Structural damage to a property is often not noticeable until it’s too late, and often does not show its effect for years after the damage has occurred. Structural damage comes in many forms, including poor engineering, damage to framing or structural members, slab or foundation damage, and soil problems. Often the only thing an insured sees is cracks in his home or building, doors and windows out of plumb, or out of level floors, but the cause is unknown.

Because structural damage is often not readily apparent, it is frequently not discovered until the damage is advanced or serious. Moreover, when insureds become aware of damages that are manifesting themselves, they frequently do not understand that the cause is a structural issue. Insurance companies often attempt to handle damages resulting from structural issues by paying for cosmetic repairs, like patching cracks in the wall, without addressing the underlying problem. Indeed, structural problems often result in repeat claims, which can also complicate matters, precisely because the structural cause is not initially addressed.

To adequately investigate whether there is structural damage to a building, experts must be consulted, and destructive testing may be required. The experts that may need to be retained include structural and geotechnical engineers, who may want to open walls, access portions of the foundation, or test the soil, all of which requires damaging then repairing the property. This kind of investigation is costly and complicated, and often is not undertaken by insurance companies unless an insured presses the claim.