Protect Your Hardscape Investment: Navigating Storm Damage Insurance Claims in Mecklenburg County Like a Pro

When Mother Nature unleashes her fury on Mecklenburg County, your beautiful hardscape features—patios, driveways, retaining walls, and walkways—often bear the brunt of the damage. In 2024, Charlotte-Mecklenburg experienced over four feet of rain, with unprecedented hurricanes like Helene and Debby producing flooding across the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. Understanding how to properly file insurance claims for hardscape damage can mean the difference between recovering your investment and facing thousands in out-of-pocket expenses.

What Hardscape Damage Is Actually Covered?

The good news is that most homeowners insurance policies cover hardscaping in specific situations, including storm damage when a storm knocks over a retaining wall or damages your patio with debris, fire damage to patios or retaining walls, and vehicle accidents that crash into your driveway or stone wall. Most policies provide coverage for retaining wall damage caused by covered perils, which typically include fire, lightning strikes, windstorms, hail damage, vandalism, theft, and damage from vehicles. If a tree falls on your retaining wall during a storm, or if lightning causes structural damage, your insurance will likely cover the repair or replacement costs, minus your deductible.

However, there are important limitations to understand. Standard policies usually provide coverage for other structures equal to 10% of your dwelling coverage amount. For example, if your home is insured for $300,000, you would have $30,000 in coverage for all other structures combined, including retaining walls, fences, and sheds. Additionally, homeowners insurance providers usually won’t offer coverage for garden retaining walls and yard erosion, and standard homeowners insurance policies exclude flood damage, which poses a significant risk to retaining walls. During heavy rainfall events, retaining walls can suffer extensive damage from flood waters.

Mecklenburg County’s Unique Storm Challenges

Mecklenburg County faces distinctive weather patterns that put hardscaping at particular risk. Flooding is Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s biggest natural threat. While it can occur during any season, there is an increased chance during warmer weather. Severe thunderstorms developed across North and South Carolina during the afternoon and evening of April 20, 2024, with large hail and damaging winds occurring in multiple swaths, demonstrating the ongoing threat to outdoor structures.

Recent storm activity has been particularly intense. Sunday was a day to be Weather Aware as a line of strong thunderstorms caused multiple tornado warnings and widespread damage across the Charlotte area on Sunday morning. The first wave of storms moved into the Charlotte area around 9 a.m. Sunday, with heavy rain and gusty winds impacting North Carolina and South Carolina. Multiple tornado warnings were issued across the region as these strong storms pushed over the region.

Essential Steps for Filing Your Hardscape Insurance Claim

When storm damage strikes your hardscape, time is of the essence. “You want to get that filed as soon as possible because everyone is filing claims,” said Jo Anne Oni, the officer’s director of consumer services. “You want to make sure you’re at the top of the list in getting some assistance.”

Follow these critical steps immediately after damage occurs:

• Document Everything: Before doing any temporary repairs, photograph and make a list of the damage. Take photos from multiple angles and keep detailed records.
• Prevent Further Damage: Your homeowners insurance policy requires you to mitigate damages. This means you must take reasonable measures to prevent further damage to your home and belongings. For instance, have tarps installed on a damaged roof, board up broken windows and dry your contents if possible.
• Contact Your Insurance Company: Contact your insurance agent/company as soon as possible to arrange a visit from an adjuster. Be patient; insurance companies will likely be handling a very large volume of requests.
• Keep Receipts: Save any receipts for materials purchased for temporary repairs. If the damage was caused by a covered cause of loss, your policy will reimburse any expenses you incurred for reasonable and necessary repairs that protects against more damage.

Working with Professional Contractors

When hardscape damage occurs, partnering with experienced Hardscape Contractors Mecklenburg County can make the insurance process significantly smoother. Union Landscaping and Hardscape S Corp, as a family-owned company, is dedicated to transforming your vision into a beautiful and functional outdoor oasis. Using the finest local North Carolina materials, they build durable, custom spaces that your family will enjoy for years to come.

They’re committed to building lasting relationships with their clients, passionate about using sustainable practices to protect the environment, and their designs are inspired by the natural beauty of Monroe, incorporating native plants and materials. This local expertise is invaluable when dealing with insurance adjusters who need accurate assessments and repair estimates.

Professional contractors like Milton Stone can provide detailed assessments for your insurance claim, ensuring you receive fair compensation for repairs. If your home has structural damage, experienced professionals can handle the job from start to finish and work with your insurance company to get the claim settled easily, providing free estimates before beginning any project and working seamlessly with your insurance company to settle claims quickly and easily.

Maximizing Your Coverage and Protection

To ensure adequate protection for your hardscape investment, consider these proactive measures:

• Review Your Policy: Check if hardscaping is explicitly mentioned and what perils are covered. For high-value hardscaping, consider adding a rider to your policy for extra protection.
• Maintain Documentation: Keep photos, receipts, and warranties for your hardscaping features.
• Regular Maintenance: Prevention remains the best strategy for protecting your retaining walls and avoiding insurance claims. North Carolina homeowners can take several proactive steps to maintain these structures and reduce the risk of failure. Regular inspections are essential, especially before and after the rainy season.
• Consider Flood Insurance: This type of damage requires separate flood insurance coverage. For North Carolina homeowners, flood insurance becomes particularly important given the state’s hurricane exposure and increasing rainfall patterns.

Looking Ahead: 2024 and Beyond

As extreme weather events become increasingly common, home insurance rates were projected to rise through the remainder of 2024. This makes understanding your coverage and working with knowledgeable professionals even more critical.

Union Landscaping’s commitment to sustainable landscaping services designed to create beautiful outdoor spaces while minimizing environmental impact includes native plant installations that require less water and maintenance, efficient drip irrigation systems to conserve water, and sustainable hardscaping services using materials like permeable pavers that allow rainwater to filter back into the soil, reducing runoff.

When storm damage threatens your hardscape investment in Mecklenburg County, remember that preparation, documentation, and professional expertise are your best defenses. By understanding your insurance coverage, maintaining detailed records, and partnering with experienced local contractors, you can protect your outdoor living spaces and ensure swift recovery when Mother Nature strikes. Don’t wait for the next storm—review your coverage today and establish relationships with trusted professionals who can help you navigate both prevention and recovery.