Is chimney repair covered by home insurance?
Short answer. Chimney repair is covered when a sudden covered event caused the damage, such as lightning, a fallen tree, wind or a chimney fire, and the policy pays to restore it to its prior condition minus the deductible. Repairs for crumbling mortar, a cracked crown, rusted flashing or a chimney leaning from settling are maintenance or excluded ground movement.
What a covered chimney repair can include
- Masonry: rebuilding the chimney above the roofline after lightning or a limb strike, with brick matched as closely as possible.
- Flue liner: after a chimney fire, a damaged clay or metal liner may need relining. A thorough inspection, often with a camera, is standard after a chimney fire.
- Cap and chase cover: replaced if wind tore them off or hail dented them.
- Flashing and counterflashing: rebuilt where the chimney meets the roof.
- Interior repairs: smoke and water damage from the covered event.
Code items during the repair
The International Residential Code calls for a cricket, a small peaked saddle, on the uphill side of chimneys wider than 30 inches to divert water. If your chimney never had one and the repair triggers it, the cost may fall under ordinance or law coverage, if your policy includes it. See code upgrade coverage.
Repairs that are on you
- Repointing eroded mortar joints.
- Replacing a crown cracked by years of weather.
- Waterproofing brick that soaks up water.
- Stabilizing a chimney pulling away from the house due to foundation movement.
Who does what
A mason or chimney professional handles brick, crown and liner. A roofer handles flashing, cricket and the shingles around the chimney. On a storm claim, both scopes should be on the estimate. See how roof estimates are written.