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Sample Report 1
1 July 2025
Mr. John Doe
Any INSURANCE COMPANY
2025 Any Street
Any Where, USA
Subject: Claim Investigation Water Damage
2025 Somewhere, USA
INSURED: Doe, Jack
CLAIM NO: 2025-0000
JKCE PROJECT NO. 00000
Dear Mr. Doe:
At your request I visited the above subject property recently in order to
ascertain the extent and cause of the damage to the property. This report is a
summary of our investigation and conclusions regarding this issue. In order to
facilitate discussion I have enclosed several photographs; please refer to them
in conjunction with this report.
Background
The structure is a one and one half story single family residence with basement
and a detached garage located at 2025 Somewhere, USA refer to photo 1.
According to the insured, the water main on Downing Avenue ruptured during the
early morning hours on 29 June 2025, causing extensive damage to the dwelling.
The water main is owned by the City of Buffalo, who is currently under contract
with American Water Works for operation and maintenance of the system.
Objective & Scope
It is the objective of our work to ascertain the extent and cause of the reputed
damage to the structure. The scope of work is limited to visual observation at
the site and manual probing of distressed areas.
Field Observations
The structure is over fifty years old and is conventionally framed. The
foundation consists of 8 thick concrete masonry units (CMU) laid in running
bond, presumably bearing on continuous cast in place concrete footing. There are
several signs of distress in the structure as evidenced by the cracking and
lateral movement visible in the top of the foundation wall from the exterior
refer to photo 2. There are also signs of distress on the rear basement
wall including cracks in the CMU mortar joints, as well as recent settlement of
the driveway slab on the neighboring property adjacent to the wall refer to
photo 3. There are also signs of recent distress in the front porch slab and
basement foundation wall of the structure as evidenced by the gap between the
siding and the slab, as well as the front door being out of square refer to
photos 4, 5 and 6. The recent movement in structure has also caused damage to
the siding and trim pieces throughout the exterior of the house refer to
photos 7 and 8.
The basement floor consists of a cast in place concrete slab on grade. Much of
the basement slab has heaved. The worst area is in the front left quadrant of
the structure, where the slab has displaced upward over twelve inches, and has
cracked into large sections refer to photo 9. The basement was reportedly
finished at the time of the loss, and there are wood stud partitions throughout
the basement which were installed tight between the existing basement slab and
the underside of the first floor joists.
As previously mentioned, the basement walls consist of 8 thick CMU laid in
running bond. All the walls exhibit cracked mortar joints, separated units, and
laterally displaced units refer to photo 10. The amount of inward lateral
displacement generally appears to be in the range of ½ to 1. There is a gap
between the sill plate and the top of the wall on the right, front and left
walls. The gap generally ranges from Ό to Ύ. There is no evidence of any
anchorage of the sill plate to the top of the CMU wall. Most of the distress in
the walls appears to have occurred recently.
The framing for the first floor consists of wood joists spanning between the
front and rear perimeter walls to a center steel floor beam and column
arrangement. There does not appear to be distress in the wood joists or the
steel beam. However, the steel columns supporting the floor beam both appear to
be out of plumb by as much as one inch.
Both the first and second floor finishes exhibit significant distress as
evidenced by the cracking in the gypsum wallboard finishes refer to photos 11
and 12.
There is mold growth evident on the walls in the first floor bathroom closet
refer to photo 13. There is a downspout on the exterior adjacent to this
location.
Most of the roof structure is not visible, due to finishes or insulation applied
to the rafters. However in one location there is a horizontal crack in the
rafter extending out approximately two feet from the ridge board refer to
photo 14.
The insured also pointed out several cracks in the concrete floor of the
detached garage and the sidewalk slab at the driveway. None of these cracks
appear to be a recent occurrence refer to photo 15.
Discussion
The basement walls serve to carry the gravity loads from the weight of the house
and occupants above, as well as retain the soil on the outside of the wall. The
soil backfilled against the wall along with water from normal rainfall and snow
melt creates a lateral pressure on the wall. The wall usually withstands this
pressure by spanning vertically between the floor joists on top and the concrete
basement slab at the base of the wall. The inward lateral displacement and
horizontal cracking in these walls is the result of excessive lateral pressure
on the walls, most likely due to the saturation of the area, which essentially
temporarily raised the groundwater level, as a result of the water main rupture.
The heaving of the basement floor slab is the result of the basement being
submerged with the rising water level. The submergence of the basement results
in significant uplift forces on the basement slab causing it to fail.
Additionally, the raising of the water table essentially weakens the soil
beneath the footing which likely resulted in a bearing capacity failure of the
soil once the floor slab was not there to restrain it.
The gap between the sill plate and the top of the foundation wall is consistent
with the partition walls in the basement actually jacking the superstructure
upward as the floor slab heaved. As previously mentioned, the partition walls
were constructed with wood studs tight between the floor slab and the underside
of the first floor joists. This, combined with the bearing capacity failure of
the soil beneath the footings likely resulted in settlement of the basement
foundation walls, thereby explaining the gap.
The damage to the upper portions of the structure appear purely cosmetic and
easily repairable by the respective trades.
The cracked rafter in the roof structure does not appear to be a recent
occurrence and is not the result of the water main break.
The mold growth visible in the bathroom closet on the first floor in the right
rear of the structure does not appear to be a recent occurrence. The damage
likely occurred as a result of ice damming during a previous winter at the
gutter and downspout location, thereby allowing water to enter the living space
in this area. Given that this area is dark and poorly ventilated, it is a
suitable location for mold growth.
Conclusions
Based on our field visit we have developed the following conclusions regarding
this issue:
The damage to the basement walls and basement slab is the result of a temporary
rise in the water table attributable to the recent water main break.
The loss of strength of the soil beneath the footing is also the result of the
temporary rise in the water table as a result of the recent water main break.
The damage to the basement wall, basement slab and soil beneath the footing
necessitates complete removal and replacement of the slab, basement wall, and
footing. We have engaged an experienced restoration contractor to prepare an
estimate of cost to perform this work, which is summarized in the next section
of the report. It is likely that a portion of the soil beneath the existing
footing will need to be replaced with engineered fill and this is included in
the estimate of cost. Additionally, the neighbors driveway in the rear of the
property will require extensive removal and replacement in order to facilitate
construction of the rear basement wall.
The damage to the finishes upstairs, as well as doors and windows out of square
are easily repairable by the appropriate trades. The cost associated with this
work has not been included in the estimate of cost.
The mold growth on the bathroom closet wall, as well as the cracked rafter, are
not attributable to the recent water line break.
Cost Impact
Based on our assessment of the structure we have developed the following
estimate of cost. Prices are in 2004 dollars for non-prevailing wage work in
Anywhere, USA.
Temporarily support existing superstructure $ 10,000
Remove neighboring driveway slab $ 500
Remove slab, foundation walls and footings $ 12,000
Excavate soil beneath footing and replace with engineered fill $ 5,000
Replace footings, foundation walls and slab $ 29,000
Install new drain tile and backfill $ 5,000
Top soil, seed $ 3,000
Replace neighboring driveway slab $ 1,000
Subtotal $ 65,500
A/E Fees $ 4,000
Contingency $ 6,000
Total Estimate $ 75,500
Items not included in the repair estimate are summarized as follows: repair of
damaged drywall, reset doors and windows.
The estimate from We Can Fix it, Inc. is attached, which covers items 1, 3, 4, 5
and 6. This estimate totals $ 61,000 and has been broken down into individual
line items outlined above.
All dimensions stated in this report are approximate. Directions indicated in
this report are from the perspective of a person standing in front of the
structure looking toward the structure. This report has been prepared based on
information available at the time of the field visit. We reserve the right to
amend this report should additional information become available. Please contact
me if you have any questions or require further information at this time.
Sample 2
1 July 2025
Mr. John Doe
Any INSURANCE COMPANY
PO Box 2025
Anywhere, USA
FAX NO.
Subject: Claim Investigation Water Damage
2025 Anywhere, USA
INSURED: Doe, Jack
CLAIM NO. 2025
JKCE PROJECT NO. 2025
Dear Mr. Doe:
At your request I visited the above subject property recently in order to
ascertain the extent and cause of the damage to the property. This report is a
summary of our investigation and conclusions regarding this issue. In order to
facilitate discussion I have enclosed several photographs; please refer to them
in conjunction with this report.
Background
The structure is a two story single family residence with attached garage
located at 2025 Anywhere, USA refer to photo 1. According to the insured, water
recently entered the family room causing damage to the carpet floor covering in
this room.
Objective & Scope
It is the objective of our work to ascertain the extent and cause of the reputed
damage to the structure. The scope of work is limited to visual observation at
the site and manual probing of distressed areas.
Field Observations
The main structure is over fifty years old and is conventionally framed. A new
attached two car garage was reportedly added on the front of the structure about
nine years ago refer to photo 2. The garage is constructed with a concrete
masonry unit (CMU) foundation wall, concrete slab on grade and conventionally
framed floors and roof. The former garage, which was located beneath the second
floor living space, was converted into a family room following construction of
the new garage in front of it.
On the day of my site visit there was significant precipitation in the form of
rain, and water was entering the garage through the foundation wall near the
left front corner refer to photo 2. The grade in this area is approximately
two feet higher than the garage slab elevation. The garage slab pitches toward
the rear of the garage as evidenced by the flow of the water toward this
location refer to photo 4. The water entering the garage accumulates along the
rear wall near the right rear corner. The rear wall of the garage is the wall
separating the garage from the family room, whose floor is approximately three
inches lower than the new garage slab refer to photos 5 and 6.
According to the insured the water infiltration on the date of the loss was from
beneath the raised brick masonry hearth for the wood burning stove refer to
photo 7. This location in the family room corresponds with the low point of the
new garage slab in the right rear corner. There are signs of moisture damage on
this separation wall near the door entry point as evidenced by the staining and
gypsum deterioration near the base of the wall refer to photo 8.
Examination of the area of water infiltration in the left front corner of the
garage resulted in two significant contributing factors. First, there is a
downspout for the garage discharging at grade at this location and there is no
waterproofing on the exterior of the CMU garage foundation wall refer to photo
9. According to the insured, the gutter system on the garage was only recently
installed, and prior to that time the garage had no gutters or downspouts in the
interim period since the time of original construction of the garage addition.
Conclusions
Based on our field visit we have developed the following conclusions regarding
this issue:
The water infiltration into the garage is the result of rainwater entering the
garage at the front left corner where the downspout discharges the collected
rainwater from the roof at grade.
The concentration of water at this location combined with the lack of
waterproofing on the porous CMU foundation wall allows the water to enter the
garage through the CMU wall.
Once the water has enters the garage it flows toward the rear wall and pools
near the right rear corner. The common wall between the garage and the family
room also consists of porous CMU, again allowing this water to enter the living
space of the family room.
The garage foundation wall was improperly constructed inasmuch as it not
waterproofed.
The garage slab was improperly constructed and pitches toward the living space
instead of the preferred method of pitching toward the garage door.
The downspout for the gutter system was improperly constructed, discharging at
grade adjacent to the foundation wall, allowing for accumulation of water from
the roof at this location.
The water infiltration into the family room living space will continue until the
above situations are corrected.
All dimensions stated in this report are approximate. Directions indicated in
this report are from the perspective of a person standing in front of the
structure looking toward the structure. This report has been prepared based on
information available at the time of the field visit. We reserve the right to
amend this report should additional information become available. Please contact
me if you have any questions or require further information at this time.
*Pictures are not provided to protect the client, sorry for
any inconvenience
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