For many Texas homeowners, windstorm insurance provides peace of mind during hurricane season and other severe weather events. While the coverage plays a vital role in protecting your property, it does not extend to every type of damage. Knowing the boundaries of a policy is just as important as knowing what it protects against.
At Richey Insurance Agency, we often meet homeowners who assume their policy takes care of every situation that follows a storm. In reality, windstorm insurance is built with specific limits. By pointing out the most common exclusions, we can help you prepare for the gaps and consider whether additional policies are needed.
If you’re new to this type of coverage, our overview of windstorm insurance in Texas can help you see how the basics work before diving into the exclusions.
Insurance policies are designed to cover sudden, direct damage from wind and hail, not every event that might occur during a storm. In fact, national claims data highlights just how common wind and hail losses are. According to the Insurance Information Institute, from 2019 through 2023, 2.8% of insured homes experienced a wind or hail claim, making it the most frequent source of homeowners insurance losses in the United States. That frequency is one of the main reasons insurers set clear boundaries on what is and isn’t covered.
A practical example is a roof with worn shingles. If strong winds tear through, the insurer may argue that pre-existing weakness, not the storm itself, caused the failure. That difference often determines whether a claim gets approved or denied.
If you’d like a refresher on the protections windstorm coverage does include, you can review what is actually included in a windstorm policy for comparison.
One of the most common misunderstandings occurs when water enters the home after a storm. Wind-driven rain is treated differently than rising floodwater:
To visualize the difference, think of damage coming from above versus damage rising from the ground. The first may qualify for a claim under a windstorm policy, while the second requires a separate flood policy.
Texas homeowners along the coast are especially vulnerable to both. While windstorm coverage might be mandatory for properties in designated coastal counties, flood coverage usually must be purchased separately. If you’re weighing the two, it helps to clarify whether Texans are required to carry separate flood or windstorm protection, since state rules can vary depending on location and mortgage requirements.
Windstorm policies are written to cover sudden losses. If an insurer believes poor upkeep contributed to the damage, the claim may be reduced or denied. Examples include:
This exclusion often frustrates homeowners, especially if they were unaware of a hidden weakness. Still, insurers rely on inspections and building standards to separate storm-related damage from pre-existing neglect.
For properties along the Texas coast, staying compliant with state building requirements is more than a formality. Securing a WPI-8 certificate to show your home meets windstorm building codes can strengthen your position when filing a claim and may even affect policy eligibility.
Windstorm insurance is written primarily for the main dwelling. Many homeowners assume every structure on their property falls under the same umbrella, but that isn’t the case. Coverage for detached features is often limited, and in some cases excluded entirely.
Typical items not fully protected:
It’s worth reviewing your policy closely if you rely on these structures or features. Some carriers may allow endorsements that add coverage, while others exclude them altogether. Knowing those limits helps you decide if extra protection is worth the investment.
Few parts of a home are more exposed to wind than the roof. Because of that, many homeowners believe they can buy coverage solely for the roof or file claims for any storm-related roof issue. In reality, windstorm policies don’t function that way.
Insurance is designed to protect the dwelling as a whole, not isolated components. While storm damage to a roof is typically covered, the policy doesn’t allow you to separate the roof from the rest of the structure. Nor will it cover a replacement if age, neglect, or routine wear made the roof fail.
We often hear confusion on this point, which is why it helps to look at the misconception that you can insure only your roof and how policy language addresses it. Roof repairs or replacements might be included, but only if the storm itself caused the loss, not long-term deterioration.
Beyond the big categories like flooding or pre-existing damage, windstorm insurance comes with a range of smaller exclusions that can catch homeowners off guard. Here are several worth noting:
| Category | Typically Excluded | Where Coverage May Come From |
|---|---|---|
| Mold or mildew | Not covered if it results from long-term dampness | Possibly through homeowners insurance if sudden water intrusion occurred |
| Power outages | Utility failure itself not covered | Some policies add endorsements, but most homeowners rely on separate solutions |
| Spoiled food | Perishable losses tied to outages rarely covered | Optional endorsements may be available |
| Automobiles | Damaged cars handled through auto insurance, not windstorm policies | Comprehensive auto coverage |
| Items left outdoors | Patio furniture, boats, and recreational vehicles often excluded | May require separate coverage or riders |
For homeowners, the key is knowing where one policy ends and another begins. An agent can walk through the gaps so you’re not assuming a loss will be reimbursed when it falls outside the windstorm agreement.
Exclusions don’t mean you’re left without options. Homeowners often combine policies or endorsements to build a more complete safety net. Common strategies include:
A layered approach provides more reliable protection than relying on windstorm coverage alone. Each family’s needs are different, so tailoring the mix of policies is usually the most effective strategy.
Windstorm insurance is a valuable safeguard for Texas homeowners, but its exclusions are just as important to recognize as its benefits. Flooding, poor maintenance, detached features, and everyday wear typically fall outside of protection. Other gaps, from power outages to vehicles, often require separate coverage altogether.Taking time to review these details before a storm hits reduces the chance of unpleasant surprises later. If you’d like a broader look at how policies are structured, our overview of windstorm insurance in Texas provides the foundation for making informed decisions. From there, consider how additional coverage types or endorsements might close the remaining gaps.
