Does homeowners insurance pay for wind damage?
Short answer. Yes, standard homeowners policies pay for wind damage to the house and other structures, including roofs, siding, soffits, gutters, fences, sheds and windows, plus interior damage when wind opens the house to rain. Payment is subject to your deductible, which may be a separate wind and hail deductible, and wear that wind merely revealed is excluded.
The wind damage checklist beyond shingles
- Siding: vinyl panels unlocked or blown off, cracked corners, bent trim.
- Soffit and fascia: panels pulled loose, bent aluminum wrap.
- Gutters and downspouts: runs pulled away or twisted.
- Windows and doors: glass broken by debris, damaged screens, storm doors torn.
- Fences, sheds and detached garages: under other structures coverage.
- Screened porches and pergolas: torn screens, damaged framing.
- Interior: rain damage when wind first opened the roof or a wall.
One storm, one deductible
Everything a single windstorm damaged belongs in one claim, and the deductible comes off once. Many homeowners file for the roof and forget the soffit or fence, then discover the damage weeks later. Walk the whole property after a storm and photograph each side of the house.
What insurers will not pay for
- Siding that was already loose or poorly nailed.
- Fascia that was rotted before the storm.
- Fence posts rotted at the base.
- Gutters pulled down by clogs and ice rather than wind.
How the payout works
The adjuster writes an estimate by item. You receive actual cash value minus the deductible, and on a replacement cost policy the withheld depreciation after repairs. If more damage turns up during repairs, it can be added through a supplement.
More: wind damage roof claims and wind and hail deductibles. Robust Roofing explains the soffit and fascia damage people miss.