kamikazekyle
Senior member
Cliffs:
-Main support for the house is about to go AWOL due to rot/mold/age.
-Foundation shifting.
-Insurance company doesn't send out a full inspector, then forgets about me.
-Schedule repairs myself and hope the insurance company will reimburse.
A little while ago, I noticed some of the drywall tape on a corner in my master bath (center of the house) start to crack a bit. I didn't pay it much attention since the bathroom needs a small remodel and a new exhaust, so I figured it was the heat and humidity cycles causing the mud to crack. I then noticed the kitchen counter -- opposite the bathroom wall -- sag 5mm, followed shortly thereafter by the kitchen floor sinking.
I call up the insurance company as at this point I know it's something structural, they send out an adjuster that takes some photos of the drywall, kitchen counter, and sink. He looked into the the crawlspace, which I figured was a little minimal as everything indicated structural issues. In any event, he's not a full inspector let alone a structual engineer. The insurance company says they'll call me back in 7-10 business days after the adjuster files his report to see if they'll cover the damage and if they need to do any more.
While I'm waiting for that, the main load bearing wall (atop the main center beam in the crawlspace -- which is the main support for the house aside from the foundation) starts separating from the ceiling and the floors get worse. I call in a structual engineering company, and they tell me that center beam is shot to hell (high humidity area and near 50 year old house, and the beam was original), as well as the outside underground foundation cracking and shifting. On top of that, they'll need to shore up some of the other walls and sister a few joists, and install 12 jacks. Net result is a $21,000 repair bill scheduled for the underside of the house, and an estimated $10,000-$15,000 for the foundation repairs.
The insurance company -- according to my policy -- should cover the crawlspace repairs since it's not flood or earth movement. But, I haven't heard from them for two weeks from the original claim. I'll have to start hounding them and update the claim with the repairs I've scheduled. They gave me the OK when I filed the claim to go ahead and do repairs as needed and amend the claim later.
What sucks even worse is that I've only had this house one and a half years. At least the inspector sympathized with me, so they're going to enclose the crawlspace for free, and he told me how to get one of their dehumidifier systems for half price online. And this is on top of the water damage I'm already going to have to repair myself from a roof leak on the extension. Thankfully the extension is on its own separate foundation so it's not affected by the crawlspace in the main part of the house (though it is affected by the foundation).
I hate having to fork out the cash for the repairs myself and hope to get reimbursed, but with my house threatening to fall in on itself I don't have much choice.
-Main support for the house is about to go AWOL due to rot/mold/age.
-Foundation shifting.
-Insurance company doesn't send out a full inspector, then forgets about me.
-Schedule repairs myself and hope the insurance company will reimburse.
A little while ago, I noticed some of the drywall tape on a corner in my master bath (center of the house) start to crack a bit. I didn't pay it much attention since the bathroom needs a small remodel and a new exhaust, so I figured it was the heat and humidity cycles causing the mud to crack. I then noticed the kitchen counter -- opposite the bathroom wall -- sag 5mm, followed shortly thereafter by the kitchen floor sinking.
I call up the insurance company as at this point I know it's something structural, they send out an adjuster that takes some photos of the drywall, kitchen counter, and sink. He looked into the the crawlspace, which I figured was a little minimal as everything indicated structural issues. In any event, he's not a full inspector let alone a structual engineer. The insurance company says they'll call me back in 7-10 business days after the adjuster files his report to see if they'll cover the damage and if they need to do any more.
While I'm waiting for that, the main load bearing wall (atop the main center beam in the crawlspace -- which is the main support for the house aside from the foundation) starts separating from the ceiling and the floors get worse. I call in a structual engineering company, and they tell me that center beam is shot to hell (high humidity area and near 50 year old house, and the beam was original), as well as the outside underground foundation cracking and shifting. On top of that, they'll need to shore up some of the other walls and sister a few joists, and install 12 jacks. Net result is a $21,000 repair bill scheduled for the underside of the house, and an estimated $10,000-$15,000 for the foundation repairs.
The insurance company -- according to my policy -- should cover the crawlspace repairs since it's not flood or earth movement. But, I haven't heard from them for two weeks from the original claim. I'll have to start hounding them and update the claim with the repairs I've scheduled. They gave me the OK when I filed the claim to go ahead and do repairs as needed and amend the claim later.
What sucks even worse is that I've only had this house one and a half years. At least the inspector sympathized with me, so they're going to enclose the crawlspace for free, and he told me how to get one of their dehumidifier systems for half price online. And this is on top of the water damage I'm already going to have to repair myself from a roof leak on the extension. Thankfully the extension is on its own separate foundation so it's not affected by the crawlspace in the main part of the house (though it is affected by the foundation).
I hate having to fork out the cash for the repairs myself and hope to get reimbursed, but with my house threatening to fall in on itself I don't have much choice.
