When a
property damage claim has to be filed with an insurance company, more often
than not, the claim includes some type of damage to the building’s
flooring. This is often due to water,
fire or smoke damage that either directly destroys the flooring or contaminates
it with sewage, mold or smoke residues.
Choosing the type of flooring to repair a residential or commercial property
is an important decision. Common choices include tile, stone, wood, vinyl and
carpeting. In many circumstances,
carpeting is selected due to its cost, warmth, and large selection of colors,
patterns and fibers. Carpeting has
additional advantages as well, such as its insulating and noise dampening
properties and speed with which it can be installed.
While carpeting can be a good fit for many situations, it also has
potential negative attributes. New
carpet systems (including adhesives and carpet padding), like many new interior
finishing materials, will often off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for a
while after being installed.
Carpets can even act as "sinks" for the adsorption of VOCs from
other sources (during the application of paint and other finish coatings for
example) and re-emit them later.
Carpeting can also act as a reservoir for dust, dirt, pollen, pet dander, mold,
dust mites, pesticides and other materials and allergens which may originate
indoors or be brought into the indoor environment from outside. Poor carpet
maintenance can allow large quantities of dust and debris to build up over time.
Moisture could also be trapped below or in carpets which can result in mold
growth and the release of mold spores. Young children who play on carpets are
most likely to come into contact with these substances although anyone in the
building could be exposed.
“When property
damage occurs it’s important for the policyholder to understand that each
decision they make, from documenting the damage and negotiating the claim to
picking replacement materials, can have a profound impact on the future state
of their home or business,” said Douglas Waldie, President of Hudson Douglas Public Adjusters, LLC. “These
are just a few of the reasons people in these situations should look to the
expertise of an experienced public adjuster to represent their interests and
ensure the best possible outcome. At Hudson Douglas we work only for
policyholders. This means everything is
handled for our clients with the insurance company. Our building science
professionals can also help with all of the fine details, including what
flooring choices will work best when repairing the property.”
Hudson Douglas
Public Adjusters also recently sponsored an educational video about the pros
and cons of carpeting that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/vZ8bHl-5NzQ
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