I worry sometimes if my wood pile caught fire, would homeowners insurance cover it? Looks like it's really going to dry up around here. I think the weather guy said the last 1/2 of rain was November. Big grass fire and it's history.
Wood pile insurance
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Insurance is a way for people to pool the risk of major loss. Loosing a house or a new car to a big grass file would be a major loss. Having a woodpile burn would be dis-heartening, but I don't think it would be a major loss.
I sure it isn't covered under a standard home owner's policy. I bet you couldn't even add a rider like you can with jewelry.
Larry
I sure it isn't covered under a standard home owner's policy. I bet you couldn't even add a rider like you can with jewelry.
Larry
Tell that to the folks who have 3,4,5 years worth of wood and their labor involved.
I'd wager they'd take exception to that notion.
Just another perspective.
If you build a fine table and have a fire you get the value of the table, no labor. Sweat equity is not insured nor is it accounted for in divorce. Your pile would be personal property and assuming your personal property coverage is adequate (most people's is not) it should be covered. The likelihood of the ple being a total loss is low, it would have to burn unattended for a long time. You'd likely get reimbursed at market rates with no accounting for labor/seasoning/ care taken etc. so a three year supply gets you maybe $600. If only your pile burns you are likely not going to meet your deductible.
If it is wildfire you fear, follow the many guides of prepping your lot/land for fire season.
If it is wildfire you fear, follow the many guides of prepping your lot/land for fire season.
A few years ago in the river flooding in the middle of the country we had a member who had his hard earned wood stacks float away never to be found. Insurance didn't cover it.
What is the market worth in your area of how many cords you have, and what's your deductible? Would it be worth filing a claim?
My experience is, don't repeatedly open claims for things that are fairly small beans. When your rates later go up, your agent and insurer may tell you that the nature of the claims you have filed have no bearing on those rate hikes. My understanding from an agent, though, is that they very well may be factored in. So if you look for coverage from a new insurer they will look at your claim history with a very critical eye, possibly refusing to even consider you due to number of claims. FWIW.
My experience is, don't repeatedly open claims for things that are fairly small beans. When your rates later go up, your agent and insurer may tell you that the nature of the claims you have filed have no bearing on those rate hikes. My understanding from an agent, though, is that they very well may be factored in. So if you look for coverage from a new insurer they will look at your claim history with a very critical eye, possibly refusing to even consider you due to number of claims. FWIW.
Spud Monkey
New Member
How about build a woodshed out of cob mixture, so instead of spending extra money on insurance spend it once on making one and it will be more stronger after a wildfire would hit it. More likely not burn anything on inside if built right.
Well, the wood wasn't stolen... and it wasn't damaged or destroyed... it was simply moved to a different location. So the insurer probably had a way to categorize it as "misplaced" and determined it was up to the insured to do a little legwork and either find the wood himself or PROVE the wood was not recoverable.
So maybe firewood WAS covered, except under the conditions described in the fine print of "exceptions".
Yeah my brother-in-law's large shop was "misplaced" in a tornado in Texas. Not a stick of it was ever found but the insurance company paid for it. 
Or easier, have a firebreak around it by mowing to the ground. No grass = no grass fire.
Yeah my brother-in-law's large shop was "misplaced" in a tornado in Texas. Not a stick of it was ever found but the insurance company paid for it.
They probably concluded the shop would be disassembled even if found... not every structure rides as smoothly as Dorothy's.
Spud Monkey
New Member
Most people have trouble getting the stuff to burn in a five hundred degree wood stove. Sitting in the yard there shouldn't be a problem. 
Maybe those frustrated burners will hold off on stealing the wood pile 'til AFTER it catches fire, so they can bring some of the magic of fire home and put in their cold metal boxes.
The thoughts people let their minds get away with. Your wood stacks are fine, they're not going to burn up, you can stop worrying about it now. 
Paulywalnut
Minister of Fire
For theft: Put a sign at your stacks. These stacks contain Willow and Box Elder.
You seem quite concerned about fire. How about a 3 ft. perimeter of gravel around you're area.
You seem quite concerned about fire. How about a 3 ft. perimeter of gravel around you're area.
Standingdead
Burning Hunk
One time noticed at the remains of a barn fire a couple cords of wood stacked against stone foundation. A little charred on top/side but still intact. Always figured it didn't get enough air. Our stoves and boilers draft a lot of air to feed the fire. Hard to imagine the conditions needed to ignite a large stack of semi seasoned wood. Maybe you could keep handy a fire proof canvas tarp just in case. Something new every time I visit this forumn
Macpolski
Member
That's what I like about this forum, one can learn something every day. What the heck is cob mixture? Never heard this before. I googled this and learned something.
colin.p
Burning Hunk
Most people have trouble getting the stuff to burn in a five hundred degree wood stove. Sitting in the yard there shouldn't be a problem.
That's what I was thinking too. I bet you could pour a 5 gallon gas can onto the pile, light it and the darn stuff still wouldn't burn.
i bet it can burn! I have burned oak stumps and trees the same day I cut them or drag out of the woods, leaves still attached. You would be surprised at how green stuff burns in a hot fire. Ash trees are what we use to start the fires. Shove up a big pile with the dozer,,,light em up!
Ashful
Minister of Fire
It always disappoints me to see folks buying insurance on things they could live without. Likewise, my insurance agent tries to talk me into a $500 deductible on my homeowner's insurance, when we both know I'm not submitting a claim on anything under $5k, lest my rate go up. At the same time, we've gotten ourselves into a real pickle with a healthcare system designed around an insurer paying for every last prescription and doctor's visit (anyone remember paying directly?).
Reserve insurance for catastrophic contingencies, your house burning down, the total loss of a car you can't afford to replace, a diagnosis of cancer. I see folks worrying about adding a rider for their wife's jewelry, and they don't even have an umbrella policy to cover them when their regular insurance maxes out. I've seen two cases in my own family of a standard healthcare policy exceeding the maximum benefit limit while a patient was in the hospital, and thank God both of them had an umbrella policy, which kicked in and covered the additional care.
I suspect your wood pile could be replaced for a few hundred dollars... why would you insure it? Take whatever money you would've put toward wood pile insurance, and increase your disability insurance, or get an umbrella policy.
Reserve insurance for catastrophic contingencies, your house burning down, the total loss of a car you can't afford to replace, a diagnosis of cancer. I see folks worrying about adding a rider for their wife's jewelry, and they don't even have an umbrella policy to cover them when their regular insurance maxes out. I've seen two cases in my own family of a standard healthcare policy exceeding the maximum benefit limit while a patient was in the hospital, and thank God both of them had an umbrella policy, which kicked in and covered the additional care.
I suspect your wood pile could be replaced for a few hundred dollars... why would you insure it? Take whatever money you would've put toward wood pile insurance, and increase your disability insurance, or get an umbrella policy.
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