Does home insurance cover wind damage?

In Canada, the changing seasons often bring strong winds. And with strong winds come potential headaches—fences tipping over, trees falling, or shingles flying off roofs. In fact, in 2024, Canada hit a new milestone—but not the kind anyone wanted. For the first time ever, severe weather caused more than $8 billion in insured damage, according to Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ).

If you’ve had damage to your property caused by strong winds, you’re probably asking yourself: "Does my home insurance cover wind damage?" Let's find out.

How does home insurance cover wind damage?

Wind coverage is generally included in standard home insurance and works like any other type of coverage. If your home suffers insurable wind damage, you simply file a claim with your insurer. Let's give you a scenario:

We all know that Southern Ontario is prone to severe thunderstorms in the summertime. One rolls through, and your hometown takes a hit with damaging winds. The gusts uproot a large tree, sending it crashing against your home, damaging your siding, eavestrough, and roof, and even shattering a window or two, letting heavy rain pour through.

With several thousand dollars in damage to your home and your personal belongings, you call your insurance company and file a claim under your homeowners' insurance policy. After paying your deductible, your insurer covers (up to your policy limits):

• The cost of repairs to your siding, eavestrough, roof, and window(s)
• The cost of replacing your water-damaged belongings in the room with the broken window
• The expense of removing the fallen tree, branches, and debris

Going one step further, let's say the damage was significant enough that you cannot stay in your home while the repairs are being completed. In that case, your insurer may also cover additional living expenses, which are typically part of your standard Ontario home insurance policy. These expenses include:

• Your temporary stay is like a hotel room
• Your meal expenses if you cannot cook your own meal

What are home insurance policy limits for wind damage?

There are four main components of home insurance (dwelling, contents, personal liability, and additional living expenses), and each one comes with its own coverage limit. The types of coverage that are likely to be affected by wind damage include dwelling and contents. Here's what you need to know:

Dwelling coverage limits

Your dwelling coverage protects not just your home but also any detached structures, like a garage or shed. When choosing coverage, you’ll want enough to cover the cost of rebuilding your home if the worst happens.

Now, it’s unlikely that wind alone would cause enough damage to require a full rebuild—but storms can be unpredictable, especially if one involves a tornado. It’s always better to be prepared for anything rather than be caught off guard when you need coverage the most.

Contents coverage limits

Remember how the scenario we gave you earlier mentioned replacing water-damaged belongings after the wind caused a tree to break a window? This is where your contents coverage would come in.

Contents coverage, also known as personal property coverage, covers the cost to repair or replace your personal belongings if they're damaged or stolen. When choosing your contents insurance limit, a good rule of thumb is to go room by room and estimate how much it would cost to replace everything. This helps ensure you have enough coverage for all your belongings—furniture, electronics, clothing, and more.

Named perils vs. comprehensive home insurance coverage

Many home insurance policies cover wind damage, but the type of policy you have can determine whether you're protected. Understanding your coverage is key, especially when it comes to Canada's unpredictable weather. The following sections provide a detailed discussion of each:

Named perils

If you have a named perils home insurance policy, your home and its contents are only protected against the specific risks listed in your policy. That means wind damage is only covered, subject to your deductible, if you've explicitly added it. If you haven’t, any wind damage to your home or belongings won’t be covered.

Comprehensive or "all-perils"

A comprehensive or "all-perils" policy offers broader protection, covering all types of damage except for specifically excluded risks. Most homeowners insurance typically covers wind and hail damage, but it’s always a good idea to double-check the exclusions in your policy. If wind or hail isn’t listed as an exclusion, your home is covered.

If you're unsure whether your home insurance policy includes wind damage as a covered peril, review your current home insurance policy or reach out to your local BrokerLink insurance broker today and ask them to review it with you.

Note: In some areas prone to severe damage due to wind or hail, wind or hail damage may come with a separate, higher deductible.

What qualifies as wind damage?

According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), wind damage is generally considered:

• Damage to your home caused by hail, wind, snow, or rain
• Damage to your home and belongings due to water or snow entering through a sudden opening caused by wind or hail damage

Basically, wind damage is what’s known as an unavoidable loss caused by strong winds. It can also happen when debris—like tree branches gets tossed around and damages your home. If the wind sends something flying that creates a hole or opening in your house, any further damage to your property or belongings falls under wind-related damage.

On August 5, 2024, Calgary, Alberta, experienced a record-breaking hailstorm that brought damaging hail, heavy rain, strong winds, and localized flooding in parts of Calgary. This storm resulted in close to $3 billion in damage, putting it in second place for the most costly event in Canada's history, according to CatIQ.

In 2018, Ontario and Quebec saw significant damage due to wind and rainstorms, with a total loss of $2.49 billion. According to the IBC, this was one of Canada's top 10 highest insured severe-weather loss years on record.

What's covered vs. what's not covered for wind damage

Strong winds can cause all kinds of damage to your home and property. While many scenarios are covered, some are not. Here is some of what is and isn't generally covered:

What's covered

• Shattered windows from flying debris
• Exterior damage to siding, doors, or roofing
• Interior damage, including personal belongings, may occur if the storm creates sudden openings in your roof or walls, letting in wind and rain
• Damage to detached structures like sheds, fences, decks, pergolas, gazebos, patios, and even pools
• Outdoor items like BBQs, AC units, and patio furniture are getting damaged or blown away
• Landscaping, including gardens, plants, shrubs, and trees that may be uprooted or damaged

What's not covered

Here’s what wind damage coverage does not include:

Since policies vary, it’s a good idea to review yours and make sure you’re covered before the next big storm rolls in.

Note: There’s no such thing as an "act of God" exclusion in Canadian home insurance policies. If a windstorm (including tornados and hurricanes) damages your home, your insurance company won’t deny your claim just because it was caused by a natural disaster.

How to file a wind damage claim step-by-step

Dealing with home damage after a disaster can feel overwhelming, and filing an insurance claim might seem like a lot to handle. That’s why the experts at BrokerLink have put together this simple step-by-step guide to make the process easier for you:

1. Deal with any immediate problems

Serious damage to your home from a disaster or accident can put you and your family at risk. But no matter what happens, start by making sure everyone is safe. Don’t go back inside until you know it’s secure. In some cases, you may need to wait for firefighters or emergency crews to give you the all-clear before re-entering. If a windstorm knocks a tree onto your house, stay clear of any hanging branches—they might look stable, but could fall at any moment.

2. Prevent further damage

Once it’s safe, do what you can to prevent further damage—but only if it won’t put you or anyone else at risk. For example, if pipes were damaged when the tree fell, shut off your main water valve to prevent further issues. Also, temporary repairs should be made to prevent further damage, like covering broken windows or securing doors. If you ignore a fixable issue that leads to more damage, it could impact how much your insurance covers in your claim.

3. Document the damage

Once it’s safe, make a detailed list of everything that was damaged, destroyed, or lost. If you have a home inventory checklist, use it to help identify missing or damaged items and their value.

Take plenty of photos and videos for your insurance company, and be as detailed as possible when documenting the damage. In your notes, include things like:

• What exactly happened
• The date and time of when it happened
• How your home and belongings are damaged

If it’s safe, hold onto damaged items in case your insurer wants to inspect them—unless they pose a health or safety risk.

4. Contact your insurance company

Once things are under control, reach out to your insurance company as soon as possible. Legally, you have up to two years to file a claim, but the sooner you report the damage, the better. Most insurers have 24/7 claims support, so don’t wait. Provide as many details as possible to help speed up the process.

The insurance agent at your insurance company will be your go-to person for guidance on the claims process. They’ll walk you through what needs to be done—like filling out any necessary forms, such as a proof of loss form—and help determine which part of your policy the claim falls under. If you have an insurance broker, they can help you with this, too.

If your home is too damaged to stay in, ask your insurer about your additional living expenses coverage. Most home insurance policies help cover the cost of temporary housing and living expenses after an insured loss. Be sure to keep all receipts and invoices for any extra expenses, as your insurer may reimburse you.

5. Get a quote for the repair costs

When you file an insurance claim, the payout should help cover the cost of repairs to your home. To get a clearer picture of what those repairs might cost, it’s a good idea to get a quote in advance.

Your insurance company may recommend a local contractor, but you’re not required to use them. You’re free to get a quote from any contractor you prefer—and if you want, you can even compare multiple quotes to find the best option. Then, you can present the quote to your insurance company to help with your claim.

6. Work with the insurance adjuster

After you file your claim, a claims specialist or adjuster will reach out to assess the situation. They’ll review your documents and evidence, investigate the damage, and walk you through the next steps in the claims process. After finishing their investigation, the adjuster will recommend whether your claim should be approved and how much the insurance company should pay out.

How can I protect my home from wind damage?

Severe weather is becoming more common in Canada—just look at the $8 billion in severe weather-related insured damage. With storms getting stronger, it’s more important than ever to take steps to protect yourself and your home from windstorms. That's why the experts here at BrokerLink have put together the following list of tips to help you prepare before the next storm hits:

• Strengthen your garage door to prevent it from buckling under pressure
• Trim or remove trees that are too close to your house to avoid falling branches
• Check your roof for loose or damaged shingles and fix them before they become a bigger issue
• Secure overhangs, porches, ridge vents, and soffits to prevent wind from tearing them off
• Reinforce double doors with sturdy top and bottom bolts to keep them from blowing open
• Use high-quality shutters to protect your windows and doors
• Secure outdoor furniture, decorations, and anything that could become a flying hazard
• Make sure your emergency kit is stocked with essentials
• Be ready for a power outage with backup supplies like flashlights, batteries, and a generator if possible
• Sign up for weather alerts on your phone so you’ll know when severe weather is on the way
• Make sure your home insurance policy includes wind damage coverage

Learn more with BrokerLink

Whether you live in a house or a condo, you never know when you'll find yourself facing sudden and unexpected wind damage. That's why it's important to make sure that your home or condo insurance includes coverage for it. And here's where BrokerLink can help. Our insurance experts can help you review your current policy or find you a new one that includes wind damage coverage. Our specialty is finding the most comprehensive coverage at the best possible rate.

You can reach us by phone, by email, or in person at any one of our locations throughout Canada. No matter how you choose to get in touch, a BrokerLink insurance advisor will be happy to assist you. We also encourage you to take advantage of our free online quote tool that can provide you with a competitive quote in minutes.

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