In some warranties, Structural Defect coverage varies. You may see this listed as Major Structural Defects also. This coverage is designed to cover those load bearing portions of your home designed to transmit both dead and live loads of the home to a supporting ground level such as:

• FOUNDATION SYSTEMS AND FOOTINGS
• BEAMS
• LINTELS
• ROOF TRUSSES AND RAFTERS
• BEAMS, BEARING WALLS AND COLUMNS

Typically, in order for coverage to be triggered, there usually must be an unsafe, unsanitary or otherwise unlivable condition found in the home. While the home does not have to be rendered uninhabitable, it usually requires that it be of such a serious nature that it vitally affects the use of the home for residential purposes. An example of this could be large cracks in the foundation walls of your home that have or could result in significant drywall distress. A structural engineer can usually determine whether or not the condition is active enough. Your warranty or insurance company will usually assign an engineer to inspect the damages, saving you the costs.