Does Oklahoma Home Insurance Cover Foundation Repair?

​Hi Oklahoma City.

How much time do you spend thinking about home insurance?

You may know it is a necessary coverage that protects you from financial loss due to unexpected events, including property damage, theft, and natural disasters.

And while a standard home insurance policy typically covers the physical structure of the home, personal property, and liability,  it may not cover every possible scenario.

​And that's worth thinking about.

But what about something more common, like foundation issues?

Does home insurance cover foundation repair, a more common concern for homeowners in the state of Oklahoma?
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Understanding Your Homeowners Insurance Policy for Foundation Damage Repair Coverage in Oklahoma

As a homeowner in Oklahoma, understanding your insurance policy is crucial to ensure that your home is adequately protected in case of an unforeseen event.
One common concern is whether home insurance policies in Oklahoma cover foundation damage and repair costs.

With various factors that could cause foundation issues, such as floods, earthquakes, and poor construction, it's vital to know what your home insurance policy covers and what it doesn't.


Types of Coverage for Foundation Repair

Homeowners worry about the potential of foundation damage on their property, which can happen due to various reasons like natural disasters, earth movement, tree roots, or faulty construction.

Hence, it’s crucial to understand what type of coverage is available for foundation repair through homeowners insurance policies.

In general, most standard home insurance policies cover damages caused by covered perils like fire, hailstorms, and lightning.

However, regarding foundation damage, there are different types of coverage available, including dwelling coverage, additional/supplemental coverage, and separate policies for flood or earthquakes.

In the following section, we’ll go into more detail about these types of coverage and what they entail.

Dwelling Coverage

Dwelling Coverage is a critical component of homeowners insurance policies when it comes to foundations.

It covers the cost of rebuilding or repairing the physical structure of the home, including its foundation if it suffers damage as a result of a covered peril.

Covered perils in most standard homeowner policies could include damage from plumbing, falling objects, fire, windstorm, lightning, and hail.

However, there are certain exclusions to the coverage, such as damage from earthquakes, earth movement, floods, and pressure from tree roots. Additional coverage and supplemental coverage are available to provide extra protection in case of events like these.

Insurance providers calculate and structure dwelling coverage based on various factors, including the cost of rebuilding the home, local construction costs, and the value of the land. Policies vary from state to state, and it is advisable to talk to an insurance agent or professional to know the exact coverage amount needed for a particular location.

Overall, Dwelling Coverage is an essential element of homeowners insurance policies that can assist in mitigating the damage of future disasters, including foundation repairs, which tend to be costly.

Additional Structures Coverage

Oklahoma Home Insurance Policies come with a range of coverage options, one of which is the Additional Structures Coverage.

This coverage is designed to offer protection for certain items that are detached from your home, such as a garage, a shed, a fence, or a guest house.

The coverage provided will vary depending on your policy, but it may be worth considering if you have any of these structures on your property that you want to ensure are protected.

The amount of coverage available under this policy will depend on the total eligible cost of the additional structures you want to protect.

This means that if your policy offers $50,000 in additional structures coverage, and your shed, fence, and detached garage cost a total of $30,000, then you would still have $20,000 in coverage available for any potential future damages.

Additionally, it is important to note that like all insurance policies, there is a deductible that needs to be paid in case a claim is filed.

This deductible is the amount you are responsible for paying before the insurance company starts covering the costs of repairs or replacements.

The deductible amount will be stated in your policy documents, and it is usually set as a fixed dollar amount.

Covered Peril vs. Uninsured Causes of Damage to Foundations

When it comes to foundation damage, insurance coverage largely depends on the root cause of the damage. Covered perils typically refer to sudden, unexpected damage caused by external forces such as fire, lightning, or wind.

In contrast, uninsured causes of damage can include poor construction, earth movement, or neglect.

Foundation damage caused by covered perils get covered by standard home insurance policies. For example, damage resulting from a tree falling on the home, a sudden plumbing issue, or water damage may be covered.

However, damage resulting from uninsured causes, such as pressure from tree roots or faulty construction, is not typically covered by homeowners insurance.

Homeowners can often purchase supplemental coverage, such as earthquake or flood insurance, to protect themselves from these uninsured causes of damage.

It's important to note that insurance coverage varies depending on the policy and insurance provider, so it's always best to consult with an insurance professional to fully understand the specific coverage and limitations of your policy when it comes to foundation repairs.

Oklahoma Insurance Professionals Can Help

After thorough research and analysis, it has been found that most standard homeowners insurance policies in Oklahoma do not cover foundation repair caused by normal settling and cracking.

However, foundation damage resulting from a covered peril such as earthquake, fire, and water damage may be covered.

It is recommended to carefully review and compare policies from different insurance providers to ensure that you have the appropriate coverage for your specific needs and location.

Getting multiple quotes from insurance professionals is highly recommended to find the one that best suits your budget and requirements.

As an independent insurance agency, Oklahoma Insurance Professionals can help you there. We represent a variety of carriers and policies and feel confident to bring the right solution home to you.

It is also important to consider any supplemental or optional coverages, as well as separate policies such as flood insurance, as these may provide additional coverage for certain types of damage not covered by standard policies.

Ultimately, we take the time to research and choose the right insurance provider and policy that can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in damages and repair costs.

Sooner rather than later!

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Scott Godwin
Founder ​

Oklahoma Insurance Professionals LLC serves Oklahoma City and the surrounding Oklahoma communities by protecting the people we work with just like we protect our own family members.