water damage to carpet

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Hey guys, wondering if anyone can comment on my situation:

We have a condo that recently suffered water damage from another unit's pipe bursting. The insurance company came and assessed that the carpet damage would amount to no more than $500. The problem here is that huge part of the carpet has sunk and the condo's carpet surface area is around 900sq.

I was under the impression that the whole carpet would need to be replaced. we're being told that a section of the carpet can be cut out and replaced. I was also under the impression that once you cut the carpet and the underlay it cannot be patched back.

I'm thinking of going back to the insurance company and arguing my case that $500 is not adequate to cover the damage. I'm thinking of bringing someone in to get an estimate and bring that to the insurance company. What else should I be looking at?

[strombad]

If done well, replacing part of the carpet should be completely sufficient and shouldn't look off to the naked eye at all.

Good luck arguing your point with the insurance company, but I wouldn't let it bother you if they insist on just a section being replaced.

[V]

This has everything to do with where the seam is going to be. I don't care how good you are, you cannot install a seam across the middle of the room and have it unnoticeable, especially with most residential carpets. If the seam is off to the side of the room you would be able to get away with it.

It would also take a while for the new carpet to blend in with the old, as the old has most likely faded over time.

Do you really need to change the carpet, though? I would think that you could pull the carpet, dry it out, replace the underlay and re-install the carpet. I've done that a number of times with flooded carpet, but usually for basements. A good berber holds up pretty well to that kind of abuse.

[FlamesKickAss]

Can't you pull back the carpet, replace the pad and then put the carpet back? That could be why they quoted that low?

I would think it was the pad that sunk.

[RW99]

Is it your insurance company or theirs? They should be able to at least pay for the carpet to a natural break or doorway. You would be lucky to find an insurer that will cover the entire square footage. Policies only cover the damaged area.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Originally Posted by V

This has everything to do with where the seam is going to be. I don't care how good you are, you cannot install a seam across the middle of the room and have it unnoticeable, especially with most residential carpets. If the seam is off to the side of the room you would be able to get away with it.

It would also take a while for the new carpet to blend in with the old, as the old has most likely faded over time.

Do you really need to change the carpet, though? I would think that you could pull the carpet, dry it out, replace the underlay and re-install the carpet. I've done that a number of times with flooded carpet, but usually for basements. A good berber holds up pretty well to that kind of abuse.

It seems the damage is pretty significant. I can see that part of the carpet has sunken in and the carpet is bone dry. I'm not sure how to explain it visually. I hope to take some pictures, and maybe that will help you see what I'm trying to explain. It looks to me like that part definitely cannot be repaired.

My gf and I discussed it more and think maybe we should just change it to hardwood or some other material if repairing it is going to make it look weird or worse. $500 is kinda low for compensation for that amount of water damage.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

Can't you pull back the carpet, replace the pad and then put the carpet back? That could be why they quoted that low?

I would think it was the pad that sunk.

It's possible that it might be the pad. To be honest, I don't know anything about carpets. I pulled it back to look and it looks flat. That's pretty much the extent of my knowledge.

Originally Posted by RW99

Is it your insurance company or theirs? They should be able to at least pay for the carpet to a natural break or doorway. You would be lucky to find an insurer that will cover the entire square footage. Policies only cover the damaged area.

It's their insurance that will pay. Yeah, I'm getting the idea now that I'm not going to be getting more than our original quote. Pretty pissed as it was the neighbours fault for leaving the windows open on a freezing night that caused the pipes to burst.

[ken0042]

Have you talked to any carpet companies yourself? I know when I was having carpet installed they came in and did a quote for us. If you have an expert quote that shows it will cost more to get you back to where you were before hand, that should give you more leverage.

If nothing else, can you not sue the other person for your actual damages, and leave it up to them to fight the difference with their insurance company? Or what about involving your own insurance company?

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Little update. We manage to get the insurance company to cover $800 and it will go towards the work of an upgrade to our floor. So yeah, looks like it worked out.

[zukes]

Very suprised that they agreed to this. If it was clean water (sounds like it was from a pipe, so yes), basically the underpad should be replaced, the carpet dried and then cleaned.