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Tomj
Posted on Monday, March 06, 2000 - 2:26 pm:   

On the initial installation do you think they finish 3500 or 4000 sq ft at the same time without a stop point for the day? The sq ft above is not unrealistic with todays new home construction styles. I've owned and remodelded homes from Victorian style, built in 1865 (with original floors), a farmhouse built in 1830 (with original floors) and several ranch homes. All the homes to some degree required work on the floors. I never had a problem with the finish matching, work being done on one room opening into a hall or adjoining rooms with pocket doors, or being done a room at a time. With an insured I generally ask what they feel needs to be done with the floor,and a majority of the time the discussion is confined to the affected area and there will generally be a contractor available who will guarentee to satisfy the insured. Not always, but that's part of the job.
David Bennett
Posted on Monday, March 06, 2000 - 1:43 pm:   

Interesting and I agree I would want my entire first floor refinished. However the policy is a direct physical loss form. I don't believe this particular situation has been litigated. There are a couple of cases (Georgia had one) where the issue was carpeting nonseamed layed on the first floor. The court ruled for replacement of the entire unbroken area. However, the issue is not the unbroken area of the floor, but of the rooms. The bedrooms are seperate units from the hallway as is the bathrooms and or closets which may be present. In looking at the open areas, e.g. Kitchen, LR, DR Hallway, I believe you have to estimate the damage as repairs and refinish the open areas to match. At the same time, I would provide an explanation of the grain pattern and a seperate estimate for the insurance company to review and make their decision. We may not agree with only paying for the open areas but this is the standard set by the companies and most courts.
newbie
Posted on Thursday, March 02, 2000 - 5:29 pm:   

Sand and re-finsh the entire area, and if necessary spot repair the damaged or affected area, in a continous unbroken finished surface, it is customary to refinsh the entire area. If the traffic areas render the floor un repairable the policy would still afford coverage for the damaged area and re-finishing the entire area, as it covers sudden and accidental direct physical damgage. However the portions that are rendered unrepairable due to wear and tear would be excluded from complete replacement. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Don Dixon
Posted on Thursday, March 02, 2000 - 3:13 pm:   

Hey, let's make this more interesting. You have water spot damage in the kitchen and continuous run of hardwood floor throughout the first floor level. You notice wear and tear in the traffic patterns in the kitchen in front of the refrigerator and stove as well as around the cooking island cabinet and breakfast table. Wear and tear damage in pedestrian walkways of kitchen is more unsightly to overall floors than water damage.

Now what would you do?
older than dirt
Posted on Thursday, March 02, 2000 - 3:10 pm:   

All continuous flooring, including carpet.
If the carrier instructs differently, then they have to deal with the PH. We can only do our jobs with the guidelines. As long as what we are being asked to do is not illegal.
storm pro
Posted on Thursday, March 02, 2000 - 2:18 pm:   

How are you guys and gals handling your continuous hardwood floor claims?
SCENERIO: Minor damage to hardwood floor in the dining room. The hardwood floors run continuously throughout the first floor of the home: living room, halllway and into two back bedrooms. There are no thresholds or other possible "break points" and the grain runs perpendicular through the door openings that have doors.
Many fellow adjusters I have come across say we only owe up to the doorways but I always recommend the carrier to pay for refinishing all continuous hardwood floors until you can reach a break point. In my scenerio that would mean refinishing the whole first floor. This is not the same as carpet in my opinion in which case we would seam at the doorway (a common and acceptable practice).]
Anyway, that's the way I would want my house to be repaired if the shoe was on the other foot.
Just wondering what you all think...

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