Storm-damaged gutters and insurance: what to do
Make-safe steps, what insurers usually cover and the evidence to collect.
After hail, high wind or a fallen branch, the order of things matters: safety, then evidence, then repair.
1. Make it safe
Keep away from hanging gutters and sagging ceilings, and stay off the roof. For emergency help with storm damage in NSW call the SES on 132 500. A make-safe visit from a repairer secures or removes loose sections and stops water getting in.
2. Record the damage
Photograph everything from the ground before anything is moved: the gutters, the roof, fallen debris and any water damage inside. Note the date and time of the storm.
3. Understand what is usually covered
Home building policies generally cover sudden damage from storm, hail, wind and impact. They generally exclude gradual deterioration such as rust and wear, and damage that results from lack of maintenance, for example water entering because gutters were blocked. Every policy is different, so read your Product Disclosure Statement or ask your insurer.
4. Get a written report
Insurers usually want a report from a tradesperson that describes the damage, states the likely cause and prices the repair. Reasonable costs of emergency make-safe work are commonly claimable, so keep the invoice.
5. Repair properly
Hail-dented gutters often still drain, but split seams and loosened brackets get worse quickly. Once the claim is approved, damaged runs are replaced to match the existing profile and colour.
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