Too late for Insurance Claim?

Discussion in 'Repairs & Maintenance' started by Property101, 26th Sep, 2019.

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  1. Perp

    Perp Well-Known Member

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    I don't get the no warranties part, still, but no cash left after building a new house sounds pretty standard to me... have you ever built anything? Hahaha
     
  2. Property101

    Property101 Well-Known Member

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    Yes built before with a 7 year warranty.

    Didn't build this house.. and would need to check. But house would be close to expired warranty thinking.

    Builder moved overseas...
     
  3. Perp

    Perp Well-Known Member

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    I'm confused. You said at the start of the thread that it was a 'new build' with a 'brand new spa bath'.

    If the builder has gone overseas, hopefully your state has an insurance scheme to cover such matters.
     
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  4. Property101

    Property101 Well-Known Member

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    Well to me the Spa Bath looked new and in perfect condition.

    I probably shouldn't say new in some cases just new to me.

    Sorry if I have been confusing.
     
  5. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

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    Ok, now we are getting a clearer picture - so it's actually a pre-loved, used, existing house, *maybe* still under warranty, with a possibly dodgy spa installed in more recent times.

    So did you, or did you not put in a claim with your building insurance?

    The Y-man
     
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  6. Property101

    Property101 Well-Known Member

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    No I didn't think of it.

    Yesterday I was looking at the bath thinking how nice it would be.

    And enlight of recent storms and hearing of damages and claims... I realized I probably should have.

    Never claimed insurance before.
     
  7. Paul@PAS

    Paul@PAS Tax, Accounting + SMSF + All things Property Tax Business Plus Member

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    I would think its a spa-bath. I'm not sure your insurer will foot the bill for a deliberate destruction v's removal and reinstall of the spa bath. If the water had damaged the spa they may. You told tradies to break it? Why didnt they just remove it ? They are often just silicone/glued in and pipes are connected under. The hob it sits on is likely hebel and tiled over. Your home insurance may pay for costs of consequential damage and that act wasnt consequential. Wet carpet, tile damage perhaps but not a choice to smash the spa open. These acts are why insurers assess and approve claims. The water could have been turned off at street and then the leak stopped and a better plan to reduce costs implemented.

    The plumbing defect (ie no tap) should be covered by building defects warranty insurance. And they wont pay for the deliberate spa destruction either I would guess. If not insured the building insurer wont pay either and you will

    Speak to insurance co and see what they say but it seems a long shot
     
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  8. Property101

    Property101 Well-Known Member

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    Thank Paul for further info.

    To be clearer..

    Bathroom was tiled.

    Spa pool was installed and positioned hard against wall.

    No access at all.

    Bathroom cabinet was installed.

    Clear glass shower positioned hard against spa bath installed.

    Sorry but correct terminology is spa pool... It's quite different from the baths. It has a number of seats and is really big.

    So..

    In order to access the piping at the wall and cap off... A circular hole was drilled to enable a hand to fit through.

    The spa would need to be removed because I could never trust that this wouldn't happen again .. See first posts.

    Also you can't turn off water or electricity.

    So if we remove the spa a certain size bath would need to be installed..because of the spacing and I think from memory a Free standing tap..with a hose... If I understood plumber correctly.

    Spa is useless as tradies didn't like the electrical connection which should not have been hidden behind bath and not accessible.

    Instead if I understood correctly
    Should have been wall mounted near light switch etc to enable electricity to spa to be turned off and easily accessible.
     
  9. Property101

    Property101 Well-Known Member

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    Pictures which will give a better understanding.


    It was late Sunday night when I heard what sounded like an explosion behind the bathroom door.

    Fearing that my mobile had exploded I opened the door to find water gushing from the back of the spa and running under and out to my tiled bedroom.

    Because of the noise and my scream I feared my family would run to me and slip on the water. I through all towels and clothing over the flloor to stop water.

    Screamed to family to stay back and went outside turned water off at mains...luckily I know how to do this.

    Went back up and cleaned up.
     

    Attached Files:

  10. Dan Wood

    Dan Wood Well-Known Member

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    What?
     
  11. Dan Wood

    Dan Wood Well-Known Member

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    What?

    This whole thread is all over the joint.
     
  12. Property101

    Property101 Well-Known Member

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    It's extremely clear.

    A spa bath must have a safety switch..

    See picture you can't fit your hand in to reach.

    Water pressure at wall made spa piping explode.

    It wasn't a trickle of water going into the spa it was like a fire hydrant you see in the street when they play up etc..

    If the family would have run to me they could of slipped and injured themselves badly.

    If I didn't know how to turn water off at street or had not been home my whole house would have been flooded.

    To give an example:

    Imagine your washing machine just connected to the metal wall pipe and you couldn't turn it on or off?

    And needed too?

    Thats what its like.
     
    Last edited: 27th Sep, 2019
  13. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

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    I thought that it was contained to the bathroom.
     
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  14. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

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    Ok I get it now:

    It's basically an acrylic tub like the one below whacked into a bath room ~ the connections have been made between the wall and the tub for both power and water at the wall.

    When the pipe burst, they had to broke through the acrylic to get to the wall outlet, as the unit could not be moved due to other stuff (vanity? shower?) being in the way.

    I would still try building insurance ~ they will likely pay for the plumber, but they may not pay for a new tub ~ unless this was specifically stated when you bought the insurance.

    Incidentally, once the pipe was capped, the water should be perfectly fine to use ~ so you can use everything except tub as normal ~ unless the plumber specifically stated otherwise.....

    The Y-man
    m_Dream_topview-gallery.jpg
     
  15. Property101

    Property101 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks Y-man.

    That's it.

    After plumber we were back to normal.

    It's just a dream now...

    One day...

    Makes for a good story.. I will post rest of the story another day.. It gets funnier.
     
  16. Angel

    Angel Well-Known Member

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    I need a photo of a "Disposed of down a Caesar stone staircase and specialist fitting of new bath(special size) and stand up fittings also haulage up said staircase."
     
  17. bunkai

    bunkai Well-Known Member

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    I'm hypothesising that the cause was a faulty flex hose - perhaps one of those known to fail.
     
  18. Property101

    Property101 Well-Known Member

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    It's not going to happen Angel.. But that would be the theory.

    The stairs are narrow.

    Obviously Spa pool was fitted while building...would need to be broken up due to large size to be disposed of.

    Yes bunkai.. Could be..but I couldn't get near to see due to water spraying.. So just ran outside to water meter.

    Yes.. The flex hose is similar to the ones on washing machines.. I know with time and water leakage they do break down.

    Hence every washing machine we have purchased has had better and better cords.

    When I turned the water off and took a look.. Cord appeared still attached and undamaged... But was still unable to tell much due to lack of space... See photos above.
     
  19. Property101

    Property101 Well-Known Member

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    Knowing me I will probably have the bath cut up and I will throw it out the window in small pieces... Lol..

    Watch out down below......
     
  20. qak

    qak Well-Known Member

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    An outdoor spa in the bathroom??? Very strange.
    Probably best you had this issue, before it fell through the floor!