Are you aware of all the damages your home insurance can cover?
For example, does home insurance cover roof damage from wind? After all, wind damage can be a rather common occurrence, especially in the springs where wind speed can reach up to 80 kilometres per hour.
Fast winds can have a severe impact on your home. Shingles may get blown out of your roof, sidings may get ripped off, trees can come down in the vicinity, and fences may get knocked down, just to list a few.
This article will discuss the type of wind damage your home insurance covers. To learn how you can get competitive quotes for the best home insurance in Alberta, check out this link from Surex.
Table of Contents
Understanding wind damage
The damage to your home from high-speed and forceful wind gusts is considered an unavoidable loss. Wind not only damages your home directly but also throws other objects like tree branches or debris towards your home with dire potential consequences.
And in insurance terms, even if the damages are caused inside your home by a hole or an opening caused by wind, it will fall under the bracket of wind damage. Recent reports suggest that wind damage is the most common type of damage your home can incur, with roof damage insurance claim wind numbers surpassing theft, water, or fire damage.
Wind damage and home insurance
A home insurance policy already covers most kinds of wind damage. The most common types of storms that cause severe wind damage and thus fall under the ambit of home insurance coverage include:
- Nor’easter
- Derecho
- Microburst
- Hailstorm
- Thunderstorm
- Hurricane
- Tornado
If your windows, sidings, or roof faces any wind damage during one of the above-listed storms or freak incidents, the dwelling coverage component of your home insurance kicks in. It helps pay for any repairs or replacements to your home components. Any personal belongings that suffer damage from wind are covered by personal property coverage – another element of home insurance.
However, as always, it is important to review your home insurance policy carefully before making a wind damage insurance claim. Special attention should be given to the exclusions, deductibles, and coverage limits for all components. Keep note that not all damages caused by wind are covered under home insurance policies.
For example, if the wind knocks a tree over your house and causes damage, your insurance will kick in and pay for repairs or replacements. But it will likely not pay for any expenses related to replacing or removing the object that causes the damage – in this case, the tree.
Does home insurance cover roof damage from wind in Canada?
A standard home insurance coverage protects you against most damages to your home, whether they are unexpected, sudden, or happen due to an accident. Most home insurances are fairly comprehensive and guard the interior and exterior of your home against damages, thefts or any other type of loss.
According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the following are applicable as wind-related damage for coverage:
- Any damages caused to your home from rains, wind, snow, or hail are typically covered. The specifics are:
- If wind or hail creates a sudden opening through which water or snow enters and subsequently damages your home and results in losses.
- Falling tree branches or flying debris is blown off by gusts of wind damaging your home or property.
- Any parked vehicles within your home being damaged by water, ice, hail, or wind directly during storms or windy conditions are covered. However, they are not mandatory, and you must check the policy coverage in detail to understand the risks.
- Not just permanent structures but mobile homes or trailers can also be covered under home insurance. Again, this must be clarified with the insurers beforehand to ensure adequate coverage, as policy wording can often be convoluted.
- And lastly, if your home has been rendered unfit for habitation by substantial damages, your home insurance policy will cover additional living expenses. Again, referring to the policy details would confirm this coverage and figure out the exact limits.
Thus, if you live in Canadian cities with high storm occurrences, such as Ontario, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, Moncton or Windsor, getting separate wind coverage also makes sense.
Policy type influencing wind damage coverage
As you may have worked out, even though wind damage is technically a part of standard home insurance coverage, many instances may not be covered or have adequate limits. The type of policy you opt for will often dictate your coverage.
Comprehensive all-risk policies
A comprehensive “all-risk” policy is your best bet against protection from all kinds of wind damage. This will typically account for most common wind damage-related eventualities except only very specific exclusions.
When you opt for a comprehensive policy, simply going through the exclusion list will tell you what is not covered, meaning that everything else related to wind damages will be a part of your policy. You should opt for comprehensive all-risk home insurance if you live in areas prone to storms and windy weather.
Named perils
If you have a named perils insurance policy, wind damages must be added to the coverage list to ensure you receive the required financial coverage. Adding wind coverage to your Named Perils policy is a great way to ensure your home and all its contents are protected against wind damage.
Does home insurance cover roof damage from wind? — Conclusion
As discussed, heavy winds and storms can have a severe impact on your life, home, and belongings. It is imperative to ensure that you are protected against the wind, just like other common perils such as fire, water, or theft. For this, you should look towards your home insurance.
If you are unsure about the type of coverage your home insurance policy offers, make sure to connect with your insurer to get the exact specifics. Your policy coverage needs to be in order before a storm or inclement weather can strike your home and cause untold damage. After all, being protected and covered is the point of getting any kind of insurance.