How Do I Handle Damage Caused by a Contractor?

Yes, water damage can be covered. Condo insurance covers sudden accidental damage to your property but does not include water damage due to long term causes such as slow leaks. As long as the water damage is in your unit specifically, you’re usually covered for damage from the following: Plumbing accidents.

Coverage. In general, water damage from a burst pipe inside your home will be covered by a standard homeowners’ insurance policy. If an outside pipe bursts and causes damage, that should be covered, too, though you must be able to demonstrate that the damage did indeed come from the burst pipe.

1. Start With Your Insurance Company. Call your agent, and explain the problem.
2. Call the Contractor. Call your contractor, and explain that you’ve already talked to your insurance company.
3. Keep Cleanup to a Minimum.

Homeowners insurance may help cover damage caused by leaking plumbing if the leak is sudden and accidental, such as if a washing machine supply hose suddenly breaks or a pipe bursts. So, if damage results after you fail to repair a leaky toilet, for example, homeowners insurance likely will not pay for repairs.

Does Home Insurance Cover Well Pump Repair? Yes. Water well pump repairs are covered by your homeowners insurance if a covered peril causes the failure. If your well pump stopped working because of a windstorm, lightning, fire, or any of the 16 named perils, HO3 standard homeowners insurance covers the costs.

FOR WATER DAMAGE. is just under $7,000, although within that figure is a wide range of different claims. 23.8% of homeowners insurance losses being from water damage.

Generally, water damage that is considered “sudden and accidental” is covered (like a burst pipe) but not gradual damage, like a leaking bathroom sink. And flooding is not covered, such as flood from storm surge during a hurricane. Water damage covered by homeowners insurance typically includes: Burst pipes.

Insurance will generally pay for floors to be repaired or replaced with flooring of a similar type and quality. While insurance will often pay for water damage to hardwood floors, your claim may be denied in the case of damage due to “long-term” leaks, leaks that have lasted more than 14 days.

Develop your claim strategy based on your reasonable understanding of your coverages, endorsements, exclusions and policy limits. Document everything. Present your position and documentation to your insurance claims adjuster. Negotiate for the settlement you want, need and deserve.

Water damaged floor repairs can cost between $200 and $500. For information on how to repair hardwood, laminate or other top flooring, check out our Flooring repair cost guide.

Mold grows on organic materials in environments with high humidity or trapped moisture. Unfortunately for your hardwood floors that means they are vulnerable to damage and mold growth underneath them when there has been water or flood damage.

The first 24 hours are critical, and the longer the wood is in contact with water, the worse the damage will be. If you remove the water from your hardwood floors quickly and properly dry them, you may be able to save the wood (or most of it).

For many water-damaged wood floors, the best way to repair the damage is to eliminate and replace the affected boards and then to refinish the entire floor. Second, as with sanding and refinishing, the new wood will often have a different hue when viewed next to the existing, sun-soaked wood.

Water is the enemy of hardwood flooring. Due to the porous nature of wood, moisture can be easily absorbed into the material. So your flooring may show signs of staining from small spills. The wet floor may also begin to buckle and cup when large amounts of water are absorbed as the planks swell.

How To Tell If You Have Wood Floor Water Damage

1. You Notice Cupping.
2. The Wood Has Dark Colored Spots.
3. Bulging Seems Apparent.
4. The Wood Is Buckling.
5. Seek The Help Of An Experienced Contractor.

This type of flooring can also have replacements for individual planks. The best way to take care of a water damaged area on your wood floor is to replace the affected boards and then refinish the entire floor to bring it back to a unifying look.

If a small amount of water has leaked toward the edges of the flooring, pull up any quarter-round (shoe molding) or baseboards around the perimeter. If the water is not pervasive, you may be able to extract it with a wet-dry vacuum. Your best bet is to remove the affected floorboards.