Navigating Insurance 'Code Upgrade' Coverage: A Guide to Rebuilding Smarter After the Old Trails Fire
The recent Old Trails fire has left a deep scar on our Spokane community. If you are reading this because you lost your home in Northwest Spokane, Indian Trail, or Five Mile Prairie, please know that our hearts are with you. The devastation of a wildfire is profound, and the days ahead may feel incredibly overwhelming. But take a deep breath—there is hope, and there is a clear path forward.
Rebuilding your life and your home is a journey, and you do not have to walk it alone. As Consultant Claire from Raven Buildings LLC, my goal is to provide you with the nurturing guidance, clear steps, and professional insight you need to make informed decisions during this difficult time.
In this guide, we will walk through what to do next, how to handle your insurance company, and why understanding "code upgrade" coverage is the secret to rebuilding a beautiful, fire-resilient home in Eastern Washington.
The First Steps: What to Do Immediately After the Fire
When the smoke clears, the sheer number of decisions can feel paralyzing. Focus only on these immediate steps to protect yourself and your family:
- Secure a Safe Place to Stay: Your homeowner's insurance policy likely includes "Additional Living Expenses" (ALE) or "Loss of Use" coverage. This pays for your temporary housing, food, and other living costs while you are displaced.
- Contact Your Insurance Company: File your claim immediately. Ask for an advance on your ALE and personal property coverage so you can purchase immediate necessities.
- Document Everything: Keep every single receipt. If your property is safe to visit, take extensive photos and videos of the damage before any cleanup begins.
- Beware of Predatory Scams: Unfortunately, disasters attract bad actors. Spokane County officials have warned residents about scammers offering quick cleanup or rebuilding services. Always thoroughly vet contractors and never hand over large sums of cash upfront.
Understanding Your Insurance: The "Code Upgrade" Gap
One of the most critical hurdles families face when rebuilding after a wildfire is the gap between what their old home was, and what their new home must be.
When an insurance adjuster writes their first estimate, their goal is often to cover the bare minimum. They will write a scope of work based on replacing exactly what you had before the fire—a concept known in the industry as "like kind and quality."
However, if your home was built 15, 30, or 50 years ago, building codes have changed drastically. Today's Washington State building and energy codes require upgraded electrical systems, higher R-value insulation, and specific structural supports.
This is where Code Upgrade Coverage (also known as Ordinance or Law Coverage) comes in. This is an insurance endorsement that pays the extra, often substantial, cost of rebuilding your home to meet current building codes after a covered loss.
How to Fight for What You Deserve
Insurance companies will not always volunteer this information. Here is how you can advocate for yourself:
- Ask for the Excerpt: Ask your adjuster to provide the specific excerpt from your policy that mentions code upgrade or ordinance coverage.
- Do Not Accept the First Offer: The initial "like kind and quality" estimate will intentionally ignore mandatory code upgrades. Push back and require them to factor in modern compliance.
- Get Professional Help: Partner with a licensed construction contractor who understands local codes. At Raven Buildings LLC, we regularly help homeowners identify the exact modern code requirements needed for their build, giving you the documentation required to prove these costs to your insurer.
- Use State Resources: If your insurer is delaying or denying fair coverage, you have advocates. The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner offers a free advocacy line at 1-800-562-6900 to help fire survivors navigate the claims process.
Rebuilding vs. Selling: Which is Right for You?
Many homeowners devastated by the Old Trails fire find themselves asking a difficult question: Should we rebuild, or should we just sell the lot and move on?
It is a deeply personal choice. Here is a compassionate comparison to help you weigh your options:
Selling the Property
- The Pros: Selling your empty lot allows you to walk away from the trauma of the fire faster. It avoids the lengthy construction process and lets you start fresh in a new location immediately.
- The Cons: You may receive a significantly lower insurance payout if you choose not to rebuild (insurers often only pay actual cash value rather than replacement cost if you don't rebuild). You also lose your neighborhood, your land, and the community you love.
Rebuilding Your Home
- The Pros: Rebuilding is an opportunity to turn a tragic loss into a beautiful new beginning. You get a brand-new, custom home tailored exactly to your family's current needs. Your new home will be highly energy-efficient, structurally sound, and built with modern fire-resistant materials.
- The Cons: The process takes time, patience, and requires making many design decisions.
Why We Recommend Rebuilding: While the road is longer, rebuilding allows you to reclaim your piece of Eastern Washington. A custom home build is a deeply rewarding process. You aren't just replacing what was lost; you are upgrading your family's future. With the right contractor guiding you, the process can be smooth, transparent, and incredibly healing.
Rebuilding Smarter for the Eastern Washington Climate
If you choose to rebuild, you have a unique opportunity to "harden" your home against future threats. Eastern Washington's climate features freezing, snowy winters and hot, dry summers that create high wildfire risks.
When Raven Buildings LLC designs and builds a home in the Spokane area, we focus on resilience. Here are a few ways we can help you rebuild smarter:
- Fire-Resistant Exteriors: We replace highly flammable vinyl or wood siding with beautiful, durable fiber cement or metal siding. We also utilize Class A fire-rated roofing materials.
- Ember Defense: Most homes burn because wind-blown embers enter the attic or crawlspace. We install 1/8-inch metal mesh over all vents and design enclosed eaves (soffits) to prevent embers from taking hold.
- Superior Insulation: Modern Washington energy codes require excellent insulation. Your new home will be significantly cheaper to heat in the Spokane winters and easier to cool during our scorching Augusts.
- Defensible Space Planning: We can help you position your new build on your lot to maximize "survivable space"—keeping a safe distance between your structure and wildland fuels.
You Don't Have to Walk This Road Alone
Recovering from the Old Trails fire will take time, but the Spokane community is incredibly resilient. As you navigate insurance adjusters, temporary housing, and the emotional toll of this event, please remember to give yourself grace.
When you are ready to look toward the future, we are here to help you bring your vision to life. At Raven Buildings LLC, we pride ourselves on being more than just builders; we are your consultants, your advocates, and your neighbors. We will help you navigate the complexities of code upgrade coverage, design a home that honors your past, and build a safe, beautiful sanctuary for your future.
Ready to take the next step toward healing and rebuilding? Let's sit down and talk about your options. Call Raven Buildings LLC today at (509) 350-2016 or request a quote on our website. We are here to help you rebuild smarter, stronger, and safer.