THUNDERSTORMS CAUSE MAJOR WATER DAMAGE TO HISTORICAL BUILDING

 

Heavy thunderstorms and rain during summer 2017 caused major water damage to a mid-terraced Victorian house in the Cotswolds. Water poured through the roof of the period house that usually hosts exhibitions, re-enactment shows and workshops for the general public, and the venue had to close to visitors.

While protecting the historical artifacts was the main priority, the venue was also focused on reopening as soon as possible to ensure some income for the charity that runs the venue.

Thankfully, the charity had a Lorega Loss Recovery Insurance policy and was able to get a Chartered Loss Adjuster on site the same day to assess the damage and implement an immediate action plan.

The insurer’s loss adjuster agreed that specific care was needed for this claim, due to the historical nature of the building and its contents. The Lorega Chartered Loss Adjuster worked on estimates for the repairs, looked for a storage solution and sourced specialist contractors to check the roof as the gutters had overflowed, and to dry the property with specific care.

Storage was needed for the historical artifacts to be protected from damage during the reinstatements works. The local council stepped in and offered storage in the townhall. Cleaning and mopping then started and certain areas of the venue were able to reopen.

Interestingly, the main challenge was the restoration of original wallpaper in one of the bedrooms. It was important to recreate the original and this represented the biggest cost on the claim, along with specialist drying processes.

Because of the delicate nature of the building, there was so much to anticipate and organise that the policyholder was relieved to have the support of the Lorega Loss Adjuster. As the venue and charity are run by volunteers, managing this claim without expert help would have been a lengthy and complicated process, and they would have lacked the project management skills and the access to very niche contractors.

Initiating the drying process early and securing an interim payment to assist with cash flow was key for the policyholder. And thankfully, the venue was able to partially reopen while the reinstatement works were carried out in the background.