Escape of Water Insurance Reinstatement E17 | AWJ Construction

Escape of Water
Insurance Reinstatement
in E17

Escape of Water, Concealed Floor Damage, Building Control Support and Reinstatement

Project

Escape of water insurance reinstatement

Location

E17, London

Clients

Anika & Olaf

Insurer

Homeprotect

Project value

£12,942 including VAT

AWJ ROLE

Investigation, technical support, insurer-facing documentation and reinstatement

Client-supplied cork flooring excluded from the AWJ contract total

AWJ was initially instructed at a residential property in E17 Hillside Gardens for a relatively small internal alteration at first-floor level, including the formation of a new dividing wall. During the wider works, a failure in the kitchen flooring below prompted further investigation. Opening-up identified an escape of water associated with the dishwasher feed hose beneath/within the kitchen island, with moisture having tracked into the layered floor build-up beneath the visible finish.

The project then developed into a much more involved insurance reinstatement and technical-support exercise. AWJ documented the findings, opened up affected areas in a controlled manner, prepared the reinstatement scope and continued to support the clients throughout the claim and subsequent technical issues that arose at the property.

The visible flooring problem did not show the full extent of the loss. Once sections of the kitchen floor were lifted, the underside of the cork flooring, underlay and electric underfloor heating system showed heavy staining and visible mould contamination. Moisture had been trapped within the floor build-up and had travelled beyond the immediately visible surface area.

Further opening-up exposed additional concealed conditions within the subfloor zone. This included areas requiring decontamination, localised making-good and support before a new floor build-up could be installed. The findings demonstrated why a local cosmetic repair would not have addressed the full condition of the floor assembly.

Concealed contamination exposed beneath the kitchen floor during controlled strip-out.

The revised AWJ reinstatement scope included controlled removal of affected materials, cleaning and decontamination, preparation of the substrate, localised subfloor and support works, replacement electric underfloor heating, new smoothing compound and installation of the replacement cork flooring supplied by the clients.

Replacement electric underfloor heating system installed as part of the reinstatement.

Prepared floor during the reinstatement sequence before the final floor finish was completed.

£12,942 including VAT

This is the revised AWJ contract total for the insurance reinstatement works. It comprised the original reinstatement scope together with the later concealed subfloor, decontamination and localised support variation. Client-supplied cork flooring was excluded from the AWJ contract total.

During the project, a separate issue relating to the existing rear extension and its Building Control history was identified. The extension had not been fully signed off, creating an additional technical and administrative issue alongside the insured escape-of-water claim.

AWJ continued to support the clients beyond the physical reinstatement works by helping them understand the distinction between the insured damage and the pre-existing Building Control matter, reviewing the information available, assisting with the technical evidence required, and helping the clients progress the existing extension toward Building Control sign-off. This support continued after the main reinstatement works, with AWJ remaining available to help interpret requests, coordinate practical information and provide contractor-side technical input as the compliance matter progressed.

This support was contractor-side technical assistance rather than statutory certification. Building Control remained responsible for determining what evidence, inspections or remedial measures were required before any formal sign-off could be issued.

The project had begun with a much smaller instruction upstairs. AWJ formed the new internal division, insulated and boarded the new partition and completed the associated finishing works. The later insurance issue downstairs significantly expanded the technical scope of AWJ's involvement at the property.

New insulated internal partition during construction.

Partition boarded and prepared during the internal alteration works.

Completed upstairs room following the internal alteration and finishing works.

The completed kitchen was returned to a clean, cohesive finish after the contaminated floor build-up had been removed, the underlying areas prepared, the electric underfloor heating replaced and the new cork finish installed. The completed works demonstrate the value of investigating concealed damage before reinstatement rather than treating only the visible symptom.

Completed kitchen with the reinstated cork floor and surrounding finishes.

Need help after water damage or an insurance claim?

AWJ Construction provides insurance reinstatement inspections, detailed repair scopes and complete reinstatement works across London. We can support clients from the initial damage assessment and quotation stage through to the completed repair works.

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