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My upstairs toilet overflowed, running thru my ceiling and onto my kitchen, hardwoods, etc.
Servicemaster has been here and has cut holes everywhere and has fans, etc dryin things out. Adjuster came today and cut me a check to get me started. . . but I feel uncomfortable on a few levels:
a) Water dripped onto some of my kitchen cabinets discoloring them and making the joints swell. Additionally, some of the upper cabinets had grey water standing on them and had to be reomoved. Adjuster said that "an experienced cabinet contractor could handle that".
WOuldn't they have to re-do all the cabinets to make sure they match? Are there any rules here? I live in an upscale home.
b) The drywall behind the tile backsplash has been removed and now there are cracks in the grout. Servicemaster guy pointed out that this is from drywall damage, but not much comment from Adjuster (wasn't factored in the check he offered).
Any comments? Thanks so much!

2007-02-07 18:03:19 · 6 answers · asked by waterdamage 1 in Business & Finance Insurance

6 answers

If the first refinishing of parts of the cabinets make them NOT match, then they'll refinish all fo them. But first they'll try just matching the finish.

Regrouting is cheap and easy, and has to be done normally as regular maintenance. I'm not sure exactly what the question is - but it's not a big deal.

2007-02-08 00:51:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous 7 · 0 1

a. The cabinets can probably be repaired. I'm an adjuster, and oft times we try to repair. If for some reason the repair can't be done, whichever contractor you choose to have do the work will be able to discuss with the adjuster, and get the scope of repair changed. I doubt that the adjuster took into consideration Grey water exposure. Best thing to do is to choose a contractor, let him and the adjuster work it out. What I find works out the best is to save the fronts (faces), and rebuild the rest of the cabinetry around it. Then there is no problem in matching.

There are some really good cabinet workers around, I had some base cabinets damaged, the insurance company replaced 1/2 of them, and they match perfectly. Again, however, let your contractor work with the insurance company.

b. Second issue, Again, let your contractor handle it.

Remember, insurance is to indemnify, which is to make you exactly like you were before the incident. It is not to make you better. If the cabinets can be matched, the insurance company only owes you to match what you had. If they can't, due to obsolesce, etc, it's a different story. However, the insurance carrier does not owe you to redesign your kitchen, ....etc.

2007-02-09 06:17:03 · answer #2 · answered by MTR 3 · 0 0

To answer question a), the insurer is only required to repair or replace cabinets that were damaged. They are required to do what is reasonable to restore the damaged part of a series of objects so that they are at least the condition the were before the loss. If that is not possible, they will replace (assuming you have the proper coverage) the damaged ones with new articles of similar kind, quality and usefulness. However they are not required to replace the undamaged ones so that they match. You will have to pay for those ones yourself.
As for b), you mentioned the adjuster gave you a check to get you started, am I to assume that this is not the final settlement? Makesure Servicemaster puts down in writing all items or sections damaged by the water and submit it to the adjuster. At least you have some sort of "expert" opinion that the grout was damaged by an insured peril. It will be up to the insurer to prove it was not (likely won't bother for small thing like grout).

2007-02-08 16:43:43 · answer #3 · answered by Gambit 7 · 0 0

The cabinet contractors would have no problem matching your cabinets.

If it's just the grout that's cracked, that's an easy fix.

2007-02-07 18:06:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

insurance people are usually pretty good at what they do... at least you had the insurance to cover it... often times though the deductible is about $5k... if you question the quote... call someone out for an estimate... let him know that the adjuster was out.. its important that you tell the contractor that you don't know what the figure was... just point out the things you want to point out.. .let him give you a figure... and then send that to your insurance... its all estimates anyways... you may have to pay for your second opinion... but if its free... the end product may not be worth the time it took to call the guy...

2007-02-07 18:09:10 · answer #5 · answered by teche16 3 · 0 0

I have found the source box to be a good resource for this type of insurance. There are a variety of ways to go about this so I suggest you research some of the companies for their offers.

2007-02-07 19:46:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 2

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