Reinstatement
What exactly does ‘Reinstate’ mean?
The dictionary definition of reinstate is ‘to restore (someone or something) to their former position or state.’ Up North we would say ‘make good’. And we’d go a step further and add on ‘if not better’.
In the world of buildings insurance, reinstatement is required after a property has suffered damage, such as after a fire, flood or leak. Reinstatement refers to getting the property back to the condition it was prior to the damage
What Does a Reinstatement Settlement Cover?
Following a claim, your insurance company usually offers a settlement on a like-for-like basis. For example, if your laminate flooring is damaged by water, the settlement will typically cover the cost of replacing it with the same or similar flooring.
However, reinstatement is rarely as simple as replacing one item. A flooring replacement may also require removing skirting boards, repairing walls, redecorating, and coordinating multiple trades.
This can quickly become complicated. Different contractors may need to be scheduled, additional damage may be discovered, and unexpected issues such as a wet subfloor can delay the work. In some cases, insurers may not cover these additional findings once the settlement has already been issued.
This is where professional reinstatement services make the difference.
Our team manages the entire process from inspection to repairs and restoration ensuring your property is properly reinstated without the stress of coordinating multiple trades.
Managing Your Reinstatement Without the Stress
You have already gone through enough stress, so why not let us sort it all out for you?
We can arrange the full reinstatement from start to finish, including sourcing the right quotes to cover the full extent of the works, using the right people for the right job, and project managing the trades so that everyone is doing what they should be doing, in the right order.
Also, we have worked on hundreds of reinstatement projects, which means that we know what to look out for. Following a leak we would foresee that the subfloor would be soaked, and identifying that up front would not only ensure that sufficient funds were in place, it would also vastly speed up the process.
Leak From Bath Waste
A slow leak behind a bath panel went unnoticed for months and was only discovered when stains appeared on the ceiling below. Once the panel was removed, significant damage to the bathroom floor was found.
Because the leak involved grey water from the bath waste pipe, the floor was considered beyond repair and required full replacement.
To resolve the issue, the entire bathroom suite had to be removed so the damaged floor and tiles could be replaced.
The customer had already been considering renovating the bathroom, so they decided to take the opportunity to create their dream bathroom while the reinstatement work was underway.
Trades Involved
Tiler – Floor and wall tiling
Plumber – Disconnecting services and installing the new suite
Joiner – Replacing the damaged subfloor
Surveyor – Assessing joists for drying
Drying Technician – Sanitising the affected area
Decorator – Repainting the ceiling
Fire Due to Cannabis Farm
One of our largest projects to date came through an insurance broker assisting a homeowner whose property was severely damaged by a fire originating from a neighbouring property.
Due to the scale and complexity of the damage, we quickly assembled an experienced team to manage the claim and reinstatement process. This included working with a leading loss assessor and appointing a highly experienced building surveyor to oversee the structural assessment and legal requirements such as party wall agreements.
The reinstatement is currently underway. Our team is designing a structural scaffold system to safely support the four external walls of the property while the roof and damaged debris are carefully removed.
Incident & Damage
This customer had not yet moved into the property and unfortunately did not have insurance in place. When they visited the property, they discovered water pouring out from the front door.
The issue was traced back to an incorrectly fitted mains supply to the bath. Due to constant water pressure, the pipe eventually burst, causing severe flooding throughout the property from top to bottom.
Our team quickly assisted in drying the property and assessing the damage to prevent further issues.
Recovery & Trades Involved
Once the situation was under control, we arranged the necessary specialists to begin the recovery and repair process.
Trades Involved
Surveyor – To determine the drying programme
Electrician – To install a temporary board for drying equipment
Labourers – To remove debris and damaged materials
Builder – To carry out the required repairs