Having a homeowner’s insurance policy in place comes in handy if any significant damage happens to your home. That being said, understanding what kind of damage is covered can often be confusing. You can seek compensation for severe hazards such as fire, windstorms, and smoke damage, you can even recover after theft or vandalism, but what about water-related problems such as stucco damage?
This is something we’re going to discuss in this article, however, before we can answer does homeowners insurance cover stucco damage, we need to talk about what is stucco and what is the most common cause of damage associated with it.
What Is Stucco?
One of the most common types of decorative coatings for house exteriors is called stucco. It’s a combination of limestone, cement, and silica, which is mixed together and applied as a thin decorative layer. Stucco also provides solid insulation against hot and cold weather. The advantages of choosing this type of decorative coating are esthetics and affordability. That being said, stucco is prone to soaking up moisture due to being very susceptible to water-related damage. This is one of the main issues homeowners have with stucco, especially because there are several factors that dictate whether or not homeowner’s insurance covers stucco water damage.
Signs of Stucco Damage
Damage done by water can be easily noticed on stucco wall coverage. Following are the most common signs of stucco damage:
- Streaks of water forming around doors, windows, and roofs.
- Visible stains, bubbles, blisters, and cracks.
- Mold and mildew growth is a tell-tale sign that your walls are soaking up too much moisture and are therefore endangering your personal health.
- Pest and insect infestations are a common occurrence if your porous walls are starting to form cracks.
Repairing the exterior and interior of your home can be quite expensive. In order to cut costs, you could opt for the home depot stucco repair DIY project; however, most of the problems with stucco arise either from age or from poor installation in the first place. Which brings us to the main topic of discussion – what affects stucco coverage?
Factors That Affect Whether or Not Homeowner’s Insurance Covers Stucco Water Damage Repair
In order to know if your insurance company would be willing to cover the repair bills for your home, you need to look at the main cause of the damage. Mainly whether or not the stucco siding was applied properly in the first place. One of the most common types of Stucco coverings is called EIFS. However, only licensed professionals can install it.
If you can prove that the licensed and certified contractors installed the exterior insulation and finish system properly, there’s a realistic chance you will be eligible to receive compensation. However, if there’s evidence of water damage due to the EIFS installation job being done subpar and by uncertified contractors that weren’t trained in stucco application, you will most likely be denied compensation.
So, What Should You Do If You Are Denied?
Insurance companies are a business, and they will always fight claims or at least try minimizing payouts. Luckily, you can always appeal if you are denied, and with the right legal help, you could end up getting compensated in the end. The Whisler Law Firm is a successful property insurance law firm in Florida that focuses on helping you recover your losses, and ensuring insurance companies come through with a fair settlement offer. With us by your side, you can count on having someone in your corner to fight your stucco insurance claim and help you receive the compensation you are entitled to.
