Crazy Thought: Insurance on Wood

I would think it would be counted as personal property. You would just need the adjuster to help you figure out what the wood was worth that you lost. You would need to have documentation of what you had before the theft for example. Wood stack pictures!

JP

I think homeowner's insurance should cover it. Homeowner's insurance covers the other stuff in the house and on the property, why not the firewood?

I would take plenty of pics for proof, which I already do, but for other reasons. Makes me a little sad thinking about my wood all burning up like that

Speaking as the former insurance agent: the general answer is YES, but every policy is different. This is a great question to ask your agent.

Ironically, my own HO policy would cover every stick of my wood in a situation like described above (theft or disaster) subject to max $1500 windstorm deductible BUT if that same storm blows a tree over its cleanup and/or removal are specifically excluded. Turns out to have been ok b/c my driveway is lined with BL- if one falls and blocks the drive then it becomes "restricted emergency access" and they'll cover it windstorm or not AND I can keep the wood.

Above advice is correct... the saying 'pics or it didn't happen' started in the insurance business.

At the end of the season you could file a claim saying it had been destroyed by fire. Then again they may accuse you of arson.

Greg H said:

...you could file a claim saying it had been destroyed by fire...

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My wood stacks get "destroyed by fire" by the end of every season....that fire happens to be in my woodstove.

My home insurance gives me a certain amount to replace just the "house" and then also a certain amount for the items within the house (belongings, everything you own).

We just went over our policy a month ago when our agent came out to Finally take pics of the 30-NC... I was amazed at both of the numbers. I could replace my house for a 1/3rd of what I could get.. And the amount for what we have inside (belongings, furnishings, etc) was much higher than I thought..

We only wentover that because I bought a new mower and asked if I should insure it. She laughed until I told her what I paid for it (Dixie Chopper 74" cut 33 HP Excalibur). She said it would be covered under my policy. After seeing my wood stacks and seeing the last Log Length Load I got, I'm pretty sure I would at least get reimbursed for what I paid for the load?? I know its worth more processed. I would think they would give going rates for it (processed), or one could hope anyways.

dzych2 said:

Went ahead and got ahold of my insurance agent today and they said my home owners would cover it. Seeing those wild fires out west & I always wondered about folks wood piles.

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It is kind of funny that you mentioned this. We were close to evacuating from a fire last month and I was concerned that all of my fire wood was going to get burnt before it's time. Like I tell my non wood burning neighbors this wood will either burn in a forest fire or my wood stove but it will eventually get burned.

Question is: Is the wood worth only the cost of replacing it with firewood or the BTU equivalent in oil/gas/electricity? As most here are aware, it's not easy to simply replace seasoned cordwood. I wouldn't consider green wood a suitable replacement for my seasoned fuel.

Jack Straw said:

I would take plenty of pics for proof, which I already do, but for other reasons. Makes me a little sad thinking about my wood all burning up like that

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See why we says "Pictures" or it didn't happen.
For insurance LOL

BrotherBart said:

A few years ago a member's entire wood supply was washed away in mid-west flooding. Never heard if insurance covered it or not.

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I wasnt a active member then but I remember reading that thread. She lost almost everthing..

I would add it to the value of my property but would not put in a claim for a few thousand dollars. Deductible always plays a part too...mine is $1k

bluedogz said:

Speaking as the former insurance agent: the general answer is YES, but every policy is different. This is a great question to ask your agent.

Ironically, my own HO policy would cover every stick of my wood in a situation like described above (theft or disaster) subject to max $1500 windstorm deductible BUT if that same storm blows a tree over its cleanup and/or removal are specifically excluded. Turns out to have been ok b/c my driveway is lined with BL- if one falls and blocks the drive then it becomes "restricted emergency access" and they'll cover it windstorm or not AND I can keep the wood.

Above advice is correct... the saying 'pics or it didn't happen' started in the insurance business.

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I have first hand experience of the above. After a micro-burst hit us several years ago, insurance paid for all damage to the house, and cleanup of trees that hit the house or blocked entrances, even compensated me for the time-off work I took to do most of the tree clearing myself (a bargain for them compared to tree service quotes that week!). As stated above, insurance would not pay anything for removal of a tree that simply blew over without blocking or damaging anything else, but it if was hit by lightning and fell without damaging anything , they would pay for cleanup. I was upset about this at first, but realize that all trees will eventually blow down, so the cost to insurance companies would be huge, and so would my policy.

On the other hand, after the same storm I had a huge hickory snap in half with the top still snagged, dangling over my lawn, right beside my house. Whenever it fell, it was going to kill anyone underneath and depending on the bounce, would have taken out the side of my house. Insurance would not pay for its safe removal, and could possibly have refused to pay for any subsequent damage on the basis that I had failed to remove an obvious hazard. Happily, before I could even got a tree service to answer my calls, it fell down without damage.

TE

I'm not sure I'd be too worried about the cost of a dozen face cords of firewood in the event of a major disaster. Seems the potential damage to the house and vehicles would likely trump that 500 times over. Pennywise, dollar foolish?

Just out of curiosity when I passed our insurance agent's office yesterday I went in and asked the question. They said it would no doubt be listed as personal property and covered. However, they also added that it needs to be a distance from the house but would have to look to see how far if indeed it is in the rules. I told them it was not important and to not bother looking but thought someone might find this much information helpful.