[Misc] Insurance help? i have a leak

[tiger62]

Have recently discovered the seal on my bath/shower is gubbed and water has been leaking through when the showers on.

Discovered this as it has spread through and noticed a damp patch in the spare room. Pulled panel off bath and looks pretty damp under it.

Issue being how much damage will this have caused to floor/wall? Carpet in spare room looks fine now I’ve let it dry and floor under it seems ok, obv I cant see the state of the floor under the bath or the wall under the mirrors ( yes my wall has mirrors, not my choice was like that when I bought house).

Should I?

a) Pull the mirrors down and re-tile/seal wall myself. Hope the wall/floor is ok?

Or

b) Contact insurance about making a claim and if so would it be covered by buildings or contents? As mine are with 2 different people.

Thanks in advance for any help people!

[Jaemi]

There are companies who come out and check your woodwork/walls for damp.
Some of them dont charge a call out fee.

http://www.wisepropertycare.com/
I think this is one ^

Anyway, let them take a look to see what the extent of the problem is.
You don't want to tile over a wall that is suffering from damp.

[SOLIDBOB]

Originally Posted by Jaemi

There are companies who come out and check your woodwork/walls for damp.
Some of them dont charge a call out fee.

http://www.wisepropertycare.com/
I think this is one ^

Anyway, let them take a look to see what the extent of the problem is.
You don't want to tile over a wall that is suffering from damp.

The ones that don't charge a call out fee will inevitably find stuff wrong though...

[Jaemi]

That's the price you pay.

You could always rent a "dampmeter" and check for yourself.
http://www.hss.com/g/49420/Damp-Meter.html
Fairly easy to use, stick it in the wall, if it beeps, ye've got damp.

[Foxglove]

how much is your excess? Your household insurance will not pay for the problem but will sort out the consequences. Quick call to them will have all the necessary people out in a day or 2 who will see if any damage has been done and arrange to fix it or will give you the money to get it done yourself (or put in your bank if it is just paint work etc you can do yourself). You will just need to replace the seal in the bath which is pretty easy and cheap if that is all the problem is.

[Jaemi]

Originally Posted by Foxglove

You will just need to replace the sea in the bath

Big bath.

[Foxglove]

sneaky edit there when I saw that

[pANDAS Radio]

If the leak has been going on for a while then there's a good chance that retiling it yourself isn't going to help much, if damp has gone into the walls then that'll need sorted first.

[Rosco]

Some insurers cover trace and access for leaks as standard on their policy so it's worth checking your policy booklet. Your pipes would be buildings cover but any damage to some other things i.e. carpets would be contents so you might have to claim on both i'm afraid.