Building insurance claim advice please

Bernie259

A brick was thrown through my double glazed bay window at the front of our house; I telephoned my insurer who said they would send out an agent to board up and measure up for the repair.

A man called that evening and said he would board up from the outside; I had some cardboard over the inside as a very temp measure. When he left I removed the cardboard to find he had placed a piece of plywood on the broken glass fixed with just sealant, there was a gap all round with below freezing temperatures blowing in, there was large chunks of broken glass hanging on the inside from the diamond lead, it was neither secure, safe or weatherproof.

With regards to the repair itself, this is a 5 bay window with the middle one smashed; he said he was measuring for glass only for the broken section, to be put back into the existing aluminium beading trim which is set in a hard wood frame, he said the trim was damaged and it would take some time to straighten it. He advised I may be better off not claiming on my insurance because the law had changed with all glass fitted at a certain height, it now had to be toughened safety glass, so I will end up with one new panel with toughened glass, and 4 old ones, he said you may be better off getting all 5 panels replaced in view of this, saving your excess and no claims bonus.

My questions are;

1) If I don’t go ahead with the claim how to stand with being charged for this very shoddy boarding up?
2) Is it acceptable for the insurer to replace just the broken section of a five bay window, with different glass, which will stick out like a sore thumb, the window is over 10 years old, or should they have them all matching to meet the new legal standards and be cosmetically the same.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Bernie

Bernie259

Another question, do I have to use the insurers glazing firm or can I get my own quotes?

Bernie

huckster

Bernie259 wrote: »

My questions are;

1) If I don’t go ahead with the claim how to stand with being charged for this very shoddy boarding up?
2) Is it acceptable for the insurer to replace just the broken section of a five bay window, with different glass, which will stick out like a sore thumb, the window is over 10 years old, or should they have them all matching to meet the new legal standards and be cosmetically the same.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Bernie

I think the glazing company is just after getting business from you. Suggest you speak to your Insurers about this behaviour and poor boarding up job.

Re 1). The claim has already been made as I am presuming the Insurers will be charged a fee for this poor boarding up job. You could argue about this.

Re 2). Insurers will only pay for the repair of the broken part and glaziers will replace in line with the relevant standard required. I think if the height of the window is less than a metre high at the bottom, it has to be toughened safety glass. You should not notice much difference in appearance of the glass.

My advice is to also get another opinion about the window. If the frame has also been damaged, you could be looking at the Insurers paying for a whole new frame. Then if the other glass panels need replacing to fit the new frame, the whole unit would have to be replaced.

Bernie259

Thank you very much for that, I will get another opinion.
Bernie