Is My Storage Shed Covered Under my Homeowners Insurance?

If you have a shed in your backyard, you might have looked into additional homeowners insurance coverage for it.

Not so fast…you might already be covered.

Does homeowners insurance cover a shed?

In most cases, yes, homeowners insurance will cover damage to a shed. Since they are classified as “other structures” (often called Coverage B) by your policy, they are often protected up to 10% of your total policy coverage.

This outbuildings and structures includes coverage for: fences, garages, guest houses, gazebos, in-ground swimming pools, sheds, and more.

Does homeowners insurance cover shed contents?

Homeowners insurance coverage for your shed is one thing; coverage for the contents inside is another. From at-home gym equipment to lawn maintenance equipment, there are potentially thousands of dollars in your shed.

Luckily, in most cases, personal policy coverage will go towards repairing or replacing any personal items damaged in the incident.

What does homeowners insurance protect a shed from?

As you may know, not all property damage and incidents are created equal. That means that not every accident or natural disaster-caused damage is going to be covered by your policy.

So what is typically covered by homeowners insurance?

• Accidents (like someone’s car crashing into the shed)
• Falling objects (such as trees)
• Fire
• Theft
• Water leaks
• Weather events (hail, snow and ice, strong winds, etc.)
• Vandalism

Other structures are covered for the same perils as your home, so always review your policy thoroughly to find out what’s covered and what isn’t.

What doesn’t homeowners insurance protect a shed from?

Like we said, unfortunately your homeowners insurance won’t protect your shed in every situation. Here are some exceptions in most policies:

• Flood: commonly misperceived as covered under basic policies, flood coverage is actually an add-on
• Mold: since mold can be prevented in most cases, mold damage is often limited or completely excluded in many policies
• Sewage backup: standard policies often don’t cover these messy disasters
• Sinkholes: earth movements like earthquakes or sinkholes are often not covered

For most of the examples of damage above, additional policy coverage may be able give you the added protection to cover these situations.

How to prepare for a potential shed insurance claim

No one wants to have to submit a homeowners insurance claim, so here are a few ways to protect your shed:

• As you make changes, additions, and improvements to your property, consider adjusting your coverage limits.
• Get your home appraised every so often to make sure your insurance policy has an accurate property value.
• Start with a solid foundation to support strong walls and roof. The better your shed is built, the less chance of needing to submit a claim later.

There’s no doubt a storage shed is an excellent addition to your property and now you know that your homeowners insurance keeps it protected too.

For the perfect storage shed addition to your Maine backyard, don’t forget to check out our great selection!