are retaining walls covered by insurance

The Ins and Outs of Insurance Coverage for Retaining Walls

As a homeowner, retaining walls are vital structures that help prevent soil erosion and landslides But what happens if your retaining wall gets damaged? Are repairs covered by homeowners insurance?

Unfortunately, the answer is complicated. Whether or not retaining wall damage is covered depends on your specific policy language, the cause of damage, and other factors.

In this article, we’ll break down exactly how retaining wall coverage works under a homeowners insurance policy We’ll look at

• What key parts of a homeowners policy cover retaining walls
• Major causes of retaining wall damage and if they are insured perils
• Special add-on endorsements for expanded retaining wall protection
• Steps to take to get retaining wall damage covered

Follow along for everything you need to know about insuring these important residential structures against damage.

Homeowners Policy Sections Providing Retaining Wall Coverage

While retaining walls themselves are not listed as covered structures in the standard homeowners policy, certain parts of the policy provide protection:

• Dwelling Coverage (Coverage A) – Insures the main residence and “attached structures.” Freestanding retaining walls don’t fall under this.

• Other Structures Coverage (Coverage B) – Provides limited coverage for detached structures like freestanding retaining walls. Usually pays 10% of dwelling coverage limit.

• Land Stability Endorsements – Add-ons like earth movement coverage fill gaps in standard coverage for retaining wall damage from soil issues.

So while the base homeowners policy provides limited protection, endorsements can expand that coverage.

Covered Causes of Retaining Wall Damage

Homeowners insurance covers sudden damage from most common insured perils. Some retaining wall damage scenarios that would likely be covered include:

• A vehicle accidentally crashes into and destroys part of the retaining wall. The impact damage would typically be covered.

• A retaining wall collapses after a severe storm with heavy rain and winds. The collapse would be covered under wind/rain damage.

• A fire from a nearby grill spreads and burns a wooden retaining wall. The fire damage would be covered.

• Vandals spray paint graffiti on the retaining wall. The vandalism would be a covered loss.

• A retaining wall is struck by lightning during a thunderstorm and cracks. Lightning damage would be insured.

As long as the damage directly results from a covered peril, the retaining wall repairs would be reimbursed up to the coverage limit.

Uncovered Causes of Retaining Wall Damage

However, some common retaining wall damage scenarios are excluded in a standard homeowners policy:

• A retaining wall slowly begins leaning after years of soil erosion. Gradual soil erosion is not a covered peril.

• An improperly constructed retaining wall collapses from the weight of soaked soil after heavy rains. Faulty construction is an exclusion.

• The soil behind a retaining wall shifts, causing the wall to crack and destabilize. Earth movement is generally excluded.

• A retaining wall is damaged by a mudslide flowing down a slope during heavy rains. Mudslides are not covered.

Since these causes of damage stem from excluded perils, the retaining wall repairs would not be reimbursed without special endorsements.

Add-On Endorsements for Expanded Coverage

To fully protect retaining walls from soil-related damage, homeowners need to add special endorsements:

• Earth Movement Coverage – Provides protection if the soil shifts, sinks, rises, or expands, damaging the retaining wall.

• Mine Subsidence Coverage – Covers damage from soil sinking over old mineshafts. Needed in regions with mining activity.

• Land Stabilization Coverage – Insures stabilizing land around the home if the soil strength is compromised.

Though not included in standard policies, these add-ons provide critical protection for retaining walls vulnerable to soil issues. They come with additional premiums but are worth considering for at-risk homes.

Steps to Take for Coverage

If your retaining wall is damaged, here are some tips for getting the repairs covered:

• Review your policy – Understand exactly what perils are covered and any coverage sub-limits or exclusions.

• Document damage – Take extensive photos documenting the damage and get repair quotes from contractors.

• Determine cause – Find the trigger that directly caused the damage, such as heavy rainfall, vehicle impact, etc.

• File a claim – Report the damage to your insurance company and provide documentation supporting your claim.

• Consider endorsements – If needed, amend your policy with endorsements to cover damage from soil issues.

With the right homeowners policy provisions, retaining wall repairs should be covered. But damage from excluded causes may require special endorsements for protection. Talk to your agent to ensure your home’s retaining walls have adequate coverage.