurance policy. Bear in mind that if your deductible is relatively high and your damaged deck is relatively inexpensive to repair, it might make sense to just pay for a repair out of your own pocket instead of filing a claim. For example, if your deck repair would cost $1200 and your deductible is set at $1000, you would only get $200 if you file a claim.
