Destroyed support on lean-to conservatory, can I claim?

Rochemback

Hi all,
I'm completely new to this so my apologies if this topic has already been covered but I'm in a bit of a panic regarding my situation.
I have been gardening a lot since lockdown and upon completion of the landscaping I decided to have a go at taking apart part of the patio, near my lean-to, with a sledgehammer... Yes the very obvious happened; I missed the raised patio and went straight through a corner column on the lean-to which has resulted in the whole structure now being precariously dangerous.
My predicament is this - I've never claimed on home insurance before and I'd reckon this would be a suitable claim to make. The lean-to is wooden and hasn't been maintained well before I bought the property last year. Basically, I'm in two minds - do I make a claim and if so, what could I possibly claim? The whole lean-to is now, ironically enough, leaning to the side with no support, the ceiling has buckled and it now looks like a decent gust (or big, bad wolf) would blow it down. My other option is to grab the sledgehammer and finish the job (albeit safely). 
As I've mentioned before, I have zero experience in claiming. Would my insurance even accept a claim on a 30 year old lean-to? Would they simply repair the damage? Would they replace the whole thing? I appreciate it's a case-by-case basis but I don't want to basically put in the ground work and waste time for them to repair the existing structure when I'm going to feel uncomfortable stepping foot in there again.
TL;DR - should I finish the job myself and put down my trusty steed or let the insurance company do their thing?
Thank you in advance for any advice, I'm too new for this!

MovingForwards

Do you have accidental damage cover within your home insurance? If not, they won't cover any damage caused by you.

Rochemback

MovingForwards said:

Do you have accidental damage cover within your home insurance? If not, they won't cover any damage caused by you.

Ah apologies, I never mentioned that important detail! I do.

rs65

Rochemback said:

Would they simply repair the damage? 

If repairing is cheaper, then yes.

Hasbeen

Rochemback said:

MovingForwards said:

Do you have accidental damage cover within your home insurance? If not, they won't cover any damage caused by you.

Ah apologies, I never mentioned that important detail! I do.

What is the excess on your policy for accidental damage?

Personally I would just finish the job.

Rochemback

rs65 said:

Rochemback said:

Would they simply repair the damage? 

If repairing is cheaper, then yes.

Thank you for that - obviously as a newbie I didn't consider that!

Rochemback

Hasbeen said:

Rochemback said:

MovingForwards said:

Do you have accidental damage cover within your home insurance? If not, they won't cover any damage caused by you.

Ah apologies, I never mentioned that important detail! I do.

What is the excess on your policy for accidental damage?

Personally I would just finish the job.

My excess is £350 but if the insurer are going to just repair it then I don't see the point as it'll increase my premium next year.
I like your advice too - that's much more straight forward than wait weeks for a resolution.

TheInsideGuy

Rochemback said:

The lean-to is wooden and hasn't been maintained well before I bought the property last year. 

if this hasn't been maintained in a "good state of repair" the insurer may decline the claim as they may have a clause that states your supposed to keep up the maintenance on the property. Not guaranteed on the above but they may fall back on this. 

Hasbeen

Rochemback said:

Hasbeen said:

Rochemback said:

MovingForwards said:

Do you have accidental damage cover within your home insurance? If not, they won't cover any damage caused by you.

Ah apologies, I never mentioned that important detail! I do.

What is the excess on your policy for accidental damage?

Personally I would just finish the job.

My excess is £350 but if the insurer are going to just repair it then I don't see the point as it'll increase my premium next year.
I like your advice too - that's much more straight forward than wait weeks for a resolution.

Then do it Thor!!

Ditzy_Mitzy

I must say that I enjoyed the good humour present in the original post. It's better to laugh than to cry...
Knock it down - you know you want to.

Rochemback

Thanks for the replies guys! The lean-to has been laid-to rest.
I'd like compare it to saying goodbye to an old friend but, well, that would be a fair bit violent.
Anyway, I now have a larger garden and my partner has given me more jobs to do - you'd reckon the last one would've taught her a thing or two about my DIY ability but no.
Hopefully, this time, it ends well.