Miranda is a financial writer and avid podcaster with nearly two decades of experience contributing to major outlets, including Forbes, The Hill, and NPR.
Sara Getman is an Associate Editor at Insurify and has been with the company since 2022. Prior to joining Insurify, Sara completed her undergraduate degree in English Literature at Simmons University in Boston. At Simmons, she was the Editor-in-Chief for Sidelines Magazine (a literary and art publication), and wrote creative non-fiction.
Outside of work, Sara is an avid reader, and loves rock climbing, yoga and crocheting.
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Your home’s foundation is the most important part of its structure. But foundation issues can arise, weakening the home’s stability. Over time, unchecked foundation problems can lead to devastating results, including weaker walls and damage to floors and other parts of your home’s structure.
In some cases, a standard home insurance policy covers foundation repair. But your insurance company won’t cover foundation problems in all cases.
Here’s a closer look at homeowners insurance policies and what you can expect for foundation coverage.
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When home insurance covers foundation repair
Standard home insurance policies have dwelling coverage that covers parts of your home, including your foundation. The following are some situations in which home insurance covers foundation repairs.[1][2]
Lightning strike
Most home insurance companies will pay your claim if lightning strikes your house and damages your foundation.
Damage from trees
When a tree falls on your home, it might cause structural damage, including to your foundation. Most insurers will honor a claim in the case of a fallen tree.
Accidental water damage
If an unexpected accident causes foundation damage, like a burst pipe, your insurance will likely cover it. This doesn’t include flooding from outside the home.
Fire
If your home catches fire and it causes major problems with your foundation, your insurer should pay your claim.
Vandalism
When one of the causes of foundation damage is vandalism, you’ll probably be covered. Insurers cover damage from vandalism as part of homeowners insurance.
Wind damage
If the cause of the damage is extreme weather conditions, such as a windstorm or hailstorm, your insurance coverage should take care of the repair costs.
Vehicle damage
If a truck or car runs into your home and causes damage to the foundation, your insurance should cover it.
When home insurance doesn’t cover foundation repair
While your homeowners insurance covers certain types of damage from covered perils, there are exceptions. A standard home insurance policy doesn’t cover floods. You usually need an additional endorsement to cover a flood or get a separate policy available through the National Flood Insurance Program.
Here are some other potential problems that might not be covered. Speak with an insurance agent about how to handle these situations when a home insurance policy isn’t enough.
Tree roots: As a general rule, insurance won’t cover foundation cracks caused by tree roots growing into an otherwise strong foundation. It’s considered maintenance and up to you to keep track of these issues and take care of them.
Earthquakes: Along with floods and hurricanes, earthquakes are natural disasters that often aren’t included in a standard homeowners insurance policy. Without an additional endorsement, your insurance likely won’t cover foundation damage caused by an earthquake.
Excess water: If groundwater gets into your crawl space and damages your foundation, your insurer probably won’t cover it. Your homeowners policy usually only covers sudden and accidental water damage, not flood damage or rising groundwater. You might need foundation repair insurance to cover an event like this.
Soil erosion and poor drainage: If the reason for foundation damage includes these maintenance and repair issues, you likely won’t get help from your insurer. Soil erosion and poor drainage can be issues in older homes, so it’s important to get a foundation inspection and prepare to cover the repairs yourself.
Pests: Rodents and other pests can cause foundation damage that isn’t covered by your homeowners insurance. Whether it’s a mole digging under the foundation and causing it to settle and crack or some other cause, pests aren’t usually covered.
Signs of foundation damage
Pay attention to signs that your home might have foundation damage so you can fix the problem before it becomes more difficult and expensive.
Uneven floors: Uneven floors might indicate cracks or settling in your foundation.
Cracks in walls: Signs of cracks and settling in walls can also indicate foundation damage.
Stairs: Cracks in stairs and concrete patios near your home’s foundation can also be a sign.
Cost to repair a home’s foundation
On average, the cost to repair a foundation runs from a little more than $2,000 to almost $8,000. But many foundation repairs are likely to cost in the $5,000 range. The cost depends on several factors, including the extent of the damage, where you live, the size of your foundation, and the type of foundation you have.
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How to file a home insurance claim for foundation repair
The first step to filing a home insurance claim for foundation repairs is to review your coverage and make sure the damage is due to a covered event.[3]
1. Document the damage
Take pictures of the damage for your records and if your claims adjuster needs more information.
2. Contact your insurer
Talk to your insurance agent or call your company’s claims number. You might also be able to start the claims process on your insurer’s mobile app.
3. Wait for the claims adjuster
The adjuster will evaluate the damage and determine whether it’s covered.
4. Arrange the repairs
Work with your chosen repair company or contractor to schedule the work. Depending on the policies, the bill will be sent to your insurer or you’ll need to retain receipts and submit for reimbursement.
Ways to protect your home’s foundation
Foundation problems can worsen over time, affecting your home’s structural integrity. Also, cracks can let in soil and water, damaging your home’s walls, floors, doors, and other aspects.
Some ways to protect your home’s foundation include:
Add gutters. Gutters and downspouts can protect your foundation by moving water away from your home and keeping it from damaging your foundation.
Keep grass and other plants trimmed. Unruly plants near your home can encourage pests like rodents and termites. These pests can damage your foundation or dig under the soil and cause settling and cracking.
Pay attention to tree roots. Trees can be a major concern, so check root systems and be aware of how roots can encroach on your foundation, affect pipes, and cause water damage.
Home insurance and foundation repair FAQs
The following information can help answer commonly asked questions about home foundations and homeowners insurance.
Why are foundations not covered by insurance?
Most foundation issues result from normal wear and tear and are considered maintenance and general repairs. Most standard homeowners policies don’t cover routine issues that result from time.
Will home insurance cover a foundation crack or settling?
No. Most policies won’t cover a crack or settling. The insurer will probably deny the claim unless the crack results from a sudden and accidental event.
Does home insurance cover foundation movement?
Not typically. Homeowners policies don’t usually cover movement. If you want coverage for earth movements, you typically need to buy separate coverage.
Does homeowners insurance cover structural issues?
If a covered peril such as lightning strikes, fire, hail, wind, theft, vandalism, vehicles, or other accidental events causes damage, it’s usually covered. But issues caused by neglect, regular wear and tear, or certain weather events like floods and earthquakes aren’t usually covered.
Does a home warranty cover cracks in the foundation?
It depends on the situation. In some cases, a home warranty might cover foundation cracks for up to 10 years if the issue stems from workmanship or structural problems. Read the warranty carefully to understand the coverage.
KC Pier. "How Do I File for Basement or Foundation Insurance Claims? Step by Step Guide."
Miranda Marquit Insurance Writer
Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a freelance financial writer covering various markets and topics since 2006. She has contributed to numerous media outlets, including Forbes, TIME, The Hill, NPR, HuffPost, Yahoo! Money, and more. Her work has been syndicated by MSN Money, Marketwatch, Credit.com, and other publications. She has written about insurance topics for Clearsurance, HealthCare.com, and various other websites. She is also an avid podcaster and co-hosts the Money Talks News podcast. Miranda has a Master’s Degree in Journalism from Syracuse University. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Miranda has been a contributor at Insurify since October 2022.
Sara Getman is an Associate Editor at Insurify and has been with the company since 2022. Prior to joining Insurify, Sara completed her undergraduate degree in English Literature at Simmons University in Boston. At Simmons, she was the Editor-in-Chief for Sidelines Magazine (a literary and art publication), and wrote creative non-fiction.
Outside of work, Sara is an avid reader, and loves rock climbing, yoga and crocheting.
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