If your windows seem harder to open and your doors don’t close without a little extra push, it could be the first signs that there is a problem with your foundation. Spreading cracks in your wall and floor or a front porch that is pulling away from the structure of your house, are also possible indicators of a sinking foundation. If you find yourself in such a situation, the cost to repair and remedy the damage can be high. Unfortunately, most home insurance companies only cover this type of loss in a very limited number of circumstances. Usually, homeowners insurance policies contain a specific exclusion against this type of peril.

Although some skyscrapers are designed to move a few inches to be able to better withstand earthquakes, very few homes are designed to move with the expansion, settling or shifting of the ground. Bad things can happen even if your house only shifts by a few inches. In some states, like California and Florida, companies that sell home insurance are required by law to also offer customers the opportunity to buy additional insurance that provides protection against certain types of earth movement. California law requires home insurers to offer earthquake insurance and Florida law requires home insurers to offer sinkhole coverage.

Each state has their own laws and rules that deal with sinking, rising, shifting, expanding or contracting earth movement. Insurance companies may be forced to cover some of these risks, but they are also allowed to charge an additional premium, above and beyond the standard homeowners insurance policy premium.

In rare instances, such as a water supply line bursting under your home and causing the floor beneath your feet to give way, your homeowners insurance may compensate you for the damage to your house. The best way to find out if you are covered for foundation damage is to talk with your independent agent. It is possible to buy additional coverage for a sinking porch, Your agent can compare rates from several insurers to help get you the coverage you want at a price you can afford.