BURST SUPPLY LINE RESULTANT DAMAGES CLAIM

ASSESSMENT

Black Bird Construction was contacted by the client’s insurance company to assess and conduct repair work. An assessment took place at the client’s property in Grabouw, where various items were inspected and a quotation was then generated and accepted by the insurer and client. Below is a breakdown of what transpired during the claim and excerpts of the assessor’s findings have been included as a means to explain the various building work required to repair the damages. The scope of work has also been included along with photos of the damages before and after the repairs were completed. We hope you enjoy the post and if you would like to learn more about Black Bird Construction please feel free to contact us.

REPORT

Damage Report:

After receiving your initial email regarding the claim, I immediately contacted the client and scheduled an assessment. Based on the conversations between myself, the client, and our leak detection team, it was more than apparent that the situation was dire. I say this because for the family to utilize the home’s water supply that had to keep the mains on. This meant that the leak would continually run causing further damages to the interior of the home.

Our leak detection team went to the affected property to inspect the situation and to conduct various correlation tests. Almost immediately, they confirmed a burst had occurred and located the burst under the bathtub. Taking into consideration how bad the situation was, I gave the instruction to repair the affected supply line while the team was on site.

After I gave the plumbing team the go ahead, they created an opening and conducted the necessary repairs. The issue was due to a torn flexi hose that needed replacing.

The flexi supply hose was replaced, and the situation placed under control. The following has since occurred:

After our leak detection team was on site, the damaged flexi hose/supply-line has been repaired and no further leaks were found.
No further damages have occurred since our team was on site.
We allowed for the pipes to remain exposed and visible for monitoring purposes and to ensure that no further damages occur.
There are resultant damages to the affected area/bathroom and kitchen.
An assessment of these resultant damages was conducted with a breakdown of these damages provided below.
A fully detailed SOW can also be found below.

Resultant Damages:

Tiling work (Bathroom | Bathtub):

The tiling work making up the side of the bathtub in the bathroom has been very badly damaged by the stripping work conducted to gain access to the burst flexi hose supply pipe.
The plumbers could not avoid creating this access point.
They needed to gain access to the old pipe to replace it and the tiles fixed to the side of the bathtub enclosure were broken in the process.
We cannot match the tile that has been used throughout the bathroom and the client has no spares. In order to achieve a quality finish, we would need to replace the entirety of the tiles making up the surface of the bathtub enclosure.
Thankfully the client is not concerned about matching the bathroom tiles and has stated that a complimentary tile that works well with the rest of the tiling work would make him happy.

NOTE: Latent and unforeseeable damages

The client seemed to be unconcerned about the potential issues that generally stem from damages such as these. I explained that over the next few weeks, depending on how much water bled from the pipe and where, he may find further damages. I bring this up because he didn’t seem to be too worried at the time, but as history has taught me, damages like these tend to progressively get worse until the point the client only then reacts when the damages have worsened really badly.
I feel it is important to bring this up incase this issue does happen, and the client does bring these issues up at a later stage.

SCOPE OF WORKS

BELOW IS A BREAKDOWN OF THE REPAIR WORK CONDUCTED TO THE RESULTANT DAMAGES AT THE AFFECTED PROPERTY:

Leak Detection Test: COMPLETED

Conduct correlation tests to affected pipework.
Our technician attended to site in order to conduct a leak detection test and found a burst under the bath.
Once the bath was opened, he found the 15mm Flexi Hose to be burst.
Emergency repairs were conducted.

Plumbing repairs: COMPLETED

Create opening/access point.
Remove rubble.
Supply and fit all required materials.
Conduct a pressure test to all connections and ensure supply line is re-instated.
All labour costs included.

Brickwork | Masonry work:

Supply and fit brickwork to bathtub enclosure.
Build enclosure wall.
Allow to dry and stabilize.
Prep for plastering.

Patch and plaster opening in bathroom:

Remove all existing tiles along bathtub enclosure.
Plaster surface and prep for tiling fitment.
Supply and apply plaster to affected bathtub enclosure walls.
Prep for tiling work.

NOTE:

Daily rate X material costs used.
Traveling fare included.

Skirting boards:

Remove existing skirting boards.
Supply new skirting boards.
Prep skirting boards for paintwork.
Prime skirting boards.
Supply and apply enamel paint as per the existing.
Daily rate of painter X material costs used.

Tiling to bathroom walls | Mosaic:

Remove existing tiles.
Conduct all patchwork to plumbing repairs to affected bathtub enclosure first.
Supply and fit new mosaic tiles as per existing tile to bathtub enclosure.
Mosaic fix to be used.
Clean surface of all residue.
Prep surface for sealer.

NOTE:

All required glue, trims, tiles and labour have been included in the price.
Work to be completed over 2 days – Installation date, clean and seal on next day.

Rubble removal: