What constitutes a second story? Gregory Corliss asked 1 year ago
What constitutes a second story?

I have a one-story ranch house. In 1977 the previous owners enclosed and finished a covered exterior patio space and made it part of the home. There is a less than 3-inch step up from the enclosed area to the main floor of the house. My homeowners insurance said this constitutes a second floor or two-story house–can this be correct?

1 Answers
Don A. Lesser, Esq. Don A. Lesser, Esq. Expert answered 1 year ago

It seems like a silly position for your insurer to take, especially since actual two-story homes are typically less costly to replace, on a per square foot basis, than one story homes. I suggest you ask the insurer how their “two story” position impacts your premium. If they say it increases your premium you may want to file a Request for Assistance with the California Department of Insurance and request that they investigate the basis for the premium calculation.