Insurance Claims
Fire
Fire is one of the most devastating perils that can affect a building and its occupants regardless of whether the property is residential or commercial. What the fire and smoke does not destroy, the extinguishment water from the Fire Brigade will. Our surveyors are experienced in dealing with such matters and will often look into drying issues as well as fire damage issues.
The most common forms of fire in properties are electrical faults, cooking, candles, smoking and arson. Different fuel sources of fires will result in different spread of the fire and associated damage being caused. Our Chartered Building Surveyors have a great deal of experience in all types of fires.
Investigation
Fires can cause damage far beyond what is immediately visible. Our Chartered Building Surveyors understand what will happen to the electrical installation or uPVC windows after three of four months and will undertake a detailed inspection to fully ascertain the extent of damage that the fire has caused.
We will issue a preliminary report outlining the extent of damage that has occurred, particularly that damage is not immediately evident. This enables our clients, the loss adjusters and loss assessors where appointed to have a full appreciation of the extent of remedial works required.
Repairs
Even the smallest of fires can cause a devastating amount of damage to a property. We will prepare a preliminary schedule of works to cover emergency items such as making safe the structure and for temporary works such as a temporary roof or provision of a temporary power supply.
We will then work with you to prepare a full schedule of works for the full reinstatement of your property.
Flood
Flood damage claims can be as a result of numerous different causes. The most common being internal burst pipe claims, commonly termed escape of water, but can be as a result of river flooding, tidal breaches or burst water mains outside of a building.
Each will need to be considered on its own merits as water damage from a clean internal water pipe will need to be considered differently to a mains drainage back up and associated flood.
Investigation
Our initial survey of the building will be a thorough examination of all areas. Our Chartered Building Surveyors are very experienced in this type of claim and will be able to advise on any initial strip out works required to the property to assist the drying process.
We will also be able to keep a watchful eye on the drying process to ensure that further damage does no occur through over drying of the building.
Flooding and escape of water claims will frequently result in damage far removed from the initial claim. Our experienced Chartered Building Surveyors will know where to find such damage and how to deal with it.
Repairs
The repairs to be undertake to your property will be dependent on the type of and extent of flooding that has occurred
We will prepare an initial schedule to cover any temporary works that will be required to the property and will work with you to develop a full scope of repairs to cover the reinstatement of the damage that has happened.
Impact
Impact damage to buildings is damage that has occurred via an external force colliding with the building. Often impact claims may be the result of a storm, ie a tree falling onto a house, or commonly an out of control car hitting a building. We have all of course seen the images of aircraft hitting high rise buildings.
Investigation
Regardless of the cause of the damage, our first task will be to undertake a very detailed inspection of the property. The main damage may be clearly obvious, but hidden damage or associated issues may not be so easy to spot by the untrained eye.
We will arrange any emergency works that need to be undertake to your property along with any temporary works that may be required to last for several months until such time as full repairs can commence.
We will work with you to prepare a full specification for the reinstatement works required to your property and will over see the works through to final account.
Repairs
There are no standard methods of repair of impact damage claims as the works will depend solely on the nature of the damage.
Our Chartered Building Surveyors are experienced in all manner of impact claims and will be able to ensure that a full scope of repairs are undertaken to your property.
Storm
Storms can affect buildings in a variety of ways with the most common being direct wind damage and lightening strike.
It is however, often the secondary damage that causes the bigger problems, ie the fire that starts after the lightening strike, or the roof collapse because of the tree uprooted by wind.
Investigation
Regardless of the cause of the damage, our first task will be to undertake a very detailed inspection of the property. The main damage may be clearly obvious, but hidden damage or associated issues may not be so easy to spot by the untrained eye.
We will arrange any emergency works that need to be undertake to your property along with any temporary works that may be required to last for several months until such time as full repairs can commence.
We will work with you to prepare a full specification for the reinstatement works required to your property and will over see the works through to final account.
Repairs
There are no standard methods of repair of storm damage claims as the works will depend solely on the nature of the damage.
Our Chartered Building Surveyors are experienced in all manner of storm claims and will be able to ensure that a full scope of repairs are undertaken to your property.
Subsidence
Ground movement around and under a property can have a devastating effect on the stability of the building and may result in subsidence or heave occurring.
At West One we approach such issues with the diligence they deserve.
Ground movement and possible claims for subsidence could be as a result of many factors, not least: periods of prolonged wet, periods of prolonged drought, trees, adjoining building works, soil surcharge, drainage failure, mains water supply failure, slip planes in the soil, current or previous mining / quarries. The investigations that West One will undertake will consider all these issues to ascertain the exact cause of the movement.
Investigation
Our detailed inspection of your property may last for a number of months, including the monitoring that we may need to undertake.
We will often undertake an initial inspection to record the general defects that have occurred Our in house Chartered Building Surveyors can undertake a CCTV inspection of the drainage and undertake laser levels around the dwelling to try and ascertain the cause of the defects.
We can also bring in our associate structural, civil and geo-technical engineers to undertake bore sampling of the ground, along with long term monitoring. Only after undertaking such a detailed investigation can the most appropriate form of remedial repair to the building be undertaken
Repairs
The repairs to be undertake to your property will be solely dependent on the cause of the movement that is happening.
Once our full investigation has been undertaken, we will take the results of this investigation, along with soil samples etc and design / specify the most appropriate remedial works for your property.
In addition to remedying the movement to your property, we will also undertake the internal reinstatement of your property down to the colour of the paint.
