Last night, a huge amount of snow and ice slid off my roof and onto my second-story deck, causing it to nearly collapse. When I stepped out to clear it today, I discovered that the deck has been severely damaged, separating from the house at the ledger board. The situation looks pretty dire: the weight of the ice and snow crushed the heat pump lines, shattered a downstairs window, and landed on my riding lawn mower, which I can’t yet assess. Unfortunately, the deck seems beyond repair.
I’ve looked over my homeowners’ policy, and it mentions nothing specific about coverage for a deck. I’ll be making calls on Monday to clarify, but I’m curious if anyone else has had a similar experience. Are incidents like this typically covered by homeowners insurance? I know it will depend on my specific policy, but I’d appreciate any insights based on your experiences.
I’m really sorry to hear about the damage to your deck and the additional concerns with your property. It sounds like a tough situation, especially with all the collateral damage.
As you mentioned, coverage can vary widely depending on your specific homeowners insurance policy. Generally, homeowners insurance does cover sudden and accidental damage, which could include the collapse of a deck due to ice and snow falling from the roof. However, the extent of coverage for the deck itself might depend on specific terms and conditions in your policy, as well as any exclusions related to structural damage or weather events.
Since your policy doesn’t specifically mention the deck, it will be crucial to speak with your insurance provider to get clarity on how they handle this type of damage. Here are a few tips for when you talk to them:
Document Everything: Take detailed photos of the damage and any related issues (like the broken window and damaged heat pump lines) as evidence to support your claim.
Review Your Policy Again: Before calling, it might help to review any related sections of your policy regarding structural damage or external forces like falling objects.
Ask Specific Questions: When you call, ask how they handle damage caused by falling ice or snow and if it’s classified as a peril covered under your policy.
Consider Additional Coverage: If you find out your policy doesn’t cover this type of damage, you can ask about umbrella or additional coverage options moving forward.
The good news is that if the deck was structurally sound and built according to code, your chances for coverage may be better. Good luck with your calls on Monday, and I hope you get a favorable outcome!