Can I make Insurance Claim?

AndyD_OHD

Hi All,

I wondered whether someone could advise on whether I can make an insurance claim. The situation is I was removing a fireplace frontage in our front room as we wanted a log burnerr, during the work I heard movement behind the plasterboard, and something seemed to be pressing against the board. Upon removing a plasterboard section to have a look it was obvious that a part of the wall had moved, it looks like a massive piece of stonee about 2 metres wide, 45cm high and 10cm thick had slipped down and was butting against the board. I got a builder friend to have a look and he said it was unsafe and the wall had to be supported as there was now a big gap above this piece of stone.
And it looks like the original chimney breast must had fallen at some point in the past, and then someone built a replacement chimney breast in front of the original and it wasn't tied in to the original fabric of the gable wall, and had not supported the original so it could have all collapsed with disastrous results at any point in time.
I was so lucky the plasterboard was intact as the stonework could have landed upon myself. I am not dishonest, but wondered whether it was worth enquiring with the insurance company....?

Quentin

This doesn't sound an event that you would be insured against (more poor workmanship by an unidentified third party).

balmk

Hello, I would suggest checking with your insurance company - either way it sounds like the structure needs to be made safe.

AndyD_OHD

Our builder friend said it couldn't be left the way it was and I was very lucky the plasterboard had been there; funny how I had decided to leave it in place after considering removing it before I started. Someone in the past had obviously done a botched patch up job so rushed out to get props and made the wall safe. We couldn't wait for an insurance assessor to come out.

gregd_3

I am a loss adjuster.

You could not make a claim for this as its rectification of poor workmanship which is excluded.

Say however the wall had fallen over and damaged other parts of the house and you had accidental damage cover you could claim then but repairing the original damage would still be excluded.