Deck and fence insurance: what is covered, what to ask

Missouri wind and hail take out decks and fences every year, and the coverage question is usually settled by whatever the policy said before the storm. Here is how claims actually get paid, and the list to run past your agent before you need it.

Storm damage

If wind or hail took your deck or fence, insurance may pay for it

This is the option most contractors never bring up, and in Missouri it comes up constantly. Here's what actually determines whether you get paid, and how much.

Which part of your policy applies

  • An attached deck is usually covered under Dwelling coverage, same as your house.
  • A fence, or a freestanding deck or gazebo, generally falls under Other Structures — commonly around 10% of your dwelling limit, though some carriers set it much lower or make it optional.
  • Read your declarations page. Coverage for wood fences in particular varies a lot between carriers.

What's covered, and what isn't

  • Usually covered: wind, hail, lightning, fire, a vehicle hitting it, vandalism, or a tree brought down by a covered event.
  • Usually not: rot, rust, insects, mold, gradual wear, or lack of maintenance.
  • A twenty-year-old cedar fence that finally came down in a storm is often adjusted as pre-existing rot rather than wind damage.

The single number that decides your check: replacement cost vs. actual cash value. Replacement cost pays what it costs to rebuild today. Actual cash value subtracts depreciation first. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners illustrates it with two families, same $15,000 loss, same $1,000 deductible — the replacement-cost family received $14,000, the actual-cash-value family received $4,000. Fences are frequently written on actual cash value even inside an otherwise replacement-cost policy.

Expect two checks, not one. On a replacement-cost policy the insurer usually pays the depreciated amount first and holds back the rest — the recoverable depreciation — releasing it only after the work is finished and invoices are submitted. Most carriers give you six months to a year to complete the work. Miss that window and you forfeit the holdback. If your first check looks low, that's often why.

Before you file

  • Check your wind and hail deductible. Many Missouri policies now use a percentage of insured home value rather than a flat dollar amount, which can be several thousand dollars.
  • If the repair isn't meaningfully more than your deductible, filing may net you very little while still going on your claims record.
  • Photograph everything before any temporary repairs, and keep receipts for emergency work.
  • Free help: the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance consumer hotline, 800-726-7390.

What we will and won't do

  • We'll document the damage, give you a detailed written scope, and build it back properly.
  • We will not pay, rebate, waive or discount your deductible, and we won't offer you anything of value to sign. Missouri law prohibits it, and any contractor offering to cover your deductible is breaking it.
  • We don't negotiate with your insurer on your behalf — Missouri law reserves that for you and your adjuster or a licensed public adjuster.

Before you need it: what to ask your agent

Most people find out what their deck coverage actually says the day they file. Ten minutes on the phone with your agent now, before you build, is when it is cheap to fix. Bring this list.

Fourteen questions worth asking

  1. Is my deck under Dwelling or Other Structures? Attached is usually Dwelling. Freestanding, gazebos and fences fall under Other Structures, and that bucket is often only 10% of your dwelling limit. Ask for the dollar figure.
  2. Is my fence covered at all without adding it? Some carriers do not include detached structures by default, or cap them at a few thousand dollars.
  3. Replacement cost or actual cash value? Wood fences are frequently written at actual cash value even inside a replacement-cost policy. Ask specifically about the fence and the deck.
  4. How long do I have to collect the depreciation holdback? Usually 180 days from the loss, sometimes a year. Miss it and that money is gone.
  5. What is my wind and hail deductible in dollars today? Many Missouri policies use a percentage of home value now. On a $400,000 house, 1% is $4,000 before the insurer pays anything.
  6. Is there a cosmetic damage exclusion? Hail that dents a metal railing but does not break it can be excluded. Ask whether that exclusion touches railings, siding or gutters.
  7. How much Ordinance or Law coverage do I have? If a rebuild has to meet current code (guardrail height, ledger flashing, footing depth) the base policy usually pays only 10% toward the upgrade. You can raise it.
  8. I am adding a deck. Will my dwelling limit go up? It does not move on its own. If your coverage falls below 80% of what the house is worth to rebuild, claims can get paid short.
  9. Do I have extended or guaranteed replacement cost, and does it reach Other Structures?
  10. What is my personal liability limit? A railing that gives way with a guest against it is a liability claim. Ask whether you are at $100,000 or $300,000 to $500,000.
  11. Will an elevated deck, a hot tub or a pool change my premium or trigger an inspection? Better to know before the inspector shows up.
  12. If part of the fence is damaged, will you match the rest? Missouri has no matching law. Whether they replace one run or the whole fence is up to the policy and the adjuster.
  13. What does a small deck claim do to my rate, and do you offer claim forgiveness? Rates commonly move 7 to 10% after a claim and it stays on your record about five years.
  14. Am I covered for earthquake? It is a separate policy in Missouri, and the New Madrid zone is real. Flood insurance, if you have it, does not cover decks or fences at all.

Add-ons worth asking about

  • Ordinance or Law, raised to 25% or 50%. Pays for the code upgrades a rebuild triggers. The most useful add-on on this list for an older deck.
  • Increased Other Structures. Lifts the 10% cap. Matters if you have a big fence, a detached deck, or both.
  • Replacement-cost settlement on fences. Takes the fence off actual-cash-value so you are not paid a depreciated number for a twelve-year-old cedar fence.
  • Extended or guaranteed replacement cost. A cushion for when material and labor spike after a big storm and everyone in the metro needs the same lumber at once. Extended usually runs a few dollars a month.
  • Umbrella policy, $1 million. Typically a couple hundred dollars a year. It is what stands between you and a lawsuit if someone gets hurt on the deck.
  • Equipment breakdown. Cheap, and it covers a hot tub or spa when the pump or heater fails, which the base policy does not.
  • Matching coverage. A few carriers sell it for roofing and siding. Ask whether yours will extend it to fencing. Most will not, but the answer tells you how they will handle a partial loss.
  • Earthquake endorsement. Separate in Missouri. Ask what the deductible percentage is; it varies a lot between carriers.
  • Claim forgiveness. Some carriers sell it after a claim-free stretch. If you have never filed, ask whether you already have it.

We are not insurance agents and this is not insurance advice. It is the list we wish every customer had gone through before the storm, not after. Free help: Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance consumer hotline, 800-726-7390.

Storm took the deck? Send us photos.

We will document the damage, write a detailed scope your adjuster can work from, and build it back right. Start with a budget range so you know what you are talking about before the adjuster calls.

Deck price range Fence price range Send photos

About the information on this page. Maniaci Construction Inc. is a licensed contractor, not a lender, bank, mortgage broker, insurance adjuster or tax advisor. Everything above is general educational information about options that may be available to homeowners. It is not financial, lending, insurance or tax advice, and it is not an offer of credit.

Rates, limits and program rules referenced here were current as of August 2026 and change frequently. Home equity, HELOC, personal loan and credit card figures are national averages from Bankrate and NerdWallet; FHA Title I and 203(k) limits are from HUD; HomeStyle terms are from Fannie Mae; resale figures are from Zonda's 2025 Cost vs. Value Report. Your actual terms will depend on your credit, income, equity and lender, and may differ substantially.

Financing offered in connection with our estimates is provided by third-party lenders through our payment processor. We do not set, control or guarantee the rates, terms or approval decisions, and approval is not guaranteed. All terms are presented to you by the lender before you accept.

Insurance coverage varies by carrier and policy. Nothing here should be read as a statement about what your policy covers. Review your declarations page and speak with your insurer. Consistent with Missouri law, we do not pay, rebate or waive insurance deductibles and we do not negotiate claims on a policyholder's behalf.