What is wind coverage in home insurance, and what does it include?
Short answer. Wind coverage is the windstorm peril in a homeowners policy: it pays for sudden physical damage wind causes to your house, other structures and belongings, and for extra living costs if the home becomes unlivable. Most Georgia policies include it automatically, usually with its own wind and hail deductible, while some coastal policies exclude it and leave it to a separate wind policy.
How wind fits into the policy
On the common HO-3 form, the dwelling is covered on an open perils basis, meaning everything is covered unless excluded, and windstorm is not excluded. Personal property is covered for named perils, and windstorm or hail is one of them. Rain, snow or sand that gets inside is covered for belongings only if wind or hail first made an opening in the roof or a wall.
What wind coverage pays for
- Dwelling: roof covering, flashing, siding, soffit, gutters, windows and doors, framing.
- Other structures: fences, sheds, detached garages, carports.
- Personal property: belongings damaged by wind or by rain through a wind-created opening.
- Loss of use: hotel and meal costs above your normal spending if repairs force you out.
- Fallen trees: damage to covered structures plus limited removal costs.
Common limits
- A separate wind and hail deductible, often a percentage.
- A roof payment schedule or actual cash value settlement for older roofs.
- Exclusions for wear, deterioration and faulty workmanship.
- No coverage for flood or storm surge, even when wind drives it.
Read wind damage roof claims for the evidence adjusters want, and roof payment schedules for the age issue.