Many home insurance policies include accidental damage cover — which can apply to damage to baths, worktops, tiles and floors caused by accidents in the home. Understanding how to use this cover for surface repair claims can save you significant out-of-pocket expense. This guide explains how the process works.
Does Home Insurance Cover Surface Repair?
Standard home insurance (buildings and contents) typically covers accidental damage in certain circumstances. Whether a specific surface damage claim is covered depends on your policy wording, the cause of the damage, and whether you have accidental damage cover included or as an add-on. Common covered events include: a heavy object being dropped on a bath or sink, causing a chip; a pan being accidentally knocked off the hob onto a floor tile; a child’s toy causing a crack in a bath or shower screen. Events typically not covered include: general wear and tear; gradual deterioration; damage from cleaning; self-inflicted or deliberate damage.
The Claims Process for Surface Repair
If you believe your surface damage is covered, the typical process is: notify your insurer and check your policy excess; the insurer may ask for photos of the damage; the insurer may send their own assessor, or may ask you to obtain quotes from approved repairers; you submit a quote from a specialist surface repair company (like Shazam Repairs); the claim is approved and repair is carried out. Note that your policy excess applies — if the excess is £100 and the repair quote is £120, the claim may not be worth making. Check the excess and the potential premium impact before claiming.
What Surface Repair Quotes Look Like for Insurers
Insurers need a clear, itemised quote from a qualified contractor. Our quotes include: description of the damage, photograph of the damage, description of the repair method, materials required, labour time, and total price. This format is accepted by all major UK home insurers and loss adjusters. We can also provide written reports on the cause and nature of the damage if required.
Repair vs Like-for-Like Replacement
Insurers are generally required to return the property to its pre-loss condition — which may mean repair rather than like-for-like replacement where repair is possible. Surface repair is typically far more cost-effective for the insurer than full replacement, and a good surface repair will return the damaged item to pre-loss condition. Some policyholders choose to have the repair done professionally and recover the cost, rather than going through the full claims process.
Get an Insurance-Ready Surface Repair Quote
Shazam Repairs provides insurance-format quotes accepted by all major UK home insurers. Send photos for a free quote that you can submit to your insurer.
