14 Things You May Not Know Are Covered By Your Home Insurance Policy

When you have a claim on your roof, there are some obvious things that are covered by your home insurance policy….and then there are less obvious things. Being a roofer contractor that has worked on hundreds of homes and claims, here is our list on 14 things you may not know are covered by your home insurance policy:

1. Grills

Hail dings on grills or strong winds that knock it over are grounds for a replacement. Most of the time the damage is cosmetic and does not affect the function of your grill.

2. Swing sets

A storm can often damage the parts of the swing or even the stain. Your policy will usually cover to re-stain or replace any broken parts of your swing set.

3. Patio Furniture

This includes umbrellas, patio tables, chairs, and any other accessories. Adirondack chairs or wicker furniture? Your insurance will replace those items.

4. Exterior Decor

This includes flower pots, decorative garden art, bird houses, chimes, and more.

5. Exterior Toys

Play houses or plastic yard toys. This includes that bubble mower for your child.

6. Trash Cans

Exterior trash cans or other plastic containers are included.

7. Landscaping

There are some gray areas when it comes to landscaping, but it can include solar powered lights, sprinklers, repairing retaining walls, and more.

8. Tree Removal

A hail storm can damage trees and knock over branches. While you may not get a tree replaced, your insurance carrier will cover the costs of removal if needed.

9. Outdoor Speakers

Do you have any of those cool outdoor speakers disguised as rocks? Your insurance carrier will often replace those if they’re damaged during a roof storm.

10. Basketball Hoop

A basketball hoop that is inground or portable can also be part of your insurance claim.

11. Trampolines

Damage to your trampoline including those on the accessories (netting, padding, etc.) are another insurance claim item.

12. Re-staining Fence

Hail damage can damage the stain and finish of a fence. As such, your insurance company will often pay to have it re-stained after a storm. Likewise, this would also include exterior shutters and wood beams.

13. Garage Doors

Many people don’t realize that garage door damage is also covered. The damage may be mostly cosmetic, however, the reason you want to fix cosmetic repairs now is to plan for if you ever sell your home.

14. Interior Ceiling Water Damage

Your insurance company may pay to paint an entire ceiling if it’s showing signs of water damage. This is especially true of open concept homes where there are no breaks in the ceiling. For that reason, homes with no break will often receive claim money to paint the entire ceiling.

Summary

So here you have it, 14 things you may not know that are covered by your home insurance policy. Additionally, many people know that hail damage also affects siding, gutters, and windows. By the way, Mutual Roofing does all this too. The rule-of-thumb is that things that are damaged during the weather event will generally be covered by your insurance carrier.

Pro Tip: Take inventory of your outdoor belongings and pay special attention to more expensive items.

If you think you have an insurance claim and would like for us to evaluate, call (402) 889-3381 for a FREE inspection or simply fill out our contact form.