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Garage doors are an essential part of any residential building. To continue to enjoy the advantages that a garage door presents, you must be willing to maintain the garage door.
Having a garage door installed by a garage door company will boost the security of your home, improve its appeal and appearance, and boost your property’s value. With proper maintenance culture, you can expect your garage door to last between 10 to 15 years, depending on use, materials, and other factors.
In some cases, your garage door may not make it to the 10 to 15-year mark due to damages. These damages may be caused by various factors, including weather elements, external factors, and the usual wear and tear.
If you have a damaged garage door, you may wonder whether your home insurance covers the repair or replacement of your garage door. Read on to find out more information.
Situations When Homeowners’ Insurance Covers Garage Door Repair or Replacements
Vehicular Damage
Accidents happen at unexpected times. There have been instances when homeowners have run into their garage doors, causing significant damage to the installation.
Whether the accident occurred during the winter season (when it is significantly harder to park) or for some other reason, your homeowners’ insurance should cover the cost. However, to be sure about this, you should consult with your insurance policy.
In the instance where a visitor runs or rams into your garage door, you should note that your insurance policy may not cover the damages. The perpetrator is not a member of your family, so their auto insurance may be required to cover the damages caused.
Does Auto Insurance Cover the Hitting of a Garage Door?
If you or someone has hit your garage door, there is a chance that your car insurance may cover the damages. However, the amount allocated for the repair or replacement may be based on the kind of auto insurance coverage selected by the perpetrator. A person with comprehensive auto insurance coverage will have a high chance of getting compensation for this type of accident.
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Natural Disasters
Aside from running into your garage door with your vehicle, garage doors may also be damaged by a natural disaster. Whether your garage door has become damaged due to hail or heavy wind-blown debris, or other common acts of God, you can trust your homeowners’ insurance for coverage.
You should, however, consult with the details of your insurance policy to confirm whether natural disasters are covered by the policy.
For example, suppose your insurance policy covers damages caused by flooding or heavy winds and your garage door was destroyed in an earthquake. In that case, you may be stuck with the financial burden of a repair or replacement.
Vandalism or Break-In
Most homeowners’ insurance offers coverage for damages caused by vandalism, burglary, and other malicious activities that may affect the building.
If your insurance coverage provides a comprehensive cover for these malicious activities, you can expect help with the repair or replacement costs. However, you need to check your insurance policy and also call your insurance provider for answers.
How to Make a Claim For your Damaged Garage Door?
If your garage door has been damaged due to any reason at all, the first line of action is to check your homeowners’ or auto insurance policy to see what is covered. After establishing coverage, you can then identify the cause of the damage.
The cause of the damage may range from natural disasters, negligence, or others. You should also establish who is at fault. Some insurance companies will only honor your request if they are sure that the damage was caused by a member of your family.
If the damage was a result of a third party’s negligence, their insurance company would handle the repair or replacement.
You can then proceed to file a claim. Some garage door companies offer help with insurance claims irrespective of the cause of the garage door damage.
How to Keep Your Garage Door Safe
Garage doors can be expensive, and that is why you should invest in keeping them safe and functional. Below are some suggestions on how to keep your garage door secure.
- Install an alarm system
- Install a CCTV camera or perimeter lighting
- Identify the possible causes of damages to your home and garage door when taking out an insurance policy.
- Ensure that your garage door is properly locked when not in use
- Pay attention to the maintenance needs of your garage door.
