Trees can damage your home during a storm

Windstorms, fires, ice storms, lightning and even insect damage can cause trees or large branches to fall on your home and cause extensive property damage.

So how can you tell if a tree poses a danger to your property? What can you do if it does? Will your home insurance policy cover you if a branch or tree goes through your bedroom window? Where do you turn for repairs?


The warning signs

Pay attention to the trees on your property and your neighbor's property. Watch out for dead trees, trees with limbs that hang over power lines, trees with trunk cracks or hollows and trees with mushrooms growing on bark, the Institute for Business and Home Safety recommends. The shape of a tree's branches and forks also can be relevant. U-shaped forks are less dangerous than V-shaped forks, because V-shaped forks split easier, according to the home safety institute.


The damage

Trees and branches can damage your house in unusual ways:

• Branches can blow onto your property from a neighbor's yard during a windstorm.
• Tree-related damage can set off secondary damage.  A branch can crash through the roof during a natural disaster, splitting the roof and shattering some windows. Rain then pours in, causing leaking and mold damage, and perhaps even setting off an electrical fire.
• Tree roots can snap water lines and sewer lines, crack sidewalks and driveways, and split communications cables.

Insurance coverage

The good news is that your home insurance usually will cover tree-related damage. If a tree hits an insured structure (like your home), standard home insurance policies cover the damage to the structure and the contents inside, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Even if the tree's roots were in your neighbor's yard, you should file a claim with your home insurance company. In this case, your insurance company may seek to collect from your neighbor's insurer.

However, your insurance may not provide coverage for removing debris, unless the tree or branch blocks your driveway or causes damage, according to the Insurance Information Institute. If the tree simply falls in your yard, causing no damage, you'll probably not be covered for removing it.

Trees themselves may be covered under your insurance plan. If lighting, vandalism or a fire destroys a beautiful old willow in your yard, you may be able to collect money for the loss. However, according to the Insurance Information Institute, home insurance companies usually limit coverage to about $500 for each tree.

Putting in back together

A Professional Restoration Company can help with storm damage to your home. They should have an Emergency Response team to arrive at your home or business to protect the property from the elements.

As a remodeling and reconstruction company, they can inspect your roof, siding, windows and all aspects of your home to insure safety.  They should board-up and tarp-cover any exposed areas to prevent further damage and loss, and begin clean-up and water removal as needed on any of the impacted interior areas.

Debris should be removed and your roof, siding, windows should be inspected, and all aspects of your home to ensure its safety. And if any of those things need to be repaired, the restoration and construction services can put your property back in good-as-new condition.