One issue that will trouble your sweet home can be wood rot. Ideally, fungus leads to this situation. Fungi invade moist wood in your home and cause it to decay. And it can turn into a very serious issue if left untreated. Only having a robust home insurance policy may save you. But does homeowners insurance cover rotting wood?
Mostly no! Most homes are frame houses. Frame houses are made from wood, and wet or dry wood rot can cause serious cosmetic and structural issues if left untreated. So, you must take good care to prevent wood rot in your home. So when does homeowners insurance cover rotting wood? Our article explains everything related to your home and wood rot!
What are the signs of wood rot?
You can locate rotten wood in many ways, including cracks, discoloration, shrinkage, and splintering. As it worsens, the cellulose in the wood gets broken down. As the cellulose gets consumed, the wood becomes soft and dark in color, and the size shrinks.
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How serious is wood rot?
It can cause substantial damage if you don’t take care of the issue promptly. The wood rot can spread like an infection throughout your home, weakening its structure as it advances past finishes and into the sheathing. Since most homes and condos are made of wood, this is always possible.
Does homeowners insurance cover rotting wood?
A home insurance policy doesn’t cover rotting wood unless caused by a covered peril in your policy.
Be mindful that mold and fungal growth, which leads to wood rot, don’t get covered by homeowners insurance. So you wouldn’t get coverage if your wooden window frame molds and rots due to a slow leak.
But suppose your water heater bursts, and the leak causes wood to rot under your floors or anywhere. Then your home insurance policy may cover the loss.
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When does home insurance cover rotting wood?
As we said, there are some circumstances where a home insurance policy cover rotting wood. If wood rot happens due to the following situations, your home insurance policy may cover the damage.
- A burst water pipe
- Leakage in the water heater
- Water damage due to vandalism
- Water damage due to a covered peril in your insurance policy
Since wood rot takes time to inflict damage, you can file a claim if an undetected leak caused by a covered peril leads to wood rot. Be aware that most home insurance policies do not cover flooding or storm surge damage.
When doesn’t home insurance cover rotting wood?
There won’t be coverage for wood rot as home insurance policies do not cover avoidable damage. Your policy never covers the damage due to these.
- Maintenance issue
- Usual wear and tear
- Damage that happens gradually
A home insurance policy covers mold or fungus growth only under certain conditions. There won’t be coverage if a leaking pipe or increased humidity slowly causes wood rot. Similarly, you won’t get coverage if there is no proper maintenance for your window seals and rain gets in and rots your floors.
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Does home insurance cover dry rot?
No. Humidity and poor ventilation lead to dry rot, which home insurance companies consider an avoidable risk. Homeowners insurance does not cover maintenance issues. Since dry rot is wood decay, there won’t be coverage likely.
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Is wet rot covered by home insurance?
Like dry rot, home insurance policies don’t cover wet rot and the damages caused by it.
Can a house collapse from dry rot?
If not treated properly, dry rot can damage your house considerably. If left untreated, dry rot can lead to severe structural timber damage, resulting in ceilings, floors, and roof structures collapsing.
How long does it take water to rot wood?
The answer depends on the type of rot that is troubling your home. Since the time needed depends upon the nature of the problems, it can range from 7-10 days to one month or more.
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