BURST WATER 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 Greenpoint, 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:

The damages affecting the property are due to a polycop supply line pipe bursting in the concrete slab. This burst led to a large quantity of water to bleed into the concrete and masonry work making up the property’s slab, walls and electrical conduits. With the water bleeding into the conduits, this alone has caused a tremendous amount of moisture related damages. The worst being to the electrical components and distribution board positioned in the first-floor apartment. A thorough breakdown of the damages has been provided below, along with a SOW detailing the required repair works needed on site.

Plumbing repairs:

The plumber responsible for the repairs at the property has assured us that the repair work has been completed correctly and no further issues have been identified on site. He provided a breakdown of the repairs that I have taken a look at. What he has stated on his report seems correct, but the execution of the plumbing repairs is questionable, and I am concerned about a few potential compliancy issues.

Upon my inspection/assessment of the property I took a thorough look at all f the pipework that has been installed and I did notice that the plumbing work conducted did not seem well executed. As mentioned above, I am a bit concerned at the quality and standard of the work. It is my suggestion that a qualified plumber is appointed to assess the plumbing work that has been conducted and ensure all of the plumbing work is compliant and has been fairly priced. This, I feel, is necessary to ensure no issues or non-compliance issues are affecting the new installation work.

Resultant Damages:

Second floor apartment:

The second-floor apartment’s Parquet flooring has been badly affected as the water that bled from the burst pipe seeped into the slab below and affected the screed under the Parquet flooring. The plastered cement screed has saturated in specific areas causing the Parquet blocks to lose their adhesive properties and subsequently detach from the screed. Other damages affecting the second-floor apartment are the trims and carpentry work in the area, such as the skirting boards.

I have provided a more thorough breakdown of each issue affecting the property as well as a breakdown of the damages that occurred on site.

Parquet flooring:

As mentioned above, the parquet flooring has been affected by the moisture in the slab/screed.
The parquet blocks in the area will need to be lifted, the screed repaired, and the blocks refitted.
Once the screed has been repaired and the blocks refitted our team can then sand and seal the floor.

Skirting and carpentry:

Due to the fact that the flooring will need to be lifted and re-laid, the skirting boards will need to be removed and refitted as well.
Once refitted, the same sealer will be applied to the skirting as per the flooring.

Paintwork to interior walls:

The fact that so much water bled into the slab means that rising damp has occurred. This is noticeable by looking at the bubbling and the blistering of the paint skin running along the base of the surrounding walls.
Due to the fact that we will need to lift the parquet flooring and remove the skirting boards, the paint is most likely to chip and peel. This typically happens when a lot of moisture has affected the surrounding walls.
We will need to prep and paint the walls thoroughly before commencing with the flooring repairs.

First floor apartment:

The majority of the repairs needed are located in the first-floor apartment. The repairs needed to the first-floor apartment space include a set of BICs, interior walls, the ceiling and the electrical work.

BICs (Built-in cupboards):

The water leaking from the burst pipe found its way down into the conduit pipes positioned in the slab and walls and caused water to bleed and emit onto and into the kitchenette BICs and DB box. This in turn has caused an immense amount of damages to various components making up the cupboard and electrical work.
The BICs unit will need to be stripped and the full unit replaced. None of the components are salvageable, except for the handles and a few trims.
Swelling can be seen all over the BICs unit especially at the base of all of the BICs units – Photos have been attached to this report showing this.

Paintwork to interior walls:

Water has seeped into the walls via the conduits and has subsequently caused the plaster to absorb moisture and affect the paintwork.
The paint has since begun to bubble and blister in various areas.
The damaged paint will need to be removed, the walls prepped thoroughly and then repainted.
NOTE: Until we begin with the paintwork, it is hard to say how badly affected they are. We may need to reskim sections of the walls to ensure a high-quality finish.

Ceilings:

As per the above-mentioned walls, the same has happened to the ceilings.
The ceiling in the area is the underside of the concrete slab. I feel we may need to remove some of the skim-plaster, replaster the area and then prime and paint the ceiling. We will only be able to tell once we begin with the repairs.

Electrical work repairs:

The electrical work has been very badly affected. A very large quantity of water found its way to the DB board via the conduit pipework.
A number of switches and light fittings are not working correctly and will need to be replaced and the wiring reworked.
The electrical work at the affected property needs to be re-assessed thoroughly as I was not able to determine the exact number of damages at the time of my assessment.
NOTE: I have quoted for the most obvious and severe issues affecting the electrical work, but I feel it is important that a sum for any contingencies is made available for any unforeseeable issues and damages that our team identifies while on site.

SCOPE OF WORKS

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

Interior paintwork (All affected areas – first floor and second floor apartment interior walls):

Remove full skin of paint off existing walls.
Remove any efflorescence & saturated priming paint from plaster work.
Fill, sand and prep all affected interior walls.
Apply priming coat to newly skimmed areas.
Apply high-quality washable paint to all affected walls as per existing.
NOTE: Paint to be applied from corner to corner to ensure a high-quality finish.
NOTE: Colour code to be provided by the client.
NOTE: Tinting charge to be included in final invoice.

Flooring | Parquet blocks (Second floor apartment area):

Remove all skirting boards carefully.
Remove all flooring, trims and affected materials.
Repair screed – see below.
Allow for dehumidifier/dryer to run for required days – see ‘Drying’ section below.
Remove all old adhesive from damaged/loosened parquet blocks.
Fit cleaned parquet blocks as per existing.
Supply and fit required adhesive.
Sand and seal full floor as per existing.
Parquet flooring to be thoroughly sealed.
Price includes cuttings and all required labour.

Demolish damaged/saturated screed:

Lift parquet blocks.
Chip and break up loose and saturated cement screed.

Cement plaster repairs:

Cement plaster repairs to flooring screed:

Clean and clear affected area thoroughly.
Remove all affected cement and clean the area thoroughly of all loose cement fragments.
Apply bonding liquid to the affected section of the screed and apply the cement plaster.
Allow to dry and prep for flooring application.

Cement plaster repairs to external wall:

Remove all affected cement and clean the area thoroughly of all loose cement fragments.
Apply bonding liquid to the affected section of the existing plaster and apply the new cement plaster.
Allow to dry and prep for priming coat of paint.
NOTE: Daily labour X materials rate used due to size of the damaged area.

Skimming plaster repairs:

Skimming plaster repairs to ceiling:

Supply and apply skim plaster to ceilings.
Prep for paint application.

Skimming plaster repairs to walls:

Supply and apply skim plaster to badly affected walls.
Remove all affected paint.
Apply bonding liquid to the affected walls and apply the skim plaster.
Allow to dry thoroughly and prep for paintwork.

Paintwork to ceilings:

Fill, sand and prep ceilings thoroughly before paint application.
Supply and apply priming coat to newly skim-plastered ceiling and cornices.
Apply white PVA paint to the ceiling and cornices.
NOTE: Ceiling to be painted from end to end to ensure a uniform application.
NOTE: Return trip to re-coat ceiling may be necessary due to nature of damages and the probability of latent damages. A separate bill will be created for this possible return trip.

Drying:

Supply and allow dehumidifier to run over consecutive days inside the affected property.
NOTE: We will be required to check the moisture levels over a two-week period before beginning with the required repair work on site. These additional call outs will be noted and billed for separately.

Skirting boards:

Remove all affected/existing Meranti skirting boards and quadrants.
Ensure none of the skirting boards are broken during the removal/stripping process.
Supply required lengths of Meranti skirting.
Fill and sand skirting boards.
Fit the skirting boards thereafter, prep for final coat of paint/varnish/sealer.
Fill all fitment incisions with matching wood filler.
Apply multiple coats of tinted varnish/sealer as per the existing to the skirting boards.

Electrical works:

Call out and assessment to affected property.
Remove the affected distribution board panel.
Replace circuit breakers – supply and fit.
Replace the affected light fittings and switches.
Replace 3 plugs in the affected area.
NOTE: As mentioned, a sum should be allocated toward any contingencies that may arise while the electrician is conducting his repairs in the affected property.

Kitchen BICs (Built in cupboards):

Dismantle all affected BICs in the kitchen area.
Remove the kitchen appliances and store away safely.
Remove and dispose of all damaged components.
Place the dehumidifier in the area to allow for drying work to take place.
Supply and fit new components as per the existing design.
Build the new kitchen cupboards and seal all of the BICs when completed with the repairs.
Fit all kitchen appliances as per the existing layout.

Exterior paintwork:

Supply and apply primer to newly plaster section of external wall.

Exterior paintwork | Stipple finish:

Fill, sand and prep all affected exterior walls.
Supply and apply high-quality exterior paint to the affected wall as per existing.
NOTE: Paint to be applied from corner to corner to ensure a high-quality finish. A stipple finish is to be used as per the existing walls.
NOTE: Mixed colour used: The colour code is to be provided by the client. If not possible, Black Bird Construction to match colour.
NOTE: Higher rate used to cover tinting charges.

Rubble removal | site clearance: