Blackstone Exteriors

Windows may get broken during their lifetime, but having homeowners insurance saves you most of the trouble since your provider is obligated to process even minor claims. But you need to keep in mind that the cost for your insurance provider to process any type of claim, whether it’s a window or damage by fire, is mostly the same. This means rate increases, but yours won’t increase immediately so long as your minor claims aren’t frequent.

When you have a broken window, your insurance provider should be able to pay for the damages. Here are some of the steps that are usually involved in this process:

Normal Wear and Tear

Homeowners insurance usually doesn’t include coverage for standard wear and tear; the responsibility of window maintenance falls on the homeowner itself. This can also affect the way your insurer views your claim.

You’ll definitely be covered if, let’s say, your window breaks during a storm because a branch blew into it. But if it breaks because water seeped in through neglected seals or if the pane was cracked because the leaked water expanded as it froze, your insurer will cite wear and tear as the cause of the broken window and not the weather. This means you’ll have to cover the repair costs yourself.

The Cause of Damage

A typical insurance policy has two types of coverage: named-peril and open-peril. How your window got broken can actually affect how you’re able to make a claim since your insurance policy will only provide coverage in certain situations. Before hiring a professional window contractor, call your insurance provider to determine if your broken windows are covered.

A named-peril policy covers losses by perils that are included in the policy. This can mean your broken window won’t be covered when the cause isn’t included in the list of named perils. On the other hand, an open-peril policy covers damage caused by many different types of risks to your windows. Unless it specifically excludes the cause of damage, you’re more likely to be covered if you have this type of policy.

As one of the best window and siding contractors in the area, Blackstone Exteriors is the only name you can trust! Call us today at (515) 720-2158. You can also fill out our online contact form to get started.