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ABOUT THE CLAIM
Subsequent to a powerful hurricane, the owner of a 2,100 sf home reported additional damages, six months after the initial inspection. The rear of the single-story home, constructed in 1960, faces the Big Lagoon along Florida’s Panhandle and incorporates many windows. The structure is conventional wood framing, with exterior walls clad primarily in brick.
ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION
Upon notification by the insurance carrier of this additional damage claim, one of Guardian’s forensic engineers obtained site-specific wind data and then deployed to the subject property for a complete interior and exterior inspection. There, he found none of the usual signs of wind-borne debris at the exterior and no water damage in the interior. He also observed that every window on the home was equipped with a roll-down shutter system, although the base of the railing was corroded. Of all the home’s many windows, he discovered just two that showed cracking.
ABOUT THE CAUSE & ORIGIN REPORT
The report included the weather data: this location did, in fact, face winds of 95 mph, and also sustained winds greater than 50 mph for 12 hours. Had the broken windows been on the opposite side of the house, facing the direct winds, perhaps one would be inclined to assume storm-related damage. Instead, the crack types in the glazing of the two windows on the other side of the home demonstrated their true cause: swelling in the surrounding wood frame, placing stress on the glass lite and the case. This was due to lack of maintenance. The final cause & origin report noted that needed maintenance includes fresh paint, sealant, and full repair of all deteriorated wood.
ABOUT GUARDIAN & YA GROUP
For complex property claims, insurance carriers, TPAs, and adjusters count on Guardian Group, now operating as a division of YA, for rapid dispatch of forensic experts, clear communication, and definitive cause & origin reporting. The now 650+ person strong team of building experts possesses deep experience with large-size claims, high-risk claims, and highly complex claims. When claims cross your desk that transcend the run-of-the-mill and the everyday, the Guardian Group and YA team of personnel strategically located throughout the U.S., including Mexico and England, prove to be your invaluable resource. They provide the construction and engineering investigations and reporting that helps both carriers and their insureds understand exactly what happened and why, facilitating efficient resolution. Kindly call on our experts today.