What is dwelling coverage?

What does dwelling coverage insure?

Dwelling coverage under your homeowners insurance policy may provide protection for your home's structure, which may include:

• Attached garage
• Attached deck
• Verandas, screened-in porches, etc.
• Roof
• Chimney(s)
• Gutters
• Foundation (cracks or settling typically aren't covered)
• Building materials permanently installed (flooring, ceilings, countertops, cabinets, vanities, etc.)
• Built in appliances, such as a furnace or hot water heater

What perils does dwelling coverage usually cover?

The perils covered by a homeowner insurance policy may vary by policy, but can include:

• Fire damage
• Storm damage
• Lightning strikes
• Damage from tornadoes
• Explosions
• Falling objects
• Theft and vandalism
• Damage caused by weight of snow, sleet, or ice damming
• Damage caused by a motor vehicle
• Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam

What perils aren't covered under dwelling coverage?

Dwelling coverage on standard policies typically won't protect against damage caused by the following:

• Floods
• Earthquakes
• Water backup and sump pump overflows
• Lack of home maintenance or upkeep

You may be able to purchase water back up coverage, an optional add-on to your homeowners policy, for protection against sewer back up and sump pump overflow. Depending on your location, you may also have the option to buy a separate flood insurance policy to protect your home's structure and belongings against water damage from flooding.

Homeowners insurance coverage for dwelling vs. other structures

Dwelling coverage only applies to structures attached to your main residence, meaning that detached garages, sheds, barns, unattached guest homes, fences, or any other detached structures are typically not covered under dwelling coverage. Instead, these structures may be covered by your homeowners insurance policy under other structures coverage.

How much dwelling coverage do you need?

Most homeowners insurance providers ask several questions about your home to give you an accurate insurance quote, including the type of your roof, the year your home was built, square footage, flooring, and the number of bathrooms. Their goal is to determine how much it would cost to rebuild your home from scratch in the event of a total loss. The rebuild price is called the "replacement cost value" and will usually be a different amount than your home's fair market value or the figure you might see on a realtor's website.

Use our homeowners insurance calculator to approximate how much dwelling coverage you need on your homeowners policy.

Get dwelling coverage for your home through Progressive