Why didn't our coverage fix my whole fence?

We had a tornado come through our area and it tore up a big section of our backyard fence. Cincinnati Insurance paid for part of it, but not the entire fence replacement. I assumed a storm like that would cover everything. Why wouldn’t the whole fence be covered under my homeowners policy?

In many policies, including those with Cincinnati Insurance, fences are covered differently than the house itself, and that can affect how much gets paid after storm damage. Your situation is frustrating, but it’s actually a fairly common point of confusion with homeowners insurance.

Under most homeowners policies, fences fall under “other structures” coverage. This category typically includes things like detached garages, sheds, driveways, and fences. Instead of being insured for the full value of your home, these structures are usually covered for a percentage of your dwelling limit, often around 10%.

So if your home is insured for $400,000, the total amount available for all other structures combined might be around $40,000. That part alone usually isn’t the issue with fences, though.

The bigger reason homeowners sometimes don’t get a full fence replacement is how claims adjusters evaluate the damage. Insurance generally pays for the portion of the property that was actually damaged by the covered event. If a tornado destroyed 40 feet of fence but the rest was still intact, the policy may only cover repairing or replacing the damaged sections rather than replacing the entire fence.

Another factor can be depreciation, depending on your policy. Some policies pay for fences at actual cash value, meaning the age and wear of the fence are factored into the payment. Older fences may receive smaller payouts than newer ones.

Local building requirements can also play a role. If the damaged section can be repaired without replacing the entire fence line, the insurer may consider that the reasonable repair option.

If something like this happens, it’s worth asking your adjuster:

• How the fence was valued under your policy
• Whether depreciation was applied
• If local building rules require replacing more of the fence

Understanding those details can help clarify why the payout looked different than expected after a storm. It's a good idea to review your homeowners policy once in a while, especially before storm season, to see if there is anything you should adjust. Also, don't be afraid to ask your Cincinnati agent questions about your coverage if it's unclear.