Residential Water Loss: Full Scope Restored After Carrier Underwrote the Damage
Snapshot
A homeowner experienced a sudden water loss that originated from a plumbing failure and affected flooring, baseboards, drywall, cabinetry, and adjacent rooms. The carrier’s adjuster produced a limited estimate focused on minimal demo and spot repairs, leaving out the majority of moisture-affected areas.
After a complete review and documentation analysis, Property Loss Pro identified extensive missed mitigation and rebuild items. Our corrected scope resulted in a substantial increase in approved repairs, allowing the contractor to restore the home safely and correctly — without the homeowner paying out-of-pocket for necessary work.
The Problem
The carrier’s initial estimate undervalued the loss and failed to reflect IICRC S500 standards for water mitigation. Key issues in the adjuster’s scope included:
Incomplete moisture mapping
Only partial demolition where full removal was required
No insulation removal despite saturation
Incorrect classification of materials as “salvageable”
Missing flooring, cabinetry, and baseboard replacement
No allowance for microbial surface cleaning or sealing
Omitted equipment charges & drying time
Missing contents manipulation and protection
No material matching or line-of-sight repairs
O&P removed, even though multi-trade coordination was required
The homeowner was left with a scope that could not fully repair the damage or meet building standard requirements.
What Property Loss Pro Did
1. Performed a Full Moisture & Damage Review
Using the contractor’s moisture logs, photos, and inspection notes, we identified:
Saturated drywall requiring full-height demolition
Water-impacted insulation needing removal and replacement
Moisture migration into connecting rooms
Cabinet toe-kick and back-panel moisture damage
Subfloor swelling & delamination
Baseboards and trim requiring complete replacement
Flooring continuity issues triggering room-to-room replacement
Microbial-risk areas requiring antimicrobial treatment
This proved that the original estimate included only a fraction of the actual repairs needed.
2. Corrected the Mitigation Scope
We rebuilt the mitigation portion of the scope to match required industry practices:
Full moisture mapping
Removal of all affected drywall, insulation, and baseboards
Equipment quantities updated to required levels
Proper drying time & monitoring
Contents manipulation and protection
EPA-compliant antimicrobial application
OSHA-compliant containment & PPE
This brought the mitigation scope fully in line with IICRC S500 standards.
3. Restored the Rebuild Scope to Real-World Construction Standards
Missing items in the adjuster’s rebuild estimate were corrected, including:
Proper flooring replacement based on material continuity
Cabinet repair or replacement due to moisture compromise
Reinstallation of trim, casings, and baseboards
Drywall and texture throughout affected areas
Paint blending and full-room repaint requirements
Subfloor sanding/replacement
HVAC cleaning in impacted zones
Plumbing fixture reconnection and testing
Correct demolition and disposal quantities
General Contractor Overhead & Profit (10/10) applied to all trades requiring coordination
This ensured a realistic reconstruction plan aligned with actual building practices — not just minimal patchwork.
4. Delivered a Carrier-Ready Xactimate Supplement Package
To prevent delays, we produced a clean, professional supplemental package including:
Corrected Xactimate estimate
Variance report comparing carrier vs. actual required scope
Mitigation documentation analysis
Code, IICRC, and OSHA justifications
Material matching & line-of-sight explanations
Detailed F9 notes for every corrected or added line item
The adjuster was able to approve the package without reinspection or pushback.
The Result
✔ Full, accurate repair scope approved
Notable approvals included:
Full-height drywall replacement
New insulation
Multi-room flooring replacement
Cabinet repair/replacement
Baseboards & trim throughout
HVAC cleaning
Proper drying equipment and monitoring
Antimicrobial treatment
Paint blending and finish matching
Correct demolition quantities
Full 10% Overhead & 10% Profit
✔ No out-of-pocket surprise costs for the homeowner
The entire repair plan was fully funded and compliant with industry standards.
✔ Contractor completed work safely, profitably, and to code
No shortcuts. No safety risks. No underwritten guesswork.
Why This Case Matters
Water losses are among the most frequently underwritten claims because:
Moisture paths are often hidden in walls and floors
Drying standards are complex and time-sensitive
Material continuity issues trigger full-room replacements
Microbial risk isn’t properly accounted for
Multi-trade coordination requires O&P, but carriers often omit it
Property Loss Pro ensures the claim accurately reflects:
Real moisture conditions
Proper mitigation standards
Building code requirements
Safety and hygienic reconstruction practices
True cost of restoring the home
You get a scope that funds the work — not a bare-minimum repair.
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