Snow country inside a desert state
Incline Village, Crystal Bay, Glenbrook and Stateline sit in heavy-snow country, and Washoe and Douglas counties set high design snow loads for buildings there. Even at lower elevations, Reno, Carson City and Elko see hard freezes, and Elko winters regularly drop well below zero. The result is a set of claims that surprise people who think of Nevada as all desert.
What winter damages
- Snow-load damage. Sagging or cracked rafters and trusses, failed decks and balconies, crushed carports and collapsed outbuildings after heavy, wet snow.
- Ice dams. Meltwater backs up under roofing at the eaves and leaks into walls and ceilings.
- Sliding snow. Snow sheds off metal roofs onto lower roofs, decks, railings, vents and vehicles.
- Frozen pipes. Lines in exterior walls, crawlspaces and garages split during cold snaps, often in second homes.
- Weight of ice on trees bringing limbs down on roofs and fences.
Where these claims get stuck
Policies often treat weight of ice and snow as a covered peril for the building, but limit coverage for decks, fences, patios and similar items unless the building itself is damaged. Ice-dam leaks may be argued as maintenance. Freeze losses in unoccupied homes trigger heat-maintenance conditions. Hidden framing damage can be missed on a winter inspection when the roof is still covered in snow. We document structural members, interior water paths and code requirements, and we come back after the melt when a winter inspection could not see everything.
Questions about this service
My deck collapsed under snow but the house is fine. Is the deck covered?
It depends on your policy. Some forms limit weight-of-snow coverage for decks and similar structures unless the building is also damaged. Read the peril wording carefully.
The adjuster inspected while the roof was still under snow. Should I ask for a reinspection?
Often, yes. Hidden damage to framing or roofing may only be visible after the melt. Report it promptly and ask in writing.
Do you travel to Elko and rural northeastern Nevada?
Yes. We cover all of Nevada and schedule rural inspections around weather and road conditions.