Does Home Insurance Cover Flood-Damaged Furniture? An Ottawa Guide

If your furniture was damaged in the recent Ottawa flooding, you’re probably asking: “Will my insurance cover this?” The short answer is — probably, but it depends on your policy. Here’s what you need to know.

Home Insurance and Flood Damage

Most standard home insurance policies in Ontario cover water damage from sudden and accidental events — like a burst pipe or sewer backup. However, overland flooding (water entering from outside) often requires a separate rider or endorsement.

Key questions to ask your provider:

1. Does my policy include overland flood coverage?
2. What’s my deductible for water damage claims?
3. Does my policy cover furniture restoration, or only replacement?
4. Are there coverage limits for antiques or high-value pieces?

Restoration vs. Replacement

Many insurance companies default to replacement — they’ll cut you a cheque for the depreciated value of your furniture. But replacement value rarely covers the cost of equivalent new furniture, and it completely ignores sentimental value.

Here’s the good news: you have the right to choose restoration over replacement. If a piece can be professionally restored to its pre-damage condition, your insurance provider should cover the restoration cost. In many cases, restoration is actually cheaper for the insurance company than replacement.

The Claims Process (Step by Step)

1. Document everything. Photos of standing water, damaged furniture from multiple angles, and any visible mold.
2. Contact your insurance provider immediately. Most have 24/7 claims lines.
3. Don’t move or discard anything until your adjuster has inspected it.
4. Get a professional assessment. We provide free, insurance-formatted damage assessments with itemized restoration estimates.
5. Submit your documentation. Your adjuster reviews the estimate and approves the work.
6. We restore your furniture. We handle the billing directly with your insurance provider.

Why Work With Henderson Furniture Repair?

We’ve been handling insurance claims for Ottawa families since 1947. We work directly with every major provider — Intact, Aviva, TD, Desjardins, The Co-operators, and more — and we speak “insurance.” Our damage assessments are formatted exactly the way adjusters expect, which means faster approvals and less back-and-forth.

Call us at 613-224-2150 or visit our Insurance Claims page to start your claim.