| laborlitigator |
I know I should know this but. . .
This evening, I discovered water leaking into the roof of my den (which was a converted room over my garage). My ceiling is at a 45 degree angle. I assume the water is from a leak in my roof, which had a pile of snow on it. It's causing bubbles in the paint which are filled with water. It appears that I've got to at least repaint and more probably need a new ceiling.
I don't know how much damage is not viewable, at this point, but I'm assuming there is more.
Should I make a claim to my insurance company, will this be covered. Is it worth to make a claim?
Your opinions, as always, are greatly appreciated. |
|
|
| frostyra |
| Heck, yes -- make the claim, but be prepared to get estimates, and be prepared for arguments from the insurance company. |
|
|
| laborlitigator |
| Are there deductibles on home claims? |
|
|
| Dale MDX |
Yes, there are deductibles, depending on your policy, just like a car policy. I would say DON'T make a claim unless it's well over your deductible. Homeowner's insurers are on a policy cancellation binge lately, particularly for anything related to water damage. An internet search on that topic should bring up lots of reading. Here's just one that was near the top on a Google search:
http://sfgate.com/columnists/lloyd/
(Haven't even read the whole thing yet, but it looks like what I was saying above). |
|
|
| TheWorm |
This was in this morning's SF Chronicle. Interesting read re: water damage and mold claims.
You might get an estimate FIRST and then decide whether to handle it yourself based on whatever your deductible is...
http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/lloyd/ |
|
|
| Dale MDX |
| Only half of my link appeared above. Just search google using terms like "water damage" plus "insurance claim". It too bad this is happening, but it's better to know about it up front. |
|
|
| rjmitche |
quote:
Originally posted by Dale MDX
Only half of my link appeared above.
I think your link works just fine. The software tends to shorten long urls for display purposes but they should work. |
|
|
| laborlitigator |
How or what should I do regarding the possible mold or mildew issue? There isn't a crawl space in between the roof and the outside, simply drywall and some insultation?
Is it better that I just wait and see if this is the incredible amounts of snow? Because this is the first time this has happened. It did not occur during any heavy rainstorms.
Right now, the morning after, the electrical in the roof still works and it simply looks like I'll have to repaint the ceiling where the water has formed. My worry is what I cannot see. |
|
|
| hondacuraworld |
Our Williamsville dealership had the exact same problem every year for as long as I could remember. I don't recall what the exact fix was, but it didn't damage anything structurally. The leak would develop in our F&I office, right over the place where as you say, the ceiling came in at a 45 degree angle.
Grab a snow rake and get as much of that stuff off as you can. Let me know if you can't get a roof rake there.....I've got an extra. |
|
|
| nanali1 |
quote:
Originally posted by laborlitigator
How or what should I do regarding the possible mold or mildew issue? There isn't a crawl space in between the roof and the outside, simply drywall and some insultation?
Is it better that I just wait and see if this is the incredible amounts of snow? Because this is the first time this has happened. It did not occur during any heavy rainstorms.
Right now, the morning after, the electrical in the roof still works and it simply looks like I'll have to repaint the ceiling where the water has formed. My worry is what I cannot see.
Keep in mind that we had very high winds this past few days and this might be the cause of the damage. Maybe some snow got in somehow through somewhere (underneat the roof shingles) and melted in there. I'm currently finishing my attic and noticed some snow by the inner wall that I don't know how it got in. it's about 2-3 inch piles (2 or 3 piles) of snow. Hope everything turns out OK for you. Your kids looks oriental. Are you Flip? |
|
|
| laborlitigator |
quote:
Originally posted by hondacuraworld
Our Williamsville dealership had the exact same problem every year for as long as I could remember. I don't recall what the exact fix was, but it didn't damage anything structurally. The leak would develop in our F&I office, right over the place where as you say, the ceiling came in at a 45 degree angle.
Grab a snow rake and get as much of that stuff off as you can. Let me know if you can't get a roof rake there.....I've got an extra.
Tim, thanks. . . I'm planning on climbing up there this evening. |
|
|
| laborlitigator |
quote:
Originally posted by nanali1
Keep in mind that we had very high winds this past few days and this might be the cause of the damage. Maybe some snow got in somehow through somewhere (underneat the roof shingles) and melted in there. I'm currently finishing my attic and noticed some snow by the inner wall that I don't know how it got in. it's about 2-3 inch piles (2 or 3 piles) of snow. Hope everything turns out OK for you. Your kids looks oriental. Are you Flip?
The roof does have vents at the very top, so I'm assuming that the wind blew some snow in there. This house is only about 3 years old so I do think you're probably right about it. I'm going to climb up and clear the snow that 's up there.
To tell you the truth, I'm more worried about the possible molds that may develop. . . or am I worrying unnecessarily?
BTW, we are pinoy. I'm assuming you are too? What part of NYC are you in? |
|
|
| hammermdx |
| Be real carefull up on the roof, there could be pockets of ice under the snow that you won't see, and we would hate to see anything happen to you. If you can try to go up there during the daylight, and tether yourself if at all possible. |
|
|
| laborlitigator |
| Good point, I'll use my mountain boots and try to use some sort of rope. |
|
|
| nanali1 |
quote:
Originally posted by laborlitigator
The roof does have vents at the very top, so I'm assuming that the wind blew some snow in there. This house is only about 3 years old so I do think you're probably right about it. I'm going to climb up and clear the snow that 's up there.
To tell you the truth, I'm more worried about the possible molds that may develop. . . or am I worrying unnecessarily?
BTW, we are pinoy. I'm assuming you are too? What part of NYC are you in?
Proud Pinoy here!!! Pure bred.. Migrated here in NYC from Taytay, Rizal (apprx. 10-15 miles S. of Manila) in my teens and lived here ever since. I'll PM you... |
|
|
| renov8r |
This is an unpleasant situation, but given that a) your house is quite new b) there is A LOT of snow & wind i would not be too worried.
In my mom's about 10 years ago a similar thing happened under similar conditions. It was due to snow being forced into vents in the roof & some tiny holes that squirrels had made.
The first thing you want to do is find any such "point of entry". Without an attic/crawlspace this needs to be done from the roof -- DON'T RISK DOING THIS YOURSELF, HIRE A ROOFER, they have insurance & experience that you don't!
Once the point of entry is discovered a quick attempt to keep more snow from entrying can be done. Even tarps are OK. You just want to prevent more from entering.
The patching og a drywall ceiling is cheap. Probably not worth making an insurance claim.
In our old house, the ice backed up inside our masonary wall. The plaster literally popped off. We made a claim for that (around $3K) and it was no big deal to the insurer. Not so sure they would be so quick to settle in today's more "challenging" insurance environment.... |
|
|
| BlueStreak |
LL - I'd review the damage before filing a claim. Also, check your deductible. If the damage is under your ded there is no value to file it. If it's $500-$1000 or so over the ded, don't file it. Just eat the loss. I'd probably eat more than that right now.
I bet the snow blew in and then melted. Probably no roof leak. This is common when the wind blows.
With CLUE in wide use and the insurance market the way it is today, do all you can to stay claim free. Companies are looking for reasons to drop people and they're doing it daily. Then you'll have a whole new set of problems.
Also, I sent you an e-mail several weeks ago - did you get it? I sent to the e-mail in your profile.
-Greg
03 SS/Quartz/Nav/Res |
|
|
| Ms. Mdx |
DO NOT climb onto your roof. Call a roofing company. A good friend fell cleaning the snow from his roof. Two years later he still has many problems, but managed to avoid paralysis and stay alive.
Your little girls don't need to visit their father in the hospital for the next few months .... well worth paying a roofing company a few hundred dollars to find the problem :4:. |
|
|
| laborlitigator |
quote:
Originally posted by BlueStreak
LL - I'd review the damage before filing a claim. Also, check your deductible. If the damage is under your ded there is no value to file it. If it's $500-$1000 or so over the ded, don't file it. Just eat the loss. I'd probably eat more than that right now.
I bet the snow blew in and then melted. Probably no roof leak. This is common when the wind blows.
With CLUE in wide use and the insurance market the way it is today, do all you can to stay claim free. Companies are looking for reasons to drop people and they're doing it daily. Then you'll have a whole new set of problems.
Also, I sent you an e-mail several weeks ago - did you get it? I sent to the e-mail in your profile.
-Greg
03 SS/Quartz/Nav/Res
Greg,
Thanks for the info. After viewing my home from the outside and taking into consideration everyone's point of view, I'm going to presume it is the snow/wind problem. Come spring, I will simply have a roofer take a look at it. Since there is rain coming this Friday, we'll see if anymore bubbles appear. If so, then the snow/wind scenario is probably not the reason and there exists a hole in the roof. I sure hope it is the former.
Unfortunately, I did not arrive early from work today so I did not get a chance to go onto the roof. I did notice that the snow that was at the peak had melted and only very little was left so there wouldn't be much for me to clear anyways, so I'll just have to sit and wait until Friday's rain.
In regards to your PM, I did receive it, but I think I replied via your pm also. Thanks for all your opinions. |
|
|
| laborlitigator |
quote:
Originally posted by renov8r
This is an unpleasant situation, but given that a) your house is quite new b) there is A LOT of snow & wind i would not be too worried.
In my mom's about 10 years ago a similar thing happened under similar conditions. It was due to snow being forced into vents in the roof & some tiny holes that squirrels had made.
The first thing you want to do is find any such "point of entry". Without an attic/crawlspace this needs to be done from the roof -- DON'T RISK DOING THIS YOURSELF, HIRE A ROOFER, they have insurance & experience that you don't!
Once the point of entry is discovered a quick attempt to keep more snow from entrying can be done. Even tarps are OK. You just want to prevent more from entering.
The patching og a drywall ceiling is cheap. Probably not worth making an insurance claim.
In our old house, the ice backed up inside our masonary wall. The plaster literally popped off. We made a claim for that (around $3K) and it was no big deal to the insurer. Not so sure they would be so quick to settle in today's more "challenging" insurance environment....
You're right, I'm going to repaint the ceiling on my own. No way this is close to my deductible of $1,000. Also, after reading the previous articles submitted by fellow X'ers regarding CLUE, I'll just take care of it myself.
Also, I'm not going on the roof, I'll wait til spring and bring in a roofer. |
|
|
| laborlitigator |
quote:
Originally posted by Ms. Mdx
DO NOT climb onto your roof. Call a roofing company. A good friend fell cleaning the snow from his roof. Two years later he still has many problems, but managed to avoid paralysis and stay alive.
Your little girls don't need to visit their father in the hospital for the next few months .... well worth paying a roofing company a few hundred dollars to find the problem :4:.
Thanks, I took everyone's advice. I'll bring in the roofer. |
|
|
| ghost |
You probably have an ice dam - the thick layer of snow acts as an insulating blanket, and heat seeps through your roof to melt the lower layer. The water trickles down the roof until it hits the area above the soffit, where the roof is at ambient temperature and it refreezes. At this point it forms a dam for other water coming down - that water ponds and eventually finds it's way to your ceiling.
The best way to prevent this is to remove the snow from the soffit area with a roof rake - from the ground. You have the good sense to stay off the roof - a good friend of mine was not so lucky, he's gone now. |
|
|
| TheWorm |
Just a quick note that in today's Wall Street Journal (Personal Journal section) there was an article similar to that SF Chron one we linked @ the beginning of this thread.
Suggestion was to get a roofer/contractor to eyeball it, and if it's close to your deductible, just pay for it yourself. Same rationale - increased rates or non-renewal because of the waterdamage/mold issues.
They also cautioned about JUST calling your insurance company to inquire, as it might show as "activity" on your policy anyway. Shameful practice, IMO. |
|
|
| laborlitigator |
| Aren't there any insurance adjusters on this board? It would be nice to have an "inside" opinion. |
|
|
| BlueStreak |
Since I work for an insurance carrier, I'll chime in with a few additional comments. And no, I'm not an insurance adjuster or agent....
First, most companies have installed a CRM system to record interaction with the customer. So if you call with questions it does get recorded, but do we look at this to raise rates or cancel you - can't do that. We'd be in more trouble with State Dept.'s of Insurance....Ask all the questions you want. Decisions to renew are based on premiums, risk, and losses. Your agent doesn't make these decisions (to cancel) anyway - the carriers do. Your agent wants you to stay clean as well, as his compensation is tied to his portfolio's loss experience.
Second, as I have mentioned in other posts, when you talk with your carrier, take notes. Since they keep notes you have to level the playing field and do the same. Regardless of claims or changes in coverage. It is not difficult to write (or type) while you're talking.
Third, as mentioned previously, do everything you can right now to stay claim free. Call a contractor if it makes you feel better - most will give free estimates. If they charge, pay the $100 for the estimate. Get a receipt to be used later. $100 for an estimate is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. With the economy the way it is, I bet you'll have no trouble getting a free estimate.
Fourth, note that most carriers have recently instituted either mold exclusions or mold limitations. You have a water leak and you let it go, you're in for a real set of issues. Not all mold is toxic, but you don't want any mold period. If your policy excludes mold, you will have all the damages out-of-pocket.
Finally, based on the info presented it's almost impossible to say what the problem is. Inspect it yourself and see what you can find out. If you can't, get someone to do it asap. Do all you can to mitigate future damages. If the damage is severe, by all means file the claim. That is what insurance if for. If it's a small loss, around your deductible, do what makes you feel most comfortable.
Greg
03 SS/Quartz/Nav/Res |
|
|
|
