Use Insurance for Water Stains?

[bicker]

We've had some ice dams and other minor issues with the roof over the last few years. We've had that condo pay for the repairs to the roof, but they are explicitly faultless with regard to non-structural damage inside each unit. Has anyone any experience or advice regarding applying condo-owners insurance to killing the stains and repainting (just) the ceilings?

 

[golfgal]

Unless they are major stains it might not be worth the hike in premium to file a claim. The cost of repair might not even exceed your deductible. I would get some quotes from a painter/contractor first to see how much it will cost to fix. Also, since the damage was caused buy something the condo association WAS responsible for, it is possible that they will have to pay for the damage. I would check on that as well. I understand how the bylaws work for condo associations but there is often a clause in there to cover damage inside that would not normally be covered except in a covered loss incurred by the condo association.

 

[AshleyW]

Unless they are major stains it might not be worth the hike in premium to file a claim. The cost of repair might not even exceed your deductible. I would get some quotes from a painter/contractor first to see how much it will cost to fix. Also, since the damage was caused buy something the condo association WAS responsible for, it is possible that they will have to pay for the damage. I would check on that as well. I understand how the bylaws work for condo associations but there is often a clause in there to cover damage inside that would not normally be covered except in a covered loss incurred by the condo association.

Agreed. We live in a condo too. They replaced our roof in 2008 and we had massive rains & flooding that year. The first night after they took off our roof, they didn't completely cover it with tarps, and it happened to rain - so we had a bunch of water stains in our dining room and living room. Because the stains were due to something out of our control (like in your situation, bicker), we complained to the association and they sent someone in to fix the stains and repaint our ceilings. It's worth a shot to ask, if you haven't already.

If they absolutely won't fix it themselves, I'd probably just suck it up and re-paint it myself. I don't remember what the deductible is on our condo insurance, but I think it's a good bit higher than the cost of repainting the ceiling.

 

[bicker]

They won't repaint inside. It's very explicit in the by-laws what's the condo's responsibility in case of roof leak versus what's the unit-owner's responsibility.

The deductible and how much the insurance would cover is most of my concern. I think repainting could cost five or six hundred (based on how much it cost to paint the place the first time, how much we got a really good deal that time [because the guy was a first-time painter], etc.).

I suppose I'm most interested in learning if anyone has actually successfully gotten their insurance company to pay... anyone?

 

[Muushka]

We are in a single family home and was hit by winds from a hurricane several years ago. The insurance company did, in fact, pay for the painting of the ceiling and the repairs for the leak in the roof.

My HO insurance is a very good company. While we waited for the interior to be fixed (painted), it was a long wait (lots of people had a lot more going on than we did). So I picked up a can of KILZ spray paint and did it myself. It looked fine. I told my ins co that I had done it myself and didn't need to be reimbursed for that portion and they told me that even though I did it myself, I was still entitled to the reimbursement. Nice!

 

[golfgal]

They won't repaint inside. It's very explicit in the by-laws what's the condo's responsibility in case of roof leak versus what's the unit-owner's responsibility.

The deductible and how much the insurance would cover is most of my concern. I think repainting could cost five or six hundred (based on how much it cost to paint the place the first time, how much we got a really good deal that time [because the guy was a first-time painter], etc.).

I suppose I'm most interested in learning if anyone has actually successfully gotten their insurance company to pay... anyone?

Damage from ice dams is a covered loss so getting it covered won't be an issue but if it costs $500 and your deductible is $500 it isn't worth filing a claim, especially if you have a discount for being claim free. They won't raise your rates for a claim that size but you WILL lose your discount. On top of which, it isn't difficult to paint. Get some Kilz primer that will block the stain and a gallon of paint-$50 tops.

 

[bicker]

(The stains are on volume ceilings, 20 feet high. We don't even have a ladder that would allow us to safely paint the ceilings ourselves. We thought about buying a ladder, but the ladder we'd need would cost about $185, and wouldn't fit in or on our cars, so we'd have no way to get it home. We ended up buying one of those folding ladders, but it doesn't reach.)

 

[Nancyg56]

My concern would not be getting the insurance company to pay but factoring the long term consequenses of filing that claim. If your deductible is close to to the amount that the repairs would cost I would not file a claim. In the event you had an expensive claim shortly after this one your rates may be affected.

I believe that the insurance would cover your water damage and if you are confident that you will not need to file another for a while you should be okay but for me, I have terrible luck so I would just pay OOP.

 

[kaytieeldr]

They won't repaint inside. It's very explicit in the by-laws what's the condo's responsibility in case of roof leak versus what's the unit-owner's responsibility.

The deductible and how much the insurance would cover is most of my concern. I think repainting could cost five or six hundred (based on how much it cost to paint the place the first time, how much we got a really good deal that time [because the guy was a first-time painter], etc.).

I suppose I'm most interested in learning if anyone has actually successfully gotten their insurance company to pay... anyone?

Paint party at bicker's house!!!!! Who's in?

 

[golfgal]

(The stains are on volume ceilings, 20 feet high. We don't even have a ladder that would allow us to safely paint the ceilings ourselves. We thought about buying a ladder, but the ladder we'd need would cost about $185, and wouldn't fit in or on our cars, so we'd have no way to get it home. We ended up buying one of those folding ladders, but it doesn't reach.)

It is still less than your deductible and future premium increases. You can rent a ladder from a rental center for the day. An extension ladder can be tied on the roof of a car with a blanket under it. Again, I would get some bids before you file a claim. Find out how much it will cost and go from there.

 

[Muushka]

Paint party at bicker's house!!!!! Who's in?

Not me. I hate to paint.

 

[barkley]

in 2009 we had roof damage due to snow and ice. the damage was actualy inside the roof (to look at our house from the outside you could'nt tell). it caused problems with the living room ceiling paint.

our homeowner's insurance paid for repainting-and boy were we in for a surprise! we assumed that they would just re-paint the ceiling, but they informed us that the "industry standard" calls for repainting the entire room to ensure the color match and prevent noticable lines. then it went further-b/c we have the kind of walls that have a somewhat rounded edge, they said they had to paint all the associated (connected) walls (and their ceilings).

we ended up, b/c of the issue with the living room ceiling paint, with our living room, entry way, kitchen, great room and hallway all repainted b/c the livingroom wall connected to the entry wall which connected to the kitchen wall, which had a small portion that connected to the hall way, which wrapped around and connected to the great room.

it took longer than we anticipated, but on the upside we got to choose the paint color and our premiums have not increased (we just had to pay our deductable).

 

[SueInBoston]

I live in a condo and have Metlife for Insurance. I filed a claim in 2007 for water damage (caused by roof, condo responsiblity) and was paid after my $500 deductable. Metlife paid for wall repair (had to remove part of drywall) and repaint wall and celing, and carpet cleaing. I think it was around $3000. I expected our premium to go up but it did not, if it did..it was very small that I just attribute to inflation. However, that was our first and only claim in our 25 years of home owning.

 

[bgirldeb]

I agree with golfgal. Get a few quotes first. If the quotes are close to your deductible, it's not worth filing a claim over.

 

[kaytieeldr]

(The stains are on volume ceilings, 20 feet high. We don't even have a ladder that would allow us to safely paint the ceilings ourselves. We thought about buying a ladder, but the ladder we'd need would cost about $185, and wouldn't fit in or on our cars, so we'd have no way to get it home. We ended up buying one of those folding ladders, but it doesn't reach.)

I have that covered, too. We order one from QVC. We use it, then ship it back within thirty days of delivery - cost? Just the shipping in both directions

 

[bicker]

It is still less than your deductible and future premium increases.

Yes very true.

You can rent a ladder from a rental center for the day. An extension ladder can be tied on the roof of a car with a blanket under it.

An extension ladder would be unsafe to use, given the way our ceilings are. Self-standing ladders are required, even for coordinated people, much less spazzes like my wife and I. And I wouldn't want to risk damage to our car from a ladder that necessarily would have to be "too large" for the car (a Civic) itself.