Is Truss Uplift Covered by Insurance?

Truss uplift is a marvel that can occur in homes with roof trusses, causing the trusses to lift a little in the winter and drop back down in the summer. This can lead to decorative damage, such as cracking both in drywall and ceilings. Whether truss uplift is covered by homeowners insurance depends on the specific policy and the cause of the uplift.

Some homeowners insurance policies may cover truss uplift caused by a covered peril, such as wind or hail. However, other policies may only cover truss uplift caused by a defect in the roof trusses themselves. If you are unsure whether your homeowners insurance policy covers truss uplift, you should contact your insurance company to inquire.

Is Truss Uplift Covered by Insurance?

Whether or not truss uplift is covered by insurance depends on the specific policy and the cause of the uplift.

Some homeowners insurance policies may cover truss uplift caused by a sudden and accidental event, such as a storm or a heavy snowfall. However, most policies will not cover uplift that is caused by normal wear & tear, or by a fault in the building of the home.

If you are doubtful whether or not your policy protects truss uplift, you should contact your insurance agent or company to ask clearly.

Here are some specific examples of situations where truss uplift may or may not be covered by insurance:

Covered:

• Truss uplift caused by a windstorm that rips off part of your roof.
• Truss uplift caused by a construction defect, such as trusses that were not properly attached to the home.

Not covered:

• Truss uplift that occurs gradually over time due to changes in humidity.
• Truss uplift is caused by overloading the roof, such as by adding too much snow or debris.

Factors that may affect whether truss uplift is covered by insurance:

• The home’s location: Homes that are situated in regions that frequently encounter strong winds or hailstorms are more prone to have truss uplift.
• The kind of roof: Truss uplift is more likely to occur in homes with roofs constructed of materials that are more prone to moisture deterioration, such as asphalt shingles.
• The upkeep of the roof: Truss uplift is more likely to occur in homes with improperly maintained roofs, such as those that are improperly vented or insulated.

What is Truss Uplift?

Truss uplift is a phenomenon that occurs when the bottom chord of a roof truss arches upwards due to differential moisture content in the truss members.

Causes of Truss Uplift

Truss uplift is typically caused by a combination of factors, including:

• Changes in moisture content: The bottom chord of a truss is typically buried in insulation, which keeps it dry and warm. The top chord of the truss is open to the potentially chilly and humid attic air. The top chord may expand and the bottom chord may shrink as a result of the difference in moisture content, resulting in arching.
• Temperature changes: The bottom chord of a truss is also warmer than the top chord due to the heat radiating from the ceiling below. This temperature difference can also contribute to arching.
• Trusses over interior partition walls: Truss uplift is more likely to occur over interior partition walls, as these walls provide resistance to the upward force of the trusses.

Common signs of Truss Uplift

• Cracks in drywall and ceilings: Truss uplift can cause cracks in drywall and ceilings, especially near interior partition walls.
• Walls & ceilings detaching: In extreme cases, truss lifting may result in the walls & ceilings separating.
• Missing space between the tops of walls and the bottoms of ceilings: Gaps may also develop between the tops of walls & the bottoms of ceilings as a result of truss uplift.

Common Consequences of Truss Uplift

• Cosmetic damage: Truss uplift can cause significant cosmetic damage to a home, including cracks in drywall, ceilings, and walls.
• Structural damage: In severe cases, truss uplift can cause structural damage to a home.

Types of Home Insurance Policies

There are eight main types of homeowners insurance policies in the United States:

• HO-1: Basic Form
• HO-2: Broad Form
• HO-3: Special Form
• HO-4: Contents Broad Form
• HO-5: Comprehensive Form
• HO-6: Unit-owners Form
• HO-7: Mobile Home Form
• HO-8: Modified Coverage Form

HO-1: Basic Form

The HO-1 policy is the most basic type of homeowners insurance policy. It covers a limited number of perils, such as fire, lightning, windstorm, hail, explosion, riot, civil commotion, vandalism, theft, and malicious mischief.

HO-2: Broad Form

The HO-2 policy covers more perils than the HO-1 policy, but it still has some exclusions. Some of the additional perils covered by the HO-2 policy include falling objects, weight of ice, snow, or sleet, collapse of buildings, damage from water or steam, and damage from breakage of glass or safety glazing materials.

HO-3: Special Form

The HO-3 The most typical kind of homeowner’s insurance coverage is a policy. Except for those that are expressly excluded, it covers all risks. Floods, earthquakes, conflicts, radiation from nuclear sources, and power outages are a few of the frequent exclusions from HO-3 policies.

HO-4: Contents Broad Form

A renters insurance policy is the HO-4 policy. It does not protect the building’s construction; rather, it only covers the contents of a rental property. Perils include fire, lightning, windstorms, hail, explosion, riot, civil unrest, vandalism, theft, and malicious mischief are often covered by HO-4 insurance.

HO-5: Comprehensive Form

The HO-3 & HO-4 policies are combined to form the HO-5 policy. It provides coverage for personal liability and medical costs for others, as well as the home’s structure & contents. With the anomaly of those that are expressly banned, HO-5 plans normally cover all risks.

HO-6: Unit-owners Form

The HO-6 policy is a homeowners insurance policy for condominium owners. It covers the unit that the owner occupies, as well as the common elements of the condominium building. HO-6 policies typically cover perils such as fire, lightning, windstorms, hail, explosion, riot, civil commotion, vandalism, theft, and malicious mischief.

HO-7: Mobile Home Form

The HO-7 policy is a homeowners insurance policy for mobile homeowners. It covers the mobile home itself, as well as the personal property that is inside the mobile home. HO-7 policies typically cover risks such as fire, lightning, windstorms, hail, explosion, riot, civil commotion, vandalism, theft, and hostile misdeed.

HO-8: Modified Coverage Form

For homeowners with older homes, there is a homeowners insurance coverage called the HO-8 policy. Although the home’s structure is covered, the replacement cost is not. The actual monetary worth of the house is covered instead. Perils like fire, lightning, windstorms, hail, explosions, riots, civil unrest, vandalism, theft, and malicious mischief are often covered by HO-8 insurance.

How much does it Cost to Truss Uplift?

So, how much does it set you back to fix that pesky truss uplift issue? Well, the answer ain’t set in stone, my friend. It all depends on how bad the damage is and where your crib’s at.

• The Damage Factor: If we are talkin’ minor damage, like a few cracks in the drywall, you won’t be breakin’ the bank. You are lookin’ at a repair bill that’s relatively low. But if your home’s taken a real beating, with structural damage to the roof, brace yourself for a hefty repair tab.

• Location: Where you live matters too. If you are out in the boonies, labor & materials won’t cost you an arm and a leg like they might in the big city.

• Types of Truss Uplift: There are two flavors of truss uplift: one due to moisture differences and the other thanks to thermal growth. Moisture is more common and easier for the wallet to fix.

Now, let’s break it down with some ballpark figures:

• Fixin’ up a few drywall cracks: $200 to $500
• Patching up the gap between the ceiling and walls: $500 to $1,000
• Sorting out those gaps between the top of your walls and the underside of the ceilings: $1,000 to $2,000
• Tackling serious roof damage: $2,000 to $5,000

How to Keep Truss Uplift at Bay – Tips for Homeowners

So, how do you keep truss uplift from wreckin’ your day? Here are some good tips to keep things in check:

• Insulate that attic right: Get your attic insulation game strong to balance out moisture levels between the top and bottom of those trusses.
• Let your attic breathe: Ventilation’s the name of the game to keep moisture from buildin’ up in your attic.
• Throw in a vapor barrier: Stick one of those between the insulation and the roof sheathing to stop moisture from creepin’ into those trusses.
• Get some truss clips: These handy metal brackets connect your trusses to the interior walls, making sure they don’t go floatin’ off.
• Spruce things up with crown molding: Hide those drywall cracks caused by truss uplift in style with some fancy crown molding.

FAQs