Winter Damage Costs | Estimating Winter Weather Damage | HouseLogic

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Published: February 23, 2011
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HouseLogic looks back at a season of costly roof cave-ins, frozen pipes, and window-shattering snow blowers to tally up the cost of the damage.

White winters can be lovely, but they sure can cause a lot of expensive property damage. By the end of 2010, the winter months already had racked up $2.6 billion in losses during the year, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

And this winter showed no sign of slowing down the charge. National home insurance carrier State Farm tallied its roof collapse claims across 11 states and arrived at a whopping 16,119 cave-ins for the month of February alone. By our estimate of an average cost of $20,000 to $30,000 per claim for all the intensive repairs, that adds up to $322 million to $483 million in claims. Yikes!

Here’s a look back at some of the costliest and craziest home repairs caused by damaging winter weather.

Unwanted house guest

It’s always bad news when a raging blizzard comes knocking, but most of us manage to keep the snow outdoors where it belongs. Iowa couple Steve and Betty Ehlers weren’t so lucky. Unfortunately, the blizzard they thought they were escaping when they went on vacation decided to let itself into their home and make itself comfy. A family member who came to check on the house found snow piled in the hallway and kitchen—and even inside some closets and cupboards. How’d it get there? Heavy winds had blown open a side door.

Culprit: Blizzard and a blown-open door. When snow floods into a home and no one’s around to clean it up right away, it has nothing to do but melt. Unfortunately for the Ehlers, this type of water damage is usually not covered by insurance.

Repairs needed: Drywall, trim, carpet and flooring, paint and wall finish, and furniture and personal items.

The bill: $5,896

*National average for water damage from flooding, Insurance Information Institute

Next: Wake-up call

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