To think I need to replace the entire floor after this toilet leak?

[CesarSoubreyon]

Sorry posting for traffic, also put in the property section.

I'm hoping to get some insight as to what is appropriate repair after a toilet leak. I think the insurance company are trying to do the bare minimum to keep costs down rather than do a thorough job.

Our toilet leaked in our ensuite for about 3 days whilst we were away. Floor totally submerged with water. Ceiling underneath affected and it also went 2 floors down too (we have a 3 storey house and the ensuite is on the top floor). I pulled up the lino and the smell was horrific, everywhere covered in black mould.

We cleaned up as best we could, turned off the water and got an emergency plumber to stop the leak.

The insurance company employed a Loss Assessor who advised that the whole ensuite floor needed to be removed due to the black waste and the area underneath sanitised. This would have meant also removing and then replacing the toilet and basin. Everything was recorded as he asked for permission to do this.

The contractors only ended up removing the top layer of flooring (the thin tiles we had covered with the lino) and ran a dehumidifier for 2 weeks and are now saying this is enough.

I'm concerned that they are not following the Assessor's original recommendations and they are also ignoring our request to hear the recording.

I think the whole actual floor needs removing and replacing but this isn't an area I have a lot of knowledge in.

Hoping for some advice please?

I’m not an expert, but I have had a similar issue but with a much longer term leak.

Three days worth of leak won’t have caused any significant damage to the structure of the floor (and probably isn’t the cause of black mould) and taking up the tiles and running the dehumidifier will have got rid of the waste water. That’s what was done in mine - there was then significant work required after that but only because the leak had been going on for years and the joists and wall frames all needed replaced.

I’d also say be careful what you wish for. Like for like replacement often leaves you out of pocket, unless all your fixtures and fittings are brand new and haven’t ‘depreciated’.

If you’ve used the insurers contractor rather than taking a settlement, the work will all be guaranteed, which should give you some comfort.

Does it actually count as black waste if it's just the cistern leaking or similar? Presumably no-one was using it if you were away. Sorry if I've misunderstood.

DownThePubWithStevieNicks

Thanks for your reply. The contractors used have only been for the cleaning and decontaminating. They have then come back with a settlement offer that is very low as they now don't think the floor needs fully removing. I'm not sure how they can know that the joists are ok without looking at then and that's what we're worried about- the structure being compromised.

The Assessor also said the leak has probably been going on longer due to the extent of the mould.

niadainud

I think he classed it as black waste because of the part of the toilet that was leaking. Also could have been going on longer than we thought. The whole floor was covered with lino and the water was under that rather than on top.

Okay, sounds like you will need to start the very tedious back and forth with the insurers to resolve this. Get a local bathroom fitter or builder in to have a look. If they think the joists are damaged, get them to quote for repair and send that to the insurer.

It might be in your best interest to use the insurers contractor to do whatever they are saying the settlement is to cover, unless they up it to what an independent quote says, otherwise you’ll be out of pocket.

DownThePubWithStevieNicks

Thanks that's very helpful, I'll get a local builder in this week.

If you are not happy with the work done my advice would be to go back to your insurance company and challenge this asap.

My elderly mum had a kitchen fire started by a toaster which amongst other things burnt a hole approx 6 inches in diameter right through the worksurface. The cleaning company were excellent (lots of smoke damage) but the contractor doing the remedial work actually planned to repair the worktop by filling the hole and then painting it to a 'reasonable match' because replacing the worktop would be betterment! I did not allow him to proceed and contacted her insurance company straight away. They immediately agreed that this was not acceptable and confirmed that then work surface must be replaced. I do think the contractor was trying to cut their costs (aswell as trying to take advantage of a vulnerable elderly person).