Tag Archive for: claims management

Fire, Water, Mould – Why Secondary Damage Drives Up Claim Costs

Fire, Water, Mould – Why Secondary Damage Drives Up Claim Costs

When something goes wrong in a property, the first damage is usually obvious. For example, a fire breaks out, a pipe bursts, or water floods a room. That part feels clear and immediate. However, what catches many people out is what happens next.

Secondary damage is the damage that follows the original incident. It often causes more disruption, costs more to fix, and takes longer to resolve. In many insurance claims, secondary damage is what drives up costs, sometimes far beyond what people expect.

What Is Secondary Damage?

Secondary damage occurs when the initial problem is not addressed quickly or thoroughly.

After a fire, the water used to put it out soaks into floors, walls, and insulation. Smoke particles settle into soft furnishings and hidden spaces.

After a leak or flood, moisture spreads beyond the visible area. It moves under flooring, behind walls, and into ceiling voids.

If moisture remains, mould can develop, therefore turning a water issue into a mould remediation job, which is more complex and costly.

How Fire Damage Leads to Water and Mould Problems

Fire damage rarely comes alone. Firefighting efforts introduce large amounts of water into a property. In winter, drying takes longer.

If soot and moisture are not removed quickly, they continue to damage surfaces. Metal corrodes. Fabrics absorb smoke smells. Damp areas stay wet.

Over time, mould can form in areas that were never directly touched by flames. At that point, the claim becomes larger, more complicated, and more expensive.

How Water Damage Turns into Mould Damage

Water damage spreads fast, especially in larger properties. Even when the visible water is removed, moisture often remains trapped.

That moisture feeds mould growth. Mould does not need much to grow. Warmth, time, and a damp surface are enough.

Once mould is present, cleaning alone is no longer enough. Materials may need to be removed. Air quality becomes a concern. Occupants may need to leave the space. All of this adds to the cost and time of the claim.

Why Secondary Damage Increases Claim Costs

Secondary damage increases costs for several reasons.

  • More areas of the property become affected.
  • More materials need repairing or replacing.
  • Specialist cleaning and drying equipment is required.
  • Restoration takes longer, increasing labour and disruption.

Insurers frequently look at how quickly action was taken. Delays can lead to higher excesses, longer claim timelines, and additional scrutiny.

Why Early Action Matters

 

The fastest way to control claim costs is to limit secondary damage.

  • Early drying prevents moisture from spreading.
  • Timely cleaning prevents smoke and soot from settling deeper.
  • Early assessment identifies hidden damage before it worsens.

Prompt professional restoration reduces the chance of mould, structural damage, and extended downtime.

How Professional Restoration Helps Control Costs

Restoration is not only about fixing what you can see, but it is also about stopping damage from escalating.

Professional teams assess the full extent of fire, water, and mould impact. They target affected areas early and use controlled drying and cleaning methods to protect the rest of the property.

This approach keeps claims more manageable and helps properties return to use sooner.

Support When It Matters Most

Fire, water, and mould damage can feel overwhelming. The uncertainty is often worse than the damage itself. Knowing the right steps to take early makes a real difference.

ServiceMaster Restore supports property owners and insurers by acting quickly and decreasing the risk of secondary damage. Our teams focus on protecting the building, controlling costs, and helping life return to normal.

If you need support after fire, water, or mould damage, call 0800 021 3970, or find your nearest ServiceMaster Restore business to see how we can help today.

 

 

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Navigating the Claims Process for Disaster Restoration

How to know when to claim on restoration work on your property.

When the unexpected happens, time is of the essence. Whatever the nature of the damage to your property, whether water and flood, fire and smoke or mould damage and vandalism, you need to be prepared to take the best course of action for the issue at hand.

But with so many variables and moving parts, it can be hard to know when, in the process of restoring your property, you need to claim on your insurance and what the restoration timeline is for your property.

In this blog post, the disaster restoration experts at ServiceMaster Restore, who regularly work with insurance brokers, loss assessors and adjustors to ensure swift and professional restoration work, walk you through the claims process for disaster restoration work and what to do when.

  1. Stay Safe and Conduct a Damage Assessment

Once you are safe, your first step to determine when to claim on restoration work will be to assess the damage promptly and/or professionally. An early and thorough assessment of the damage will help you know what you’re dealing with to prevent further deterioration, especially with water or mould issues and ensure accurate cost estimates later on, which are crucial for insurance claims.

At this point, you may want to engage restoration experts to conduct an accurate assessment and perform cost estimates, as they are more likely to have the tools and expertise necessary to identify hidden damages to your property.

  1. Make Contact

Whether your property is residential or commercial, the next step is to contact your building’s insurance company.

If you rent your property, inform your landlord about the damage, as they are likely responsible for the repairs. If you are the property owner, contact your insurance provider for any damage covered by your policy as soon as possible.

They are likely to advise you to take one of the following courses of action:

  • Contact their approved disaster restoration company
  • Send them photos for the insurance company to contact a disaster restoration expert
  • Find and contact a disaster restoration company

Logging the Claim with your Insurer

In some incidents, like a flood or burst pipe, which often occur out of hours or during high-demand periods, your insurer may not be able to immediately assist you.

Many restoration companies like ServiceMaster Restore operate 24/7 due to the unexpected nature of the majority of disasters property owners face. Therefore, we’ll be able to assist whenever you need us. In this instance, log a claim with your insurer and utilise their approved contractors or contact a restoration company yourself.

At ServiceMaster Restore, we understand that this aspect of the claims process can often be what hinders essential restoration work from happening as quickly and effectively as it should. That’s why, with ServiceMaster Restore Plus, we have streamlined the claims process. A service that understands the diverse needs across sectors, ensuring that everyone gets a tailor-made experience with a hassle-free add-on to your insurer’s existing cover, offer or policy, which allows us to act quickly 24/7, ensuring rapid response times, reduced costs and an exceptional service.

  1. The Claims Process for disaster restoration

Once the claim has been logged, your insurer is likely to provide a claim form, which you should complete accurately and keep for your records.

After the claim form and emergency repairs are done, your insurer may appoint a loss adjuster to investigate the cost of claims, the cause of the incident, and how much is covered by the insurance policy to agree on a cost.

A restoration expert will then likely provide a quote on restoration and reinstatement work for the property. This quote will then be sent to your insurer to agree on before work commences.

If you disagree with your insurer’s offer, utilise their complaints process if necessary.

When Not to Claim

There are a few reasons why claiming restoration work may not be in your best interest. Including…

  1. Policy Limits

If the damage is extensive and estimated repair costs exceed the maximum payout under your insurance policy, you may instead consider a partial claim or paying for the remaining costs yourself.

Even if repairs are underway, if the policy limit has been reached, the insurance provider might refuse to cover further costs, like alternative accommodation (AA), even if the property remains uninhabitable.

Your insurance provider will assess individual circumstances to determine if a property is truly uninhabitable or unsafe, considering factors beyond the availability of basic amenities.

  1. Lack of Coverage and Exclusions

Some policies might exclude certain types of damage, like certain events or to specific parts of the property. Be aware of any limitations or exclusions in your policy, as this may affect your ability to claim.

  1. Qualifying Repairs and Specific Schemes

Some schemes, like the Right to Repair Scheme, have specific criteria for repairs that are considered qualifying repairs.

If the damage doesn’t fall under the scheme’s definition of a qualifying repair, e.g.:

  • It’s beyond the cost limit
  • The local authority isn’t responsible

Then you won’t be able to claim under this particular scheme.

Furthermore, if the repair is considered an improvement rather than a restoration to the original condition, it might not be covered under certain schemes.

  1. Timing and Delays

When repairs take longer than expected and there are no undue delays caused by you, the insurance provider is likely to cover your alternative accommodation costs, even if the policy limit has been reached. However, if it is established that unnecessary delays were caused on your part, the insurance provider may appropriately refuse to cover additional alternative accommodation costs beyond the policy limit.

  1. Third-Party Claims or Disasters

In certain situations, property damage may occur due to factors entirely beyond your control. If a third party is responsible for the damage, pursuing a claim against them could be the most effective course of action instead of relying on insurance.

Additionally, if the property has been significantly affected by a natural disaster, considering rebuilding or renovating may be a better choice than attempting to restore it to its original state, particularly if the original structure is no longer feasible.

Need help navigating the claims process for disaster restoration?

At ServiceMaster Restore, we work closely with insurance companies to restore your property following most disasters, but if that aspect isn’t covered within your policy, we are happy to take on private cases.

No matter what disaster you’re facing, as a trusted provider for insurers across the UK, we’ll be on hand quickly to deal with the damage to your property.

Call 0845 762 6828 or 0800 021 3970 24/7 in an emergency, find your nearest ServiceMaster Restore business to see how we can help you today.