For thousands of homeowners, landlords and businesses, the summer of 2007 meant water through the front door. Heavy rain in June and again in July 2007 caused flooding across large parts of England, much of it from overwhelmed drains and surface water as well as rivers. Many of those affected were dealing with insurers, loss adjusters and builders for the first time.
Drying comes first
The most common mistake after a flood is to reinstate too soon. Masonry, screeds and timber can hold water for many weeks after the surface looks dry. Plastering and decorating over wet walls leads to salts, staining, mould and failed finishes, often after the claim has closed.
- Strip out wet plasterboard, insulation and floor coverings promptly.
- Use proper drying equipment and record moisture readings over time.
- Do not start reinstatement until the readings show the structure has dried.
- Check timber floors and joists for decay, and clean and disinfect where floodwater was contaminated.
Reinstating with resilience
An insurance policy normally pays to put the building back as it was. But where a property is likely to flood again, it can make sense to reinstate in a way that suffers less damage and dries faster. Examples include:
- raising electrical sockets and moving meters and boilers above likely flood levels
- using materials that tolerate water, such as solid floors and suitable renders and plasters, in place of materials that must be stripped out
- fitting non return valves on drains, and planning for removable barriers at doors and airbricks
Any extra cost beyond like for like reinstatement may not be covered, so discuss it with your insurer or loss adjuster before work is ordered. Some measures cost little more than the standard repair.
Managing the claim
- Photograph everything before stripping out.
- Keep a log of correspondence and decisions.
- Get a proper specification of the reinstatement works so that prices can be compared and agreed.
- Have the works inspected as they progress, not just at the end.
See our Insurance Claims and Reinstatement service, and how we reinstated two flats after an escape of water.