Went through something similar when we bought our first place—insurer initially brushed off siding damage as "just cosmetic." Ended up having to document everything step-by-step to prove moisture was sneaking in.
—totally agree. Did your inspector recommend any specific moisture barriers or fixes?"Independent inspections definitely pay off"
- Had something similar happen about 5 yrs back—insurance tried to label roof leaks as "pre-existing" (whatever that means).
- Ended up hiring an independent inspector who found moisture intrusion around flashing and vents.
- Inspector didn't push any specific brands, but strongly recommended a peel-and-stick membrane around vulnerable spots.
- Was skeptical at first—seemed pricey—but honestly, haven't had issues since.
- Also mentioned ensuring proper flashing installation around windows and doors, since that's usually where moisture sneaks in first.
- Insurance eventually covered repairs after we presented inspection pics and detailed notes...but yeah, the fine print battle is exhausting.
Went through something similar—insurance initially balked at covering water damage, claiming it was due to "poor maintenance." Independent inspector helped a ton. Curious though, did your inspector mention attic ventilation? Ours said improper venting can worsen moisture issues big time...
Had a similar run-in with insurance myself—felt like they were just fishing for excuses not to pay up. Our inspector did mention attic ventilation, but honestly, I was skeptical at first. Thought he was just upselling me on extra work. But after digging around online, turns out poor venting really can make moisture problems way worse. Ended up adding some vents myself... wasn't too bad of a DIY project, and it actually helped. Hope your situation gets sorted soon, insurance battles are exhausting.
Ventilation definitely matters, but honestly, insurance companies sometimes lean on it a bit too heavily as a scapegoat. I've seen cases where homes had decent venting and still ended up with moisture issues after storms—especially if shingles or flashing got damaged. DIY vents can help, sure, but it's not always the silver bullet insurers make it out to be. Worth double-checking other potential weak spots before assuming ventilation alone solves everything.
