Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Foundation Issues?

Yes, in the state of Texas, homeowners receive protection against foundation issues through their homeowners insurance policies.  However, there are some important exclusion examples, including settling/cracking due to earth movement, issues below the foundation, and slab leaks are sometimes excluded unless covered by endorsement.

It will depend heavily on the cause of your loss. For example, while your home and its foundation are protected against wind damage, meaning a foundation damaged by wind would be covered, flooding is not covered by a standard home insurance policy, so flood damage to your foundation wouldn’t be covered. For more details, be sure to check out all things home insurance, but for now, here’s a refresher on the perils your home’s foundation is protected against:

• Hail and windstorm damage.
• Accidental escape of water or steam.
• Damage from aircraft, vehicles, and falling objects.
• Explosions and the breakage of glass.
• Fire, smoke, and/or lightning damage.
• Freezing of plumbing, heating, etc.
• Freezing and thawing causing water to back up under your roof.
• Civil commotion, riots, vandalism/malicious mischief, and theft.
• Damage from the weight of ice or snow/sleet.

Of the top 15 metro areas with foundation issues in the United States, 7 of them involve Texas. This includes each of the top 3 locations encompassing:

• Sherman, Texas
• San Antonio, Texas
• Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
• Tyler/Longview, Texas
• Wichita Falls, Texas
• Waco/Temple/Bryan, Texas
• Abilene/Sweetwater, Texas
• Austin, Texas

Foundational issues are issues that may not be unique to Texans but is more important to homeowners here than any other state in the country. Stay informed by learning the signs of serious issues and learn more about how to protect your home from such perils.

Signs Of Foundation Issues

Serious foundation issues can be devastating for any home. If your home’s foundation is not where it needs to be, it can lead to even more serious problems lowering your property value and creating an unsafe living environment for your household. Like most things in life, early detection and preventive measures are a homeowner’s best bet. You’ll want to know the signs. Keep an eye out for the following around your home to help detect foundation issues before they become major problems:

Sign of Foundation Issues:	Severity:
Large exterior cracks	Severe
Large floor/wall/concrete cracks	Severe
Sticky doors/doors that won’t latch	Severe
An exterior wall is moving from your home	Severe
Movement of your home’s trim or fixtures	Severe
Exterior Trim Separation	Severe
Floors that bounce	Severe
Concrete slab moving upwards	Severe
Large cracks in your walls/near windows	Severe
Rotting wood and wet beams	Severe
Hairline fractures in your concrete	Less severe
Nails popping out of your drywall	Less severe (unless widespread)
Small cracks in your tiles	Not severe
Small settlement cracks	Not severe
Small cracks above your garage	Not severe

The severity of such issues comes into play here, and not all of the above issues are the same in seriousness. Over time, your home is going to naturally settle and things such as minor settling cracks along your wall or ceiling are much less unsettling than an uneven floor or large gaps near your doors and windows. If you find yourself concerned about the various symptoms your home is exhibiting, be sure to contact a local professional for a foundation inspection to gain expert advice of a professional.

The Most Common Reasons for Foundation Problems

There are different reasons for your home’s foundation to suffer from problems. While all homes will have a degree of shifting, and this is natural for any structure, severe foundation movement can be affected by a variety of things including:

• Excessive rain.
• Droughts.
• Improper drainage.
• Incorrect surveying.
• Sinkholes.
• Faulty construction.
• Burst pipes/plumbing issues.
• Tree roots causing foundation damage.

Often these causes stem from either weather-related events or problems from construction. No single insurance policy will protect you from all of these events, for example, flood damage that causes damage to your foundation will require flood insurance, while a burst pipe may be covered by your home insurance coverage. Still, these protections can help you pay for the proper repairs to your home’s foundation and rectify your loss in a much more cost-effective manner.

The Cost To Repair Your Home’s Foundation

According to HD Foundations in Arlington, Texas, foundation repairs can cost between $3,500-7,500 on average, though depending on the project, some jobs may reach costs of more than $15,000. This is why understanding the signs of foundation damage is so important. At any range, fixing foundation issues is a costly endeavor. Preventing large problems or identifying causes before they become larger issues may help you save thousands of dollars and plenty of stress.

But no matter who you are, spending thousands of dollars for repairs is a financial hurdle for your family. To make matters worse, foundation repairs are often only part of the problem. When your home’s structure is compromised, other components may suffer. The cause of your foundation issues, such as plumbing issues, may also cause different problems to your home that also need repair. Maintaining the right insurance policies can help you mitigate your losses and protect your finances should you need to restore your home.

Tips For Maintaining a Strong Foundation in Texas

Maintaining your home comes in many shapes and forms and this includes making sure your foundation is in tip-top shape. Homeowners have many ways to take care of their foundations and doing so can once again help you avoid costly repairs or prevent small problems from turning into larger ones. Here are some of the best tips for keeping your home on a solid foundation for years to come:

• Be sure to install and maintain a good drainage system to avoid oversaturation.
• Avoid putting off plumbing issues and schedule annual plumbing inspections.
• Keep the ground around your home moist, particularly during drier months.
• Avoid planting shrubs, trees, and other larger plants too close to your foundation.
• Use a reputable home builder and ensure that your home isn’t built on a negative slope.
• Maintain a consistent temperature level in your home year-round.
• Smaller cracks are usually nothing but have an expert inspect your home if larger ones are found.

As you can see, weather plays a large role in the health of your home and the health of your home’s foundation by default. Texas is a beautiful state, but it is also home to several extreme weather events. There are hurricanes and tropical storms, winter storms, wildfires, flash floods, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, hailstorms, etc. If your home is affected by one or more of these weather events, an inspection can help you identify foundation issues and develop a plan to correct them before they get too large.

Settlement Cracks in Your House

Every home is going to have settlement cracks and for that reason your homeowners insurance excludes settling and cracking due to earth movement. It doesn’t matter how well your home is constructed, how well your soil is maintained, etc., homes settling onto their foundation is a natural part of any structure’s life cycle. Small hairline cracks in your walls or ceilings can often cause panic in homeowners, but they are not major concerns in most cases. Even new homes are subject to these settlement cracks as many use newer lumber which may retain moisture that dries out as your home is completed. If you’d like to explore these types of cracks further, check out what the expert Bob Vila has to say or contact your local professionals.

Home Insurance Safeguards Against Expensive Foundation Costs

A standard home insurance policy protects many components of your property. The main part of your protection is Coverage A: Dwelling. It is here that the core structure of your home receives protection from a variety of perils. This includes your foundation.

When determining the right home insurance policy for your needs, you’re going to want enough coverage to help you restore your home after a total loss. Foundation repair costs thousands of dollars for the average Texan and with the right coverage, you can offset these costs while staying protected from many other perils for an affordable rate.

On top of protecting your home, the right home insurance policy will also provide coverage against liability for you should a visitor become injured while on your property, protects your personal possessions, and will also protect additional structures on your property that are not your home such as a shed or detached garage. Freedom Insurance Group helps you navigate the world of home insurance and find the best policy for your needs at the lowest cost on the market.

We’ve partnered with 25+ of the top-rated insurance providers available to homeowners in Texas. This allows our agents to quickly compare your coverage needs among a variety of viable options and pinpoint the most affordable option for your needs. By doing so, we free up your time and save you money without having to compromise your protection. On average, our clients save 40% when switching. From your foundation to your personal possessions and more, the right home insurance policy is a sound investment to help protect your home and your finances. Get a free online home insurance quote today or contact one of our agents to see how much you can save!