If you own a log cabin, you’ll want to make sure it’s properly covered with homeowners insurance. Homeowners insurance covers damage like fire, break-ins, bad weather, and other potential risks to your cabin.
Log homes are generally more expensive to insure because they’re constructed with expensive lumber or timber, and insurers consider them to be higher risk since they are often located in remote, hard-to-reach locations. If your log cabin is a second home and not your primary residence, you’ll need vacation home insurance.
Does homeowners insurance cover log homes?
Most homeowners insurance companies will cover log and timber homes, however your rates to be higher than the average home insurance premium. Insurance companies consider log cabins to be riskier to insure due to their expensive building materials and their isolated locations. If your cabin is a secondary home, you should make sure to tell your insurance company — your insurer may have grounds to cancel your coverage if you don’t disclose this information.
Below are the coverage components of a standard homeowners policy:
Dwelling coverage: Covers your home from perils like fire, windstorm, hail, theft, and vandalism. You should have enough dwelling coverage to fully rebuild your cabin from the ground up
Other structures coverage: Protects other structures on your property, like a shed or detached garage, from property damage
Personal property coverage: Helps pay to repair or replace personal property damaged by a covered peril. Also protects your belongings from theft, both on and off your property
Loss of use coverage: Pays for additional living expenses if your log cabin becomes uninhabitable due to a covered loss
Liability coverage: Covers legal and medical expenses in the event you’re found at fault for property damage or bodily injury
Medical expenses coverage: Helps pay for the medical expenses for minor injuries if a guest is hurt in your home
Are log cabins insurable?
Yes, you can purchase homeowners insurance for your log cabin. If your log cabin is a second home or vacation home, you’ll need vacation home insurance.
Does Geico insure log homes?
Yes, Geico and many other major insurance companies offer homeowners insurance for log homes or cabins. That said, your cabin may need to meet certain requirements, like if your roof is over 15 years old you may need to replace it, depending on the insurance company.
Are log homes more expensive to insure?
There are several factors specific to log homes that can impact your home insurance rates. Below are a few of those.
1. Your log cabin is a secondary residence
If your log cabin isn’t your primary residence, your insurance rates will be higher. Vacation and seasonal homes are generally riskier to insure since they are unoccupied more often, which leaves them more susceptible to break-ins and sustained damage from a leak, fire, or pest infestation.
2. Location
Where your log cabin is located will affect your rates. If your cabin is located in an area that experiences frequent blizzards or ice storms, for example, your premiums may be more expensive. Your cabin’s proximity to a fire department or fire hydrant may impact your rates as well.
3. Construction materials
The construction materials or type of logs used to build your cabin may affect your log home insurance rates. Timber and other wood materials are typically given a fire-resistance rating, which your insurer may take into consideration.
4. Extra features
Your rates may be higher if your log cabin contains extra features, like a hot tub or pool, because they carry liability risk.
Additional homeowners insurance for log homes
You may want to consider adding additional coverage to your log home policy to fully protect your log cabin.
Builders risk insurance
If you’re building a log cabin from the ground up, or making large renovations to your cabin, you’ll want to protect the construction materials with builders risk insurance. Builders risk insurance can help protect the building materials of your cabin in the event it is damaged during the construction period.
Learn more about how builders risk insurance works
Extended replacement cost
You should have enough dwelling coverage to cover your home’s replacement cost value, not its market value. Extended replacement cost increases your cabin’s insured value an additional 25% or 50%, and is an essential coverage add-on if your cabin is located in an area that experiences severe weather.
Short term rental coverage or landlord insurance
If your cabin is a vacation property that you rent out every so often, you should consider short term rental coverage to protect your home from damage or theft while it’s rented out. If you rent your cabin out on a full-time basis, you’ll need landlord insurance.
Personal umbrella policy
Personal umbrella insurance can help cover expensive liability claims that exceed your policy’s liability coverage limit. These policies are typically sold in increments of $1 million and go up to $5 million. If your combined assets — like your log cabin, primary residence, car, and retirement savings — exceed your home liability limit, you should consider umbrella insurance.
Flood insurance
Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flood damage. If your log cabin is located in an area that’s at risk of flooding, consider purchasing a standalone flood insurance policy.
How to save on log cabin insurance
Depending on your insurance company, your log home may qualify for homeowners insurance discounts. You may receive a discount if you install a burglar alarm system, or fire-proof your cabin. Some other common home insurance discounts include:
Multi-policy discounts
Loyalty discounts
Bundling discounts
Claims free discounts
You may also want to consider re-shopping your log home insurance annually to make sure you’re not missing out on a better deal with a different company.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it hard to get insurance on a log home?
Log cabins are typically located in remote locations, which puts them more at risk for sustained damage. If your home is located on a remote road, for example, it may be difficult for a fire department or emergency services to arrive in a timely manner. A log cabin will also be more expensive to insure if it is built with expensive timber or if it is a seasonal or secondary home.
