This comes up on nearly every inspection, and the honest answer is that it depends on your policy and what caused the damage. We are foundation contractors, not insurance advisers, so treat the following as background for a conversation with your agent rather than a determination about your coverage.
The general principle
Homeowners policies typically respond to sudden, accidental events rather than gradual deterioration or maintenance issues. That distinction is usually what decides these claims. Damage traced to a covered peril may be considered. Damage that developed slowly over years often falls outside coverage.
Causes more likely to be considered
- A plumbing line failing beneath the slab and washing out supporting soil
- Damage from an explosion, vehicle impact or fallen tree
- Certain water-related events depending on how the policy is written
Causes commonly excluded
- Gradual settling over time
- Soil movement from natural expansion and contraction, which is the usual cause in Central Missouri clay
- Poor drainage or deferred maintenance
- Original construction defects
- Flooding, which generally requires separate flood insurance
Why Missouri clay complicates it
The most common cause of foundation damage here is precisely the one most policies exclude: clay swelling and shrinking with moisture. It is natural, it is gradual, and it is usually considered a maintenance matter. That is worth knowing before you count on a claim.
What to do if you think you may have a claim
- Document early. Photograph cracks with a ruler or coin for scale, and date them.
- Read your actual policy. Look specifically for earth movement, settling and water damage language.
- Call your agent before assuming either way. Ask directly which perils apply to foundation damage.
- Get a written professional assessment identifying the cause, since cause is what determines coverage.
- Do not delay repairs on the assumption of reimbursement. Ongoing damage from a known problem is frequently excluded.
Where we fit
We can give you a written inspection describing what we observe and what we believe caused it. That documentation is often what an adjuster needs. What we cannot do is tell you whether your policy will pay, and you should be skeptical of any contractor who promises it will.
Free written inspections across Warrensburg and Johnson County.
Not sure what you are looking at? We do free inspections across Warrensburg and the surrounding Johnson County area, and we will tell you honestly if you do not need work done. Call (816) 718-3385 or request an estimate.