Canadians make casual purchases all of the time. Online, the mall, the grocery store, you name it. But, we can all agree that buying a home is anything but casual.

Owning a home is an enormous responsibility, and in most cases, it’s the most significant investment you’ll ever make. Not to mention, properties prices are at an all-time high in Canada (the average home price was approximately $720,000 as of November 2021).

So, with that in mind, you can see why you need to do everything that you can to protect your property. Most Canadian homeowners choose to safeguard their properties by purchasing home insurance from a reliable insurance provider or brokerage. Home insurance is an invaluable source of protection from a wide array of unforeseeable events, such as wind damage.

If you’ve recently purchased your first property, you may have some questions about the nuances of your home insurance policy. Some of the most commonly asked questions that we hear include, “what counts as wind-related damage?” and “how long does it take for a wind damage insurance claim to get approved?”.

You can find the answers to these questions (and many more) in the following paragraphs.

What counts as wind-related damage?

First things first — let’s briefly go over the definition of wind-related damage (through the eyes of an insurance broker).

Wind-related damage is defined as an unavoidable loss caused by high force winds, debris or foreign objects, such as tree branches.

Homeowners should also be aware that if wind causes a foreign object to create a hole or opening in your home, any further harm to your property or belongings can be classified as wind-related damage.

Does homeowners insurance cover wind damage in Canada?

In most cases, yes, many home insurance policies can and do cover wind-related damage. However, the type of policy that you have can influence whether you’ll receive coverage or not.

Named perils home insurance

As the name implies, named perils home insurance is a type of coverage that protects homeowners from specific risks and perils (an insurance term for unforeseeable events).

As a homeowner in Canada, you have the power to choose which risks and perils you want to include in the policy.

If you choose to add wind coverage to your name perils insurance policy, your home and its contents will be protected. In contrast, if you decide not to add wind coverage to your named perils insurance policy, you won’t receive financial coverage for any future wind-related losses.

All-risk home insurance

On the other hand, all-risk home insurance is a type of coverage that protects homeowners from an array of risks and perils.

Most all-risk home insurance policies cover the following risks and perils:

• Wind damage
• Snow, ice and hail damage
• Interior water damage
• Lightning damage
• Fire and smoke damage
• Damage related to theft and/or vandalism

So, if you have all-risk homeowners insurance wind damage should be the least of your worries!

Want to save on home insurance in Canada?

The only downside to all-risk home insurance is that it can be pretty expensive. Thankfully, you don’t need to spend a small fortune to protect your property — our team at Surex is here to help you save. Our insurance brokers can help you save up to 25% on home insurance in Canada!

You’re likely wondering how we can offer such affordable quotes, and the answer is simple — we work side-by-side with Canada’s best home insurance carriers, allowing us to find you the best options at the lowest price.

Don’t believe us? Call or visit us online to receive ten quotes in ten minutes or less.

Wind damage roof expenses — are they covered by home insurance?

If you need to make a roof damage insurance claim wind is most likely the culprit. Thankfully, in most cases, your home insurance does cover roof-related damage.

However, the amount of coverage you’ll receive will depend on the quality of your roof (before the wind damaged it).

For instance, if you have an old roof with pre-existing issues (missing shingles, rotten wood, etc.), you won’t receive as much coverage as a homeowner with a brand new roof.

Additionally, if you have any structures on your property (sheds, workshops, etc.) and want to protect their roofs, you’ll most likely need to purchase separate coverage.

How long does a wind damage insurance claim take to get approved?

Unfortunately, there’s so set-in-stone answer to this question, as the time frame varies from claim to claim.

This is because no two cases are precisely alike — each case has its own set of factors and variables. Some wind-related home insurance claims are cut-and-dry, while others require more time and expertise to assess.

For instance, if your claim involves several people and severe property damage, it will likely take more time to finalize than a minor claim that only affects one person.

We can say that some wind-related home insurance claims are settled in as little as 48 hours; however, more complex cases can take over 12 months to finalize.

If you’d like to streamline the claim-making process, be sure to provide your home insurance advisor or carrier with a detailed description of the event that clearly states all of the relevant details.

How long do homeowners have to submit a wind-related claim in Canada?

The answer to this question depends on your home insurance provider. Some home insurance providers give policyholders up to 12 months (from the date of the event) to submit a wind-related claim, while others only give 90 days (from the date of the event) to take action.

Contact your insurance provider or advisor to confirm how long you have to submit a claim.

Do you still have questions about wind damage insurance claims?

Submitting an insurance claim can be quite a tricky task, especially if it’s your first time. That’s why we do everything that we can to make the process easier and less stressful. If you have any unanswered questions about submitting a wind-related home insurance claim, you can take comfort knowing that an experienced advisor is just a call or click away.