Insurance Coverage for Emergency Shrink Wrap Protection

Navigating Your Insurance Policy After a Storm

In the stressful aftermath of a storm, one of the most pressing concerns for property owners is the financial burden of recovery. A common and critical question is: “Will my insurance pay for this?” When it comes to temporary repairs like professional shrink wrapping, the answer is almost always a resounding “Yes.” Understanding your storm protection insurance coverage is key to moving forward with confidence. Most insurance policies not only cover these temporary measures but actually require you to take them. This guide will explain how insurance coverage for emergency shrink wrap protection works, what you need to know about your policy, and how a professional service provider can help you navigate the claims process seamlessly.

Insurance companies recognize that preventing further damage is in everyone’s best interest. By investing in insurance approved methods of loss mitigation, such as professional shrink wrapping, you are protecting your property and saving the insurance company from paying for much more expensive repairs down the line, such as mold remediation and structural damage.

The “Mitigate Damages” Clause: Your Responsibility as a Policyholder

Virtually every standard commercial and residential property insurance policy contains a clause that requires the policyholder to “mitigate damages.” This means that after a loss occurs (like a hole in your roof from a storm), you have a contractual obligation to take reasonable steps to prevent the damage from getting worse.

Failure to do so can be grounds for your insurer to deny claims for any secondary damage that occurs. For example, if you have a damaged roof and do nothing to cover it, the insurance company will likely pay for the roof repair but may refuse to pay for the subsequent water damage to your ceilings, walls, and floors that occurred in the next rainstorm.

This is where emergency shrink wrap protection comes in. Hiring a professional to install a high-quality, durable shrink wrap cover is considered the gold standard of “reasonable steps.” It is a clear, decisive action that demonstrates to your insurer that you are fulfilling your duties as a policyholder.

How Insurance Covers Emergency Protection Costs

The cost of emergency shrink wrapping is typically covered under the “Loss Mitigation” or “Temporary Repairs” portion of your policy. Here’s how the process generally works:

1. You Authorize the Work: You don’t need to wait for an adjuster to visit before you act. Your priority is to stop the damage. You have the right to hire a company like Storm Wrappers immediately to secure your property.
2. We Document Everything: This is a critical service we provide. Our team takes extensive “before,” “during,” and “after” photos of the damage and our installation. We provide a detailed, itemized invoice that clearly states the work was performed to mitigate further damage. This provides the essential claim documentation support your adjuster will need.
3. You Pay for the Service: Typically, the homeowner or property manager pays for the emergency service upfront.
4. You Submit for Reimbursement: You then submit our detailed invoice and documentation to your insurance company as part of your overall claim. The cost of the temporary repair is added to the total claim value.
5. The Cost is Reimbursed: The insurance company will reimburse you for the full cost of the shrink wrap installation, as it is a covered expense under your policy. This amount does not typically come out of your deductible; rather, it is part of the total claim payout.

Why Insurers Prefer Professional Shrink Wrap Over Tarps

While an insurer will likely cover a basic blue tarp, they have a strong preference for professional shrink wrap for several key reasons:

• Effectiveness and Reliability: Insurers know that shrink wrap is far less likely to fail than a tarp. By paying for a superior solution upfront, they dramatically reduce their risk of paying out a much larger claim for secondary water damage later.
• Clear and Professional Invoicing: A professional company provides the clean, detailed paperwork that adjusters need. This is often not the case with informal tarp installers, which can complicate the claim.
• Reduces Disputes: When a property is professionally secured, there is no ambiguity. It’s clear that the policyholder took the best possible action, which simplifies the claims process and reduces the potential for disputes.