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Does home insurance cover damage to flooring?

Last week, I came home from work to discover my hot water heater had leaked all over the mud room. My laminate flooring is warped and needs to be replaced. Will my homeowners insurance cover the cost of replacing my floor?

avatar
Bellina Gaskey · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Coming home to water damage is sure a nasty surprise! The good news is that your home insurance will likely cover the costs to repair your floor.
If the damage was caused by a named peril in your policy, you’ll be covered. Standard perils typically include fire, vandalism, and burst pipes (among others). If your water tank suddenly sprang a leak, you should be able to file a claim successfully.
Now, let’s look at damage to flooring that is typically not covered by a home insurance policy:
  • Damage done by flooding or storm surges. To protect against flooding, you’ll need flood insurance.
  • Damage caused by your pet. If your dog rips up your carpeting, your homeowners policy won’t cover it.
  • Damage that results from your own negligence. If your water heater developed a slow leak several months ago and you failed to address it, the damage may be declared “avoidable” and you’ll have to foot the bill yourself.
Best of luck with the installation of your new flooring!
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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