Insurers Reveal The Cost Of Lightning Strikes To Homes

While it’s a rarer reason to visit your trusted rebar suppliers, repairing a roof after a lightning strike is definitely not unheard of for those in the construction industry. While we all may be aware of the risks of fire danger when a lightning strike comes near a flammable building material such as wood or insulation, less is known about the other effects it can have on a home.

However, new data released by Direct Line has revealed the total cost a single home insurance claim can reach for a house struck by lightning, and it’s more than you might think. The insurer found that costs can reach up to £45,000 to repair damage to homes. While the roof repair makes up a portion of this amount, the highest costs come from damage to electrical products.

In the record case of the damage claimed which topped £45,000, CCTV cameras, intruder alarm, water features, telephone line, heating and lighting systems were all damaged by a power surge caused by a lightning strike. These strikes can cause instant and extensive damage to microprocessors and circuit boards.

Nick Brabham, head of SELECT Premier Insurance, said: “One bolt could wipe out an entire household of items meaning people are left with a hefty repair bill. They say that lightning doesn’t strike twice and with the potential bill reaching more than £45,000 you really wouldn’t want it to!”

Shock wave damage is also common from lightning strikes, which can cause damage to concrete and brick too, requiring more extensive repairs from builders.