'Upgrade' as part of insurance claim?

krooton

krooton

krooton

Caporegime
Joined
9 May 2004
Posts
28,878
Location
Leafy outskirts of London
Wondered if anyone has tried this and been successful?

6.5 years into owning our new-build from build, we have now got a leak from under the shower cubicle unit thing in the en suite. It's one of those raised shower tray and glass panel units like this.

My guess is the main drain from the unit is the issue, as we are seeing liquid damage directly under it when looking at the ceiling downstairs.

We've been wanting to change up the en suite for ages, get rid of the unit, tile everything and turn it into a wet-room style thing instead.

As I understand it, my home insurance will cover the ripping up everything to find the source of the leak, repair the leak, replaster damage where needed, waterproof seal whatever is needed, and put the bathroom back together.

Do you think it would be possible get the changes we wanted covered under the insurance? So rather than them getting a new shower unit, we get the wetroom style tiling with the built in drain, etc.

We'd be keeping all our existing items (toilet, sink, etc) as they are (assuming I am right about the shower unit being the issues).

Anyone done similar?
 
Literally just got off the phone with our insurance appointed builders discussing something very similar (albeit a kitchen rather than bathroom).

Their response was basically "you can discuss it with the job manager, it depends how much extra work it is, but it sounds like you'd be better taking a cash settlement and appointing your own builder".

Obviously will vary between insurers and who they contract with...

Also are you sure they will cover repairing the leak? Our policy specifically excludes that. So they'll cover trace and access (i.e. finding it and getting to it) and any damage caused by it, but not replacing the actual leaking thing. e.g. in our case they're paying to pull out and redecorate our kitchen, but not a £5 flexi hose... :p
 
Haggisman said:
Literally just got off the phone with our insurance appointed builders discussing something very similar (albeit a kitchen rather than bathroom).

Their response was basically "you can discuss it with the job manager, it depends how much extra work it is, but it sounds like you'd be better taking a cash settlement and appointing your own builder".

Obviously will vary between insurers and who they contract with...

Also are you sure they will cover repairing the leak? Our policy specifically excludes that. So they'll cover trace and access (i.e. finding it and getting to it) and any damage caused by it, but not replacing the actual leaking thing. e.g. in our case they're paying to pull out and redecorate our kitchen, but not a £5 flexi hose... :p
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I did think the wording was a bit weird, but if the shower tray is broken and leaking, they wouldn't replace that, but would everything else? What a weird policy, guess it's in case of things like your washing machine being broken a leaking. Will ask when we call up.
 
Insurance covers "restitution" - putting you back in the position before the claim. You can ask the workmen to do "similar work" that achieves this - if it costs extra (in material and labour), you'd be expected to cover it.
Like Haggisman said, it's a discussion you'd need to have with the tradies and see what the price difference would be...
 
krooton said:
I did think the wording was a bit weird, but if the shower tray is broken and leaking, they wouldn't replace that, but would everything else? What a weird policy, guess it's in case of things like your washing machine being broken a leaking. Will ask when we call up.
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Personally, I'd *not* have that conversation with the insurer. I'd ask the builder to give you two quotes: one to put you back to pre-claim, another to put you back to pre-claim ("but using these materials I've supplied, nudge-nudge-wink-wink").
 
Turns out I can't claim any way, having a closer look it looks like grout failure, I don't wear my glasses in the shower so didn't notice. Pretty much no insurance covers that, so we're going to have to pay out of pocket, joy
 
krooton said:
Turns out I can't claim any way, having a closer look it looks like grout failure, I don't wear my glasses in the shower so didn't notice. Pretty much no insurance covers that, so we're going to have to pay out of pocket, joy
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Damn, that sucks, but yeah, they treat that as wear and tear/lack of maintenance - as if everyone goes round inspecting their grout every week... :rolleyes:
 
Worth pointing out that grout failure should not cause a leak into the house, the cubicle should be fully tanked using proper products. Grout is just decorative really, when grout causes a full on leak thats a sign of a bodged installation.
 
I was fed up with my tiles in shower so fitted shower panels on top of them -So much better looking and only bottom and sides to seal.
I did buy the water proof sheets - not cheapo stuff.
All we do now is blade them down and wipe dry with car micro fibre towel.
I have done a check on my water pipes just in case.:)
 
200sols said:
Worth pointing out that grout failure should not cause a leak into the house, the cubicle should be fully tanked using proper products. Grout is just decorative really, when grout causes a full on leak thats a sign of a bodged installation.
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Similar things have happened to others on our estate, shoddy workmanship and poor tanking seem to be the issue. Any way, I've learnt that grout/sealant should be replaced every 2-3 years.
 
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