Does home insurance pay to match undamaged surfaces during repairs?

What is the matching problem?

The matching problem in property insurance claims arises when an insurer must decide whether to repair or replace property that isn’t directly damaged by a covered cause of loss but is affected by the loss. This issue frequently comes up with windstorm damage to siding and roofing. If only one section has been damaged, the insurance company won't normally replace the undamaged portion; however, if matching materials can't be found, the insurer can't restore the home to it's pre-loss condition.

So, for example, if you have damaged shingles on your roof but the manufacturer has discontinued your shingles, the homeowners insurance company can either try to find a match in another shingle or, if that's not possible, replace the entire roof. Obviously, that's much more costly to the insurance company, but it may be required.

What are matching laws for home insurance?

In some states, the law requires the insurance company to ensure everything matches. In Florida, for example, if replaced items don't match in quality, color, or size, the insurance company must make "reasonable repairs or replacement of items in adjoining areas." to ensure a reasonably uniform appearance.

The appearance should be uniform within the line of sight. Inside, that could mean replacing the entire floor of a room, even if only a portion needs repair.

While not every state has such rules, some carriers have added non-matching language to policies and introduced endorsements, or insurance add-ons, to cover matching.

What is a matching endorsement?

Matching coverage is a fairly low-price add-on to your home insurance that ensures that when you file a claim for your roof, siding or windows, the surrounding undamaged roof, siding or windows will, if needed, be replaced with materials that match. Matching roofing is a common issue, as insurers may resist replacing undamaged sections solely to maintain uniformity.

American Family Insurance, for instance, offers the "Matching Undamaged Siding and Roof Coverage" endorsement, which covers up to $20,000 of the cost to update with new materials the undamaged siding or roofing if there's a mismatch when repairs are made. The endorsement costs $25 a year.

Even in states where insurance companies are required by law to make everything match, company adjusters often push for less-expensive patching and resist full replacement, according to United Policyholders, a San Francisco-based consumer advocacy group.

"It's not a slam dunk," Reitz says. "They balk, but when you press, they'll give in. The argument I generally make is it all matched before, so it should match now."

Reitz says there's less push-back from insurers about replacing an entire counter or floor than replacing a roof or all the siding.

How to negotiate for full replacement on an insurance claim

The issue of patching versus full roof replacement depends greatly on individual insurance company adjusters. Some are more flexible and willing to accommodate customers than others.

If you can't make any headway, consider going over the adjuster's head to a supervisor.

If you think the insurer is treating you unfairly, contact your state's insurance department to file a complaint.

Another option is to hire a public insurance adjuster who works on your behalf through the claims process. Public insurance adjusters can charge a fee of up to 15% of the final settlement, according to the Insurance Information Institute, so you'd pay about $3,000 if your claim settlement is $20,000. But it could be worth it if they can get a better settlement than you could by filing a claim by yourself.

Claim disputes and resolution

You have the right to dispute your claim settlement. If you believe the homeowners insurance company needs to replace the entire roof, for example, because matching shingles aren't available, but the company only wants to replace damaged areas, you can appeal.

Every insurance company has a process for resolving claims disputes. Before you file a dispute, however, it's important to understand the terms of your homeowners insurance policy. If matching coverage isn't included and isn't require by your state, you may not get anywhere with the appeal.

Sources

• Insurance Information Institute : What is a public adjuster?
• National Association of Public Adjusters

Helpful home insurance tools and calculators

• Home insurance calculator
• Condo insurance calculator
• Renters insurance calculator
• When to file a home insurance claim