Tree Fell on House: $900 to $6,000 Repair (Fixr), Insurance

Tree fell on house: repair, removal and insurance figures at a glance. National figures.

Tree fell on the house: is it an emergency?

• Call 911 now: anyone is hurt or trapped, you smell gas, there is fire or sparking, or a power line is down on the tree, the house or the ground.
• Get out and stay out: the trunk came through the roof or a wall, ceilings are sagging, or doors no longer close. The CDC says not to enter a damaged building until local authorities say it is safe.
• Same day: a tree or large limb is resting on the roof without breaking through. Its weight can shift, and rain can get in under it.
• Can wait a day or two: the tree came down in the yard and touched nothing. Still photograph it before anyone cuts.

Treat every wire as live. OSHA's storm cleanup guidance says to assume electrical lines are energized until proven otherwise and to keep at least 10 feet from overhead lines, and FPL says to stay far away from a downed line and call 911. Then call the electric utility. No one should cut a tree that is touching a wire until the utility says it is safe.

Tree fell on house: does insurance cover it?

Usually yes for the house, and only in part for the tree. The Maryland Insurance Administration says many homeowners policies cover damage to the home, its contents and other insured structures, like fences and detached garages, when a tree falls on them, up to the policy's dollar limits. The Insurance Information Institute says the same: if a tree hits your home or another insured structure, the standard policy generally covers the structure and its contents. Your deductible applies, so call your insurer before the cleanup crew starts and photograph the tree where it lies.

Typical homeowners coverage when a tree falls. Policies differ; your declarations page and your insurer decide.

Neighbor's tree fell on my house: who pays?

You claim through your own policy, even when the tree was your neighbor's. The Maryland Insurance Administration says coverage applies "even if it is your neighbor's tree." If the neighbor knew the tree was dead, the agency says your insurer may seek reimbursement from the neighbor, a process called subrogation. The III adds that if negligence can be shown, such as a diseased or poorly kept tree, your insurer may collect from the neighbor's policy and you may get your deductible back. Keep any photos of the tree's condition before the storm and any written warnings you gave the neighbor.

Tree fell in the yard but missed the house

This is where policies split. The Maryland Insurance Administration says policies may pay a limited amount for removal, usually $500 to $1,000, whether the tree damages an insured structure or just falls in your yard, and that the limit is typically per event, not per tree, so one tree or 10 trees get the same amount. Other policies pay nothing for a tree that hits nothing. Damage to the tree itself is a separate question: the agency says damage to trees, shrubs and plants from snow, ice or wind is generally not covered, and other covered losses are capped at $500 for any one item. The III's list of perils for trees and shrubs is fire, lightning, explosion, theft, aircraft, vehicles not owned by the resident and vandalism. A car under the tree is a claim on your comprehensive auto coverage.

Fallen tree removal cost

Removal from a roof is a different job from cutting up a tree on the lawn. Fixr's storm guide prices removing a fallen tree at $400 to $900. Angi lists a simple fallen tree at $75 to $150 and a fallen or uprooted tree cut up and hauled away at $300 to $500. Once the tree is on the structure, crews often need rigging or a crane to lift sections off without dropping them through the roof. Angi puts a crane at about $250 to $600 a day and difficult crane removals at about $6,000 to $7,000; Fixr lists crane-assisted removal at $1,500 to $2,500.

Urgency adds to the bill. Fixr says emergency removal costs $450 to $5,000, often 2 to 3 times the normal rate, and HomeGuide also puts emergency work at 2 to 3 times standard. Angi adds 25% to 50% for hard-to-reach or unsafe spots. For trees that are standing, not fallen, tree removal has normal prices by height.

Repairing the roof and house after a tree hit

Fixr prices roof repair after a tree impact at $900 to $6,000 and notes that structural and water repairs can push the total higher. Its storm guide puts repairs to a house hit by a tree at $1,500 to $5,000. HomeGuide says a roof repair that reaches structural damage starts at about $3,000. A trunk that broke rafters or trusses usually needs a framing repair, so ask whether a permit is needed and whether the roofer or a general contractor will pull it.

Expect several trades: the tree crew, a roofer for decking and shingles, possibly a framer, and a water damage company if rain got in. The storm damage restoration guide walks through the order, and ceiling water damage repair prices the inside work.

The order of work after a tree hits the house

1. Utility clears any power lines; nobody cuts before that.
2. You photograph the tree on the house from every side, plus the damage inside.
3. Your insurer opens the claim. The Maryland Insurance Administration says to photograph damaged property before debris is removed because the policy will likely require you to prove the loss.
4. The tree crew lifts the tree off the structure in sections.
5. A roofer covers the opening the same day. Tarp prices are on emergency roof tarp.
6. Water extraction and drying start if anything inside got wet.
7. Framing, roof and interior repairs follow, usually after the adjuster has seen the damage.

Chainsaw and fallen tree safety

A tree resting on a house is loaded like a spring. ISA, the arborists' association, says broken limbs and uprooted trees under tension can move unexpectedly when cut and that cleanup at height belongs with a professional arborist. If you cut up limbs in the yard yourself, OSHA's chainsaw fact sheet lists these rules:

• Wear a hard hat, eye protection, hearing protection, chaps or other leg protection, gloves and sturdy boots.
• Fuel the saw at least 10 feet from any ignition source, and start it on the ground with the chain brake engaged.
• Plan each cut and watch for wood under tension; be ready for kickback.
• Do not cut directly overhead. OSHA counts cutting above shoulder height, or from a ladder or a tree, as higher-risk work; leave that to a crew.
• Keep other people at least twice the height of the tree away when felling, and never work alone.
• Before cutting a dead tree, OSHA warns the top can break off; plan a clear path to retreat.

Questions to ask the tree crew and the roofer

• Will you lift the tree off in sections, and do you need a crane? What does the crane add?
• Is the price for removal from the structure only, or does it include hauling and stump work?
• Will you cover the opening the same day, or should I call a roofer?
• Can you give me a written invoice for the insurer that separates removal, tarping and repairs?
• What is your license number where my state licenses this work, and can I see proof of insurance?

Never sign an assignment of benefits or let a contractor offer to cover your deductible; the rules by state are on storm damage contractor laws by state.

Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job; hours vary. How calls work. Tree crews and roofers are licensed differently from state to state; ask each one for its license number where one applies, and for proof of liability insurance.

Tree on your house? What to do now

1. Get everyone out of rooms under the tree and out of the house if the roof or walls were broken.
2. Call 911 for injuries, gas or a downed line, then report lines to the electric company.
3. Photograph and video the tree on the house and every damaged room before anything is moved.
4. Report the claim to your insurer and write down the claim number.
5. Call for tree removal and a same-day tarp, and keep every receipt.
6. If a neighbor's tree, tell the neighbor in writing and keep any photos of its condition.