Water Damage... what to do?

[zukes]

I would suggest the linoleum be replaced, and depending on the material of the baseboards, them too. If they are solid wood, you can leave them and just re-paint, though if the floor is coming out, it's likely easier to replace the baseboards too.

[wooohooo]

Originally Posted by zukes

I would suggest the linoleum be replaced, and depending on the material of the baseboards, them too. If they are solid wood, you can leave them and just re-paint, though if the floor is coming out, it's likely easier to replace the baseboards too.

They're definitely not solid wood (baseboards). But if I can't find matching baseboards, would it be too much to get them all replaced or would they only replace the water damaged ones to the closest match?

[93Hound]

Originally Posted by zukes

If you are a broker, you should not be giving claims advice that is worng then. His/her insurance company will not pay for the damaged pipe (unless policies are diffferent in Alberta than in Ontario, though I was in Edmonton this summer heloing out and I did not notice many differences property-wise) insurance covers resulting damage, not the cause. If it is covered, it is done for customer service only.

I am not giving claims advise..... In Alberta the rules very well may be different.
We have a client that had this happen to them as well.... a pipe burts in their unit and they were given the bill by the condo association..... their insurance company paid for that bill.
Just stating what I know.

[zukes]

Originally Posted by fotze

That sounds like something an adjuster would say.

Haha, it has been drilled into our heads....however look it up. Of course ceilings that sag would not apply, nor would grey or black water losses.

[zukes]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

They're definitely not solid wood (baseboards). But if I can't find matching baseboards, would it be too much to get them all replaced or would they only replace the water damaged ones to the closest match?

The technical answer is damaged only, most adjusters will just suggest replacing all in the room or rooms.

[zukes]

Originally Posted by 93Hound

I am not giving claims advise..... In Alberta the rules very well may be different.
We have a client that had this happen to them as well.... a pipe burts in their unit and they were given the bill by the condo association..... their insurance company paid for that bill.
Just stating what I know.

Well, very well could be different, but in my experience, resulting damage only is covered. If a sump pump fails, do they replace that?

[Travis Munroe]

Im confused as to the mention that the owner will be responsible for the pipe shared throughout the entire condo. This is not correct unless the plumber reports that he was using the pipes for his resistance training.
It will be covered by the corp.

[troutman]

I had water damage in my condo last summer after a heavy rain storm. It turns out the drains on the roof were blocked. The walls and ceilings were damaged in two bathrooms.

Next day the property manager sent out restoration people - they installed these big noisy heaters to dry out the walls. They didn't notice that one of the heaters was too close to my aquarium, and my wine cellar. I haven't decided if I will pursue a claim for spoiled wine.

Other than that, I had a good experience. All the damage is covered by the condo's insurance, and the Board agreed to pay the deductible. They replaced drywall, ceiling material and flooring. They were prepared to put new flooring over the entire main floor, even though the damage was only in one bathroom. Instead I had them out some nice tiles in the bathroom, which cost them less than the original quote.

My neighbor had far more damage, and is very frustrated. He wants the property manager fired, and the Board replaced.

I suppose the lesson is to get involved with the Board, and make sure your investment is protected. If our roof was properly inspected, this damage would not have happened. I was happy with the adjuster and the work done by the contractors.

[surferguy]

I have dealt with this a few times.

The corp is responsible for the return pipes, they will be responsible for restoring your unit to pre disaster condition, the condo insurance will cover it.

If the contractor broke the pipe, his insurance will cover it (any contractor in a building must have WCB and insurance before they can be approved to work on your building).

If you broke the pipe, you would be responsible for the deductible, but would be able to claim under the condo corps insurance (which everybody pays into as part of your condo fees).

If you have upgrades (betterments) like fancy hardwood you would be able to claim the replacement of betterments under your own personal condo insurance.

Get used to not having your place back to normal for a while, it takes a fair amount of time to get these thing sorted out.

Feel free to PM me if you have questions.

[zukes]

The corp is almost assuredly responsible for the pipes, but check the standard unit definitions to be 100% sure. They may be responsible down to the paint, it is different for every condo corp.

[wooohooo]

Thanks for all the responses so far!

An adjuster should be coming tomorrow... hopefully! I'll see what they do/say and then go from there.

Again, thanks!

[wooohooo]

So we had an adjuster come in yesterday, they told us we needed to remove all the laminate, vinyl and drywall.

So the condo people had a guy come in and wanted to start ripping things out. He took out the laminate floor (only wanted to do a small area) but I told him the adjuster said it was still wet underneath and I said fine, I'll call the adjuster and see what they say, he removes it... reluctantly. After he pulls up a few planks the handiman talks to his friend and says 'see, it's dry, not sure why we need to remove it' making well sure I hear this. They pull up the plastic underlay... and sure enough, it's wet. Say whhattt....

Anyways, he cuts up 4 inches of drywall from the floor, and points out to my, there's only this little bit of mold here. I'm seriously about to punch him for being so stupid.

Another issue is we have vinyl flooring in the washroom and laundry room where the flooding occured. He said no need to remove this as it's glued down. Any truth to that?

We should be getting an estimate for the repair and then we'll go from there... but any more info right now would be appreciated. And these handiman keep barging in without calling us!

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by fotze

So when you 'own' a condo, they can enter your premises whenever they want?

Tell them you have rigged a rifle to be shot at the door at any unwanted intruders.

They don't even have keys to our apartments. If there is fire testing or any work needs to be done to the exterior you have to give them a key and sign a sheet saying you gave them a key, and then once the work is done they return your key and make you sign a sheet saying you picked it back up.

[wooohooo]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

They don't even have keys to our apartments. If there is fire testing or any work needs to be done to the exterior you have to give them a key and sign a sheet saying you gave them a key, and then once the work is done they return your key and make you sign a sheet saying you picked it back up.

No gonna lie, this condo has some of the worst people managing it. There's someone who lives here who does inspections every morning and evening. I think he represents the condo board. Anyways, when we moved in he harassed us for a few months that we had to give him a key for emergencies.

Finally we give him a key thinking we had to.

After their random appearances at our condo we talked to the management company and they had no idea the guy had our key. Nor did they inform us at any time that there would be anyone coming to do our repair work.

Sounds like some heavy mismanagement.

[Bill Bumface]

Wait wait wait... replace the drywall!?!? I thought it was supposed to be stronger than ever now?

[wooohooo]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Wait wait wait... replace the drywall!?!? I thought it was supposed to be stronger than ever now?

Apparently to the handiman who came... it's dry so it's okay. But don't worry, even if it's wet it's OKAY because mold takes a few months to happen.

I was so I didn't even know what to say. It's okay that it's wet now because mold takes a few months to grow??

[zukes]

Mould takes time to start to grow. Those are the facts.

A clean water loss will not affect your drywall if dried promptly. In this case, the drywall seems to have stayed wet for too long and therefore is no longer considered a clean water loss, instead it would be considered a grey water or category two water loss. I would suugest removing it as well.

I am shocked at how slowly contractors/adjusters get out to claims, at least in Edmonton when I was there this summer.

You have a water claim here, your adjuster and contractor are there that day and drying equipment is also there that day.

I have taken a few courses from Stephanie Beattie. She has what she calls a "flood house" and she literally fills the house with water every week and dried it out to show that if dried properly, the drywall can be saved, among other things. She has never had mould in this house.

https://www.centerfordisasterrecover...g-facility.php

This is no tot say that the building managers are right, they are completely wrong, given the time that this has taken, all wet material should be removed.

With laminate flooring, you are very unlikely to find a match as each run typically lasts less than a month in stores and the new run of the same flooring will be a different pattern and will not match. It should all be replaced.

[zukes]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Wait wait wait... replace the drywall!?!? I thought it was supposed to be stronger than ever now?

Stop acting like you know what you are talking about.

http://www.waterdamageout.com/

"90% of the time drywall that's affected by water damage can be dried and saved...."

Talk to any contractor who knows what they are talking about and they will tell you the same. If they don't, they are either not educated properly or are trying to make more money.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by zukes

Mould takes time to start to grow. Those are the facts.

A clean water loss will not affect your drywall if dried promptly. In this case, the drywall seems to have stayed wet for too long and therefore is no longer considered a clean water loss, instead it would be considered a grey water or category two water loss. I would suugest removing it as well.

I am shocked at how slowly contractors/adjusters get out to claims, at least in Edmonton when I was there this summer.

You have a water claim here, your adjuster and contractor are there that day and drying equipment is also there that day.

I have taken a few courses from Stephanie Beattie. She has what she calls a "flood house" and she literally fills the house with water every week and dried it out to show that if dried properly, the drywall can be saved, among other things. She has never had mould in this house.

https://www.centerfordisasterrecover...g-facility.php

This is no tot say that the building managers are right, they are completely wrong, given the time that this has taken, all wet material should be removed.

With laminate flooring, you are very unlikely to find a match as each run typically lasts less than a month in stores and the new run of the same flooring will be a different pattern and will not match. It should all be replaced.

The majority of the population has no idea how much mould is in their house before a clean water loss. Everyhouse, barring brand new, has mould.

[wooohooo]

Originally Posted by zukes

Mould takes time to start to grow. Those are the facts.

A clean water loss will not affect your drywall if dried promptly. In this case, the drywall seems to have stayed wet for too long and therefore is no longer considered a clean water loss, instead it would be considered a grey water or category two water loss. I would suugest removing it as well.

I am shocked at how slowly contractors/adjusters get out to claims, at least in Edmonton when I was there this summer.

You have a water claim here, your adjuster and contractor are there that day and drying equipment is also there that day.

I have taken a few courses from Stephanie Beattie. She has what she calls a "flood house" and she literally fills the house with water every week and dried it out to show that if dried properly, the drywall can be saved, among other things. She has never had mould in this house.

https://www.centerfordisasterrecover...g-facility.php

This is no tot say that the building managers are right, they are completely wrong, given the time that this has taken, all wet material should be removed.

With laminate flooring, you are very unlikely to find a match as each run typically lasts less than a month in stores and the new run of the same flooring will be a different pattern and will not match. It should all be replaced.

Thanks man for all the help. Really appreciate it.

Would you believe that I am in Edmonton right now? haha.

There's absolutely no communication of what's happening to my place. I don't know what they're going to do, the people working on my condo don't know what to do. So insurance is sending their own contractor to access the damage and they'll do what they think instead of the condo/handiman (conflict of interest I think).

Would I need to replace the vinyl flooring in your opinion?