Owning a home comes with many different challenges, so having a good insurance plan can help save you money over the years. Especially if your home is damaged by theft or vandalism, homeowners insurance can often pay to replace items or repair some of the damage. While homeowners insurance is always recommended, they don’t cover everything that can happen to a home. While gutters and your roof are a large part of a successful home, damage to these areas may not be covered by traditional homeowners insurance. If your home has recently experienced gutter damage, here are some things you need to know about insurance coverage before filing a claim.
The Cause Of Damage
The first thing to keep in mind when working with insurance is how the damage came to be. Neglecting a car, home, or personal property is often not covered by insurance, but other damage that was out of your control will be repaired by your insurance company. When it comes to gutter damage, the most common damage that is covered includes hail damage, fallen trees or branches, wind damage, and sudden storm build-up.
There are extenuating circumstances that will also be considered when submitting a claim to your insurance. For example, if your gutters become detached from the roof because of heavy snow, but only because they were previously filled with debris and lacked cleaning, the insurance may not pay to cover the damage. When snowstorms come out of nowhere, and your gutters were not rated to handle this moisture or ice, insurance may provide compensation.
What Damage Is Not Covered By Insurance?
All insurance companies will look at the condition of the gutters before the damage occurred before they determine if they will cover the cost of replacement. Gutters that are corroded or were already pulling away from the roofline will not be covered by your homeowners insurance.
Clogged gutters, failure to maintain the gutters, existing structural problems, or damage from insect nests are other damages that will not be covered. Homeowners have a responsibility to care for their home, and insurance doesn’t cover replacements that could have been prevented through proper cleaning and maintenance.
Additional Roof Insurance
Some insurance companies offer additional coverage for different parts of your home. This additional coverage may help provide compensation for those random situations that may not be covered by traditional homeowners insurance. Roof insurance may cover other damages from pests or moisture build-up that typical homeowner insurance won’t provide compensation for.
The Insurance Claim Process
- Document the damage: The first step in filing an insurance claim is to make sure you have clear photos of the damage. Before you even contact the insurance company, take photos right after you notice the damage. Insurance companies want to assess the environment and the damage thoroughly before they start to process any kind of return. Take photos from multiple angles and show where the worst damage to your gutters is located.
- Contact a roofing professional: Another non-required but highly recommended step is to have the damage assessed by a roofing professional. Having the damage confirmed and looked at by a roofing contractor may be additional evidence you can use to convince your insurance to provide compensation. If your roofing or gutters were newly installed, the damage also may be covered by a warranty provided by the roofing company. Having them assess the damage may also help you cover the cost of repairs, avoiding the need to file an insurance claim.
- Notify the insurance company: After the damage has been documented, you should call or fill out a claim on your insurance company’s website. Make sure to provide specific details about the storm, damage, or incident. This will give the adjusters a good idea of what was actually damaged and how much they will need to pay in order to help the home remain in good condition.
- Inspection with an insurance adjuster: After filing a claim, insurance companies may send out an insurance adjuster to see the damage in person. This can help them provide better compensation that truly covers the cost of new gutters.
- Review your estimate: Your insurance adjuster will then send over some paperwork, either through mail or email, with a breakdown of what they will cover and how much money they will be sending you.
- Making necessary repairs: Once the insurance has provided payment, you can make the repairs or completely replace the entire gutter system. If you need to replace or make repairs quickly because of the weather or foundation damage, make sure to keep receipts to submit to the insurance to ensure they cover the entire cost.
Preventing Gutter Damage With Professional Cleaning
While homeowners insurance doesn’t cover everything, having your gutters cleaned frequently is the best way to avoid severe damage. Jacob’s Ladder offers gutter cleaning for homes in Colorado, helping the gutters be able to handle moisture, severe storms, and heavy wind. If you want a company with transparent pricing and that respects your property during a service, get a quote from our professionals.