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ABOUT THE CLAIM
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In the wake of a recent storm, one of Guardian’s insurance carrier clients received a claim from one of its commercial policyholders. The subject property is a 1976-build, 25,000 sf, concrete building clad with brick veneer. The roof of the structure is low slope, with a modified bitumen built-up roof with a granulated membrane cap sheet. The claim asserted wind and hail damage to the building’s roofing system. Due to the size and potential complexity of the claim, the carrier knew Guardian’s forensic expertise in establishing cause and origin was required.
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ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION
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Immediately upon notification of the claim, one of Guardian’s forensic construction and engineering experts obtained location-specific wind and weather data and then made his way to the property site. He completed thorough exterior, roof, and interior inspections, noting and photographing extensive staining on drop ceiling tiles (in specific locations.) Careful attention was paid to the roof-mounted HVAC equipment as these locations corresponded to the moisture intrusions below.
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ABOUT THE CAUSE & ORIGIN REPORT
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In under 10 days a forensic report was issued that clearly spelled out the genuine nature of the property damages’ cause. While internal damages were considerable… and while they could certainly be attributed to roof leakage… and while .5 inch hail did, in fact, strike the area, one needed to be cognizant of three salient facts. 1. None of the telltale damage signs of hail and high winds were in evidence at the property; e.g. no impact marks on the roof, no missing or displaced building materials, no broken windows, no damaged vegetation, etc. were observed. 2. The blistering documented on the roof, the result of lost adhesion, leads to open seams and stress on the membrane. Ridging, a condition wherein there is separation from the underlying roof deck, was also occurring. These are all installation and design issues. 3. Additionally, condensate from the AC units was discharging directly onto the membrane – degradation at the very point of discharge was the result. A large number of damaged, bent, and flattened fins were also observed on the building’s multiple AC units.
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ABOUT GUARDIAN GROUP
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Guardian Group helps insurance carriers, TPAs and adjusters rapidly resolve their more complicated property claims. Drawing upon the firm’s 30+ year construction claims background in surety and construction defects, the engineers and other building specialists rapidly deploy to the insured’s property and execute forensic investigations that put a finer point on exactly what happened and why. Today, Guardian Group operates in partnership with YOUNG & Associates, which means while you continue to experience the same your claims can be investigated by over 600 personnel nationwide. When property claim investigation needs transcend the usual and everyday, whether they’re complex, commercial, high-value and high-risk, kindly call on the tried and true property claim experts at Guardian Group.