Does Home Insurance Cover Rotted Wood?

Your house is probably the biggest investment you will make. It represents a large financial venture. This isn’t something to simply hope and pray never has an issue. Only with home insurance through a top homeowners insurance company can you rest easy knowing your house is covered.

Yet, knowing what insurance policies will cover and what you’re paying for does add a layer of complexity. One situation we’re asked about quite often is wood rot. Does home insurance cover rotted wood? Is this a covered peril? Let’s look a little deeper into the subject.

Table of Contents

• Main Causes of Rot in Wood
• Does Home Insurance Cover Rotted Wood?
• Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Mold or Dry Rot?
• When Doesn’t Home Insurance Cover Rotten Wood

Main Causes of Rot in Wood

Bob Villa tells us that wood rot is a form of decay. It is triggered by the combination of moisture and fungi (microscopic organisms). In order for fungi to take hold, the wood must be continuously damp. Fungi will not grow on dry wood.

This means the main causes of wood rot are anything that gets the wood wet. Wood rot is often hidden from your immediate eyesight, beneath flooring, wallboard, and siding. Other common places to find wood rot include around windows, exterior doors, decks, basements, and damaged roofing. As well, you are more likely to find it in an area that has a washing machine or hot water heater.

Does Home Insurance Cover Rotted Wood?

The answer to this question depends on how the wood got wet in the first place. Homeowners insurance provides coverage against sudden and accidental water damage. Because your policy will cover water damage, if a burst pipe causes wood rot to your floor or ceiling, your homeowners insurance will probably cover the cost of repairs. You could also have insurance cover wood rot if your water heater ruptures and the water damage results in wood rot beneath your floors.

Flooding is generally covered by flood insurance and not a regular homeowners insurance policy. Wood rot will be covered by insurance if it was caused by a flood and you have flood insurance.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Mold or Dry Rot?

Homeowners insurance typically doesn’t cover mold or fungal growth. If an increase in humidity slowly causes mold and then wood rot, it wouldn’t be covered. As well, if your window seals aren’t maintained properly and rain gets in, this wouldn’t be covered either. If a wooden window frame eventually molds and rots because of a gradual leak, you would not be covered.

When Doesn’t Home Insurance Cover Rotten Wood

Wood rot is not covered by home insurance if it was not caused by a covered in peril in your policy. Any type of disaster that happened around your home as the result of you not doing routine maintenance will not be covered. If the wood rots over time because your home is older or due to a lack of upkeep on your part, insurance coverage won’t step in to help pay for repairs.

If you have any additional questions about whether or not you can make an insurance claim for your wood rot or how to file a claim with Pronto Insurance, reach out and ask us!