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Will insurance cover foundation damage from tree roots?

By Christopher Ramos |

Homeowners Insurance Exclusions to Foundation Repair. Damage that isn’t sudden and accidental and/or sourced from above the slab tends to be excluded from standard homeowners insurance. Common excluded foundation events include: Tree root damage.

Does insurance pay to remove fallen trees?

When it comes to damage caused by fallen trees, some insurance policies will only cover you for the removal of the tree if it causes damage to the insured home and contents. If there is no damage to the home or contents, then you may be up for your own removal costs.

Can a homeowners insurance policy cover tree damage?

Homeowners insurance can cover many types of tree damage and some tree removal, both to your property and your neighbors’. But some restrictions apply. You should be covered for fallen trees and branches if they’re the result of a peril covered in your policy.

Do you have to pay for tree removal?

If the tree does fall on your home, most insurance companies will cover the costs of tree removal up to a specific amount per storm. This means if you have two trees that have fallen on your home during a storm, you will be required to pay for any costs above the coverage amount.

Can a tree damage the foundation of a house?

While laws and policies vary by state and by policy, chances are your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it. Tree roots usually aren’t strong enough to penetrate a house foundation. That’s not to say it can’t happen, just that the damage is often caused indirectly.

When does homeowner’s insurance cover foundation damage?

One of the central concepts of homeowner’s insurance is that covered losses must be sudden and accidental. If a storm blew a tree down on your house, for example, that would usually be covered. When tree roots damage a house’s foundation, however, it doesn’t happen all at once.