Topic
Restoration
Why this strata unit owner does not have to pay for common area damage
September 9, 2021 by Greg MeckbachA British Columbia condo corporation that charged a unit owner $25,000 for common property repairs has been ordered to reverse $15,000 of the charge. Claire Adamson owns a strata unit which she rents out. Adamson lives at a different address.…
Hundreds of properties evacuated as wind prompts growth in B.C. wildfires
August 16, 2021 Hina Alam - THE CANADIAN PRESSHigh winds intensified numerous wildfires burning in British Columbia, forcing more evacuation orders for residents in hundreds of homes late Sunday, says the BC Wildfire Service. Some of the largest and most dangerous fires are burning in the southern Interior…
Why your clients should do an inspection before buying a home
July 21, 2021 by Greg MeckbachA couple who discovered a leaking bathtub after moving into their new home cannot get compensation from the sellers. A “reasonable inspection” would have revealed a water problem before Tyler and Keva Luscombe bought their home in 2020, the British…
Get ready for hundreds of claims from Barrie twister
July 21, 2021 by Greg MeckbachThe industry will probably see well over 200 claims from the July 15 tornado that hit Barrie, Ont., says a wind damage expert who has looked at the affected area. “I expect the total number of damaged houses was about…
Why insured losses from Barrie twister may be higher than you think
July 16, 2021 by Greg MeckbachThe number of Barrie, Ont. clients whose homes are damaged beyond repair by Thursday’s tornado may be more than initially reported, an industry expert predicted Friday. The tornado touched down at about 2:30 p.m. July 15, the Canadian Press reported.…
Why your clients’ basements will probably leak eventually
July 7, 2021 by Greg MeckbachHomeowner clients are battling the elements just by living below the ground floor, and so they will need to act quickly if they notice water pooling in their basement, a building supply vendor suggests. “Creating a comfortable living space in…
5 reasons why fire sprinklers fail, and what your clients can do about it
July 6, 2021 by Greg MeckbachBuilding renovations are among five common reasons for fire sprinkler failure, according to Diana Rodriguez-Zaba, a partner for ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba, in a recent article on TheBigRedGuide.com. Typical renovation incidents that can cause failure include collisions with construction equipment,…
Why liability insurance did not cover the defence of a remediation order
June 18, 2021 by Greg MeckbachAn eastern Ontario municipality does not have coverage with any of its four former liability insurers for a dispute with the provincial environment ministry over alleged pollution occurring more than six decades ago. That’s because the insurance policies in question…
A home under renovation isn’t necessarily “under construction:” Appeal Court
June 15, 2021 by David GambrillA home under renovation doesn’t mean it is “under construction,” Ontario’s Appeal Court has ruled, rejecting an insurer’s interpretation of its home insurance policy exclusion. In Tataryn v. Axa Insurance Canada (now Intact Insurance), Susan Tataryn’s Ottawa property served as…
Restoration firms beware: Did clients authorize payment for your work?
June 14, 2021 by David GambrillA recent flood damage claim in B.C. speaks to the importance of getting in writing from clients exactly what restoration services have been authorized for payment, be it a repair or a full investigation into the cause of the water…
Restoration firm suing DKI Canada over termination of agreement
May 30, 2021 by Greg MeckbachRestoration firm DKI Canada Ltd. is being sued in British Columbia by Coquitlam-based Canstar Restorations Limited Partnership, a former member of the DKI network. Allegations in the lawsuit have not been proven in court. Until 2020, Canstar was operating multiple…
Coverage dispute arises as to whether construction exclusion applies to building under renovation
May 13, 2021 by Greg MeckbachEditor’s Note: In an earlier version of this story, Canadian Underwriter incorrectly reported that Intact was denied leave to appeal an earlier court finding that a building renovation does not necessarily trigger an “under-construction” exclusion. In fact, the Court of…