Help with huge floor leak insurance claim

[Crispynoodle]

I'm asking for help. Following noticing a damp patch on a hallway wall we've learnt that we have a floor leak. Consequently all the floors in kitchen, utility, downstairs bathroom, dining room and hallway all have to be lifted dried out and reinstated. Our bottom kitchen units also have to be taken out. The kitchen is old so we are planning to renovate but we have no experience of this. Initially we told our loss adjuster that we were happy to have them appoint contractors, he also said we could ask the contractors to knock a wall down for us and obviously we would pay for that. But our contractors have said they can't do any extra work as they are so busy. I'm wondering if it's better to accept a payout to get our own contractors to reinstate. Has anyone got any experience of this?

Anyone? SOS

Devastatingly we've had this twice. Once from an underfloor burst pipe and once from an upstairs leak resulting in a ceiling collapse and destroyed 1/2 kitchen. 2 different houses and events many years apart.

The first time we had contractors appointed and we're moved into temporary accommodation as they had to dig up the floor to repair the underfloor leak and the house was out of action for 4 months.

The second time it was taking so long to resolve with their contractors that we took the payment. This allowed us more control and opportunity to upgrade rather than just repair the damaged part of the kitchen.

You need some certainty about the amount and to be confident you don't find extra issues part way through the job before you can confidently take the pay out.

Thank you so much for replying yes we have contractors in today taking everything out but another contractor has been appointed to reinstate. They're already making sounds about being sooo busy so am thinking of negotiating a payment