Is Your Fence Covered By Your Home Insurance?

If you live in a neighborhood, chances are you have a fence on your property. There are loads of different kinds you can pick from, like wood, vinyl, and even metal, and depending on the type of fencing material, your privacy protection will last you over 15 years. However, that doesn't mean weather, vandalism, fire damage, and pest damage can't shorten that lifespan. When replacing or adding a new protective barrier, it can be difficult to choose the right fencing material for your backyard based on your family's needs, but prices over $6,000 can make that decision even more daunting. If you need to fix or replace your fence on your own to save money, you want to see if your fence is covered by your home insurance.

Good news — fences can be covered and can help lower your overall homeowners' insurance bill. Depending on your plan, your fence typically has a limit of about 10% of your dwelling's coverage. Quick math shows that if you choose a dwelling coverage plan that is up to $100,000, your policy will cover about $10,000 in damages. Sounds great, but you should read the fine print of what your insurance truly covers when it comes to your fence.

Head over to your original policy to see a breakdown of what your insurance covers under fences. In most cases, it will take care of damages caused by a peril, like fire and vandalism. If your fence is vandalized or stolen, report it to the police first before filing a claim. When it comes to your fence home insurance, what you need to know is if you have wind protection on file or not. Besides wear and tear, a majority of fence damage happens due to weather like tornados and hurricanes. Therefore, it is important to include this additional protection on your policy or you will be liable for all costs.

Not all fence issues or replacements are covered on basic plans or even on the home insurance itself. For example, if your fence is destroyed by someone's car, file a claim through their car insurance company since most states in the U.S. require drivers to have property damage liability coverage. Any damages incurred by floods or earthquakes are not on basic policies, but instead part of separate ones (flood insurance and earthquake insurance) that you need to purchase. 

Problems due to wood rot from termites, rust, or long-term use will not be covered since it is part of your overall fence maintenance due diligence. However, you can prevent common fence damage with very simple actions like adding stain and regularly cleaning them. By knowing what your plan covers, and maintaining your fence properly, you can breathe a little easier if any fixes arise.