Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Stucco Damage?

It depends. If the stucco becomes damaged in a weather-related incident, it’s possible the insurance company will cover it. Your insurance company might not cover home damage if the stucco was already defective. This is why it’s crucial you reach out to one of our defective construction lawyers to get the compensation you deserve.

Homeowner’s insurance doesn’t always cover damage covered by stucco defects. Insurance won’t always cover stucco damage because they might put the liability with the contractor that improperly installed it, who will then ask insurance to cover their work. When this happens, you end up in a complicated back-and-forth while your home has damage that needs to be repaired. What are you to do? Let’s review just that.

If your home has been damaged because of stucco damage from improper installation, we can help you get the compensation you need to repair your home. Contact our construction defect lawyers today to get started.

Defective Stucco Claims

Before getting a policy to cover stucco, it’s essential to know the problems of installing the feature in a home. The most common problem of stucco that makes it vulnerable to damage is a small crack brought about by poor installation, turning into a more significant structural issue for the whole house.

Another common stucco problem arises when unlicensed labor is used for installation. Although such a process is done cheaply at first and saves a few hundred dollars, the consequences are dire as with a poor installation process, the material used and repair and reinstalling can cost tens of thousands. With water damage, the most precise form of stucco damage, taking the initiative to make sure no such damage occurs that can be prevented can help get the insurance carrier to pay quickly after placing a claim. Florida has laws to protect the homeowner from defective construction, reach out to one of our lawyers today.

How to Spot Stucco Damage

Some water damage can be subtle, and watching out for it beforehand can be more challenging. For example, the stucco insulation is at risk of water damage when:

• There is visible damage, such as cracks or blisters on parts of the walls.
• An apparent increase in pests
• Visible water leaks near roofs, windows, and doors.
• Mold growth

The repair work for the damage to stucco can cost thousands of dollars. The amount arises as the removal process needs to be done to remove all the damaged stucco. The purchase of the new stucco material also costs a considerable amount. Add that to the labor costs, and the costs are even higher. To navigate the costs, most homeowners have resorted to purchasing the stucco materials personally before embarking on a cheap installation process again.

What to Do if You See Stucco Damage

When you first notice stucco cracking or leaking, there are a few steps to take. Let’s go over how to insure the damages are covered.

Document Everything

If you notice cracks or leaks in your house, start taking pictures. If there’s already damage to the home, take pictures of that damage and the area around the damage. You want to prove that the damage if from a stucco defect. Make sure to get exterior and interior photos.

Call Your Stucco Installer

Before you do anything, call the person that installed the stucco and have it inspected. Many of the installers will repair stucco defects right away. If you do this step, take copies of all the paperwork, what the contractor fixed, and how they fixed it.

Contact a Stucco Defect Lawyer

If you cannot resolve the problems with the contractor or your insurance, it’s time to call one of our construction defect lawyers. We work with clients that have had issues with their stucco all the time and know exactly what to do to get you the compensation you need so you can protect your home. Reach out today if you have stucco defect issues that need to be resolved.