When getting home insurance, always check the coverage before signing on the dotted line. Make sure that everything is covered — including your garage door.
A1 Garage Door Service is oftentimes called upon by home insurance companies to repair damaged garage doors because of our reputation as the top garage door repair in the industry. Aside from this, we have earned the trust of most home insurance companies and their clients when it comes to the kind of service that we provide. As such, we are most likely the company that your insurance calls to repair your damaged garage door. If not and you want to be serviced by no other company but the best, just request them to contact us.
Jump to:
1. Can upgrading your garage door reduce your homeowners insurance policy costs?
2. How to determine if your garage door is covered in your insurance
3. How to file a claim
4. What to consider
Can upgrading your garage door reduce your homeowners insurance policy costs?
You may wonder if getting a new garage door will help improve the cost of your homeowners insurance policy. Upgrading your garage door is a great investment not only for the value of your home but for reducing the liability on your homeowners insurance. Installing a storm-ready or impact-resistant garage door can help to cut the costs of your homeowner’s insurance policy (sometimes by 10%).
Here are recommended garage door materials for reducing accident or weather-related insurance claims:
- The most durable type of garage door you can install is a steel garage door. If you live in a hurricane or high-wind area, upgrading to a steel door would be the best for reducing garage door damage caused by weather.
- A heavy-duty insulated garage door can reduce repairs and keep the home warmer or cooler in regions with extreme cold or heat.
- Vinyl and glass garage doors can help prevent rusting, fading, denting, or cracking in regions with heavy flooding or rainfall.
- Aluminum garage doors are suitable for coastal areas since they are resistant to oxidation or rust.
- A fiberglass garage door is a good option if you want the look of a wooden garage door without the maintenance. It is also resistant to termites and denting.
How to determine if your garage door is covered in your insurance
Before filing a claim, the first thing to check is your insurance policy. In most home insurance policies, garage doors are part and parcel of the coverage.
Brent Thurman, owner of Keystone Insurance who offers home insurance in Utah, says the following:
Since garage doors and openers are affixed to the structure, they’re considered part of the “dwelling” from a coverage standpoint on your homeowners Insurance which includes loss due to physical breakage. This is different than mechanical failure or wear and tear…think of it more like one of your kids who backs into your garage door. It’s also covered for the usual suspects…wind, fire, hail, vandalism, etc.
You just need to check what exactly is the coverage. Typically, your insurance will cover any damage that you or your family member have made to the garage door. If a third party is responsible, such as when your neighbor accidentally hit your garage, then that person’s auto insurance policy will cover the cost for repair or replacement.
In cases of theft and damage, fire, or vandalism, your homeowner insurance should be able to cover it.
Note however that intentional damage to your garage door is oftentimes not covered, including certain natural disasters. Also, if you have a garage door that is detached from your house, it pays to check whether or not it is covered.
How to file a claim
Depending on the kind of insurance that you have, filing for a claim may either be easy or quite complicated.
Definitely you will be required to submit documentation in relation to your claim. The required documentation may vary depending on the scenario.
If your claim is related to a crime, say vandalism or arson, you will typically be required to file a police report. This may also be the case if your claim is related to a vehicle accidentally crashing on your garage door. In other cases, your insurance company may require receipts for repairs made or may send an adjuster to determine the cost of repair.
Some considerations
If your door has been damaged in relation to theft, it might be worth it to determine how to strengthen the security of your garage door. A1 Garage Door Service has a wide range of garage door openers, keyless entries, and remotes to ensure that your garage door is well protected.
If the damage is because of fire, it may be worth it to look into fire retardant materials. Also, if your previous garage door is prone to dents, you may also want to look into other alternatives.
The important thing to note is that A1 Garage Door Service has an array of parts and materials that you may want to consider for your garage door. What’s more, we also provide professional advice for FREE. Just call us at (844) 388-3587.
Customer Review About Garage Door Repair After Submitting an Insurance Claim
“Very friendly staff from start to finish. Janine was very helpful in setting my claim and Tiger had my garage fixed in less than 30 minutes. Would definitely recommend!”
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