Your home’s foundation is the most important part of its structure. But foundation issues can arise, weakening the home’s stability. Over time, unchecked foundation problems can lead to devastating results, including weaker walls and damage to floors and other parts of your home’s structure.
In some cases, a standard home insurance policy covers foundation repair. But your insurance company won’t cover foundation problems in all cases.
Here’s a closer look at homeowners insurance policies and what you can expect for foundation coverage.
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Standard home insurance policies have dwelling coverage that covers parts of your home, including your foundation. The following are some situations in which home insurance covers foundation repairs.[?] [?]
While your homeowners insurance covers certain types of damage from covered perils, there are exceptions. A standard home insurance policy doesn’t cover floods. You usually need an additional endorsement to cover a flood or get a separate policy available through the National Flood Insurance Program.
Here are some other potential problems that might not be covered. Speak with an insurance agent about how to handle these situations when a home insurance policy isn’t enough.
Tree roots: As a general rule, insurance won’t cover foundation cracks caused by tree roots growing into an otherwise strong foundation. It’s considered maintenance and up to you to keep track of these issues and take care of them.
Earthquakes: Along with floods and hurricanes, earthquakes are natural disasters that often aren’t included in a standard homeowners insurance policy. Without an additional endorsement, your insurance likely won’t cover foundation damage caused by an earthquake.
Excess water: If groundwater gets into your crawl space and damages your foundation, your insurer probably won’t cover it. Your homeowners policy usually only covers sudden and accidental water damage, not flood damage or rising groundwater. You might need foundation repair insurance to cover an event like this.
Soil erosion and poor drainage: If the reason for foundation damage includes these maintenance and repair issues, you likely won’t get help from your insurer. Soil erosion and poor drainage can be issues in older homes, so it’s important to get a foundation inspection and prepare to cover the repairs yourself.
Pests: Rodents and other pests can cause foundation damage that isn’t covered by your homeowners insurance. Whether it’s a mole digging under the foundation and causing it to settle and crack or some other cause, pests aren’t usually covered.
Pay attention to signs that your home might have foundation damage so you can fix the problem before it becomes more difficult and expensive.
Uneven floors: Uneven floors might indicate cracks or settling in your foundation.
Cracks in walls: Signs of cracks and settling in walls can also indicate foundation damage.
Stairs: Cracks in stairs and concrete patios near your home’s foundation can also be a sign.
On average, the cost to repair a foundation runs from a little more than $2,000 to almost $8,000. But many foundation repairs are likely to cost in the $5,000 range. The cost depends on several factors, including the extent of the damage, where you live, the size of your foundation, and the type of foundation you have.
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The first step to filing a home insurance claim for foundation repairs is to review your coverage and make sure the damage is due to a covered event.[?]
Foundation problems can worsen over time, affecting your home’s structural integrity. Also, cracks can let in soil and water, damaging your home’s walls, floors, doors, and other aspects.
Some ways to protect your home’s foundation include:
Add gutters. Gutters and downspouts can protect your foundation by moving water away from your home and keeping it from damaging your foundation.
Keep grass and other plants trimmed. Unruly plants near your home can encourage pests like rodents and termites. These pests can damage your foundation or dig under the soil and cause settling and cracking.
Pay attention to tree roots. Trees can be a major concern, so check root systems and be aware of how roots can encroach on your foundation, affect pipes, and cause water damage.
The following information can help answer commonly asked questions about home foundations and homeowners insurance.
Most foundation issues result from normal wear and tear and are considered maintenance and general repairs. Most standard homeowners policies don’t cover routine issues that result from time.
No. Most policies won’t cover a crack or settling. The insurer will probably deny the claim unless the crack results from a sudden and accidental event.
Not typically. Homeowners policies don’t usually cover movement. If you want coverage for earth movements, you typically need to buy separate coverage.
If a covered peril such as lightning strikes, fire, hail, wind, theft, vandalism, vehicles, or other accidental events causes damage, it’s usually covered. But issues caused by neglect, regular wear and tear, or certain weather events like floods and earthquakes aren’t usually covered.
It depends on the situation. In some cases, a home warranty might cover foundation cracks for up to 10 years if the issue stems from workmanship or structural problems. Read the warranty carefully to understand the coverage.
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