Under a Tower Hill Insurance policy, damage must meet a specific structural threshold to qualify as a covered sinkhole loss. Coverage typically applies to the building and its foundation when settlement or cracking is directly attributed to sinkhole activity (subterranean voids (e.g., limestone dissolution) beneath the structure).
Signs of structural damage covered by the policy include:
It is important to note that Tower Hill generally excludes cosmetic or non-structural damage, as well as damage caused by normal wear and tear, erosion from surface water, or gradual settlement unrelated to sinkhole activity. For a claim to be successful, a licensed structural engineer must verify that the damage meets these structural thresholds and is caused by a sinkhole.
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Yes, stair-step cracks in brick are one of the most distinctive and telling signs of foundation settlement or sinking. These diagonal fractures follow the mortar joints in a zigzag pattern, signaling that the underlying foundation is settling or moving unevenly.…