Disaster to Recovery: Navigating Window and Door Damage So You Can Cut Through the Confusion, Document the Damage, and Resolve the Claim

By Paul E. Beers

Will My Windows and Doors Ever Get Fixed?

The most controversial part of an insurance claim is not the roof. Rather, it's windows and doors. There's a wide disparity between property owners and insurance companies about what constitutes damage and what an appropriate repair looks like. Both sides want a fast re

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ethos Collective
• Release date: Dec 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9781636802220

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Dedication

Suzanne Beers

To my wife, for her understanding, love, and support with long hours and crazy travel schedules. She is a great sounding board for my way-too-many ideas, helping to identify the occasional good ones.

Disaster To Recovery © 2023 by Paul E. Beers. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

Published by Ethos Collective™

PO Box 43, Powell, OH 43065

www.ethoscollective.vip

All rights reserved. This book contains material protected under international and federal copyright laws and treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without express written permission from the author.

LCCN:  2023917604

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-63680-220-6

Hardback ISBN :978-1-63680-221-3

e-book ISBN: 978-1-63680-222-0

Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers printed in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Ethos Collective, nor does Ethos Collective vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

No parts of this publication may be reproduced without correct attribution to the author of this book.

Contents

Introduction

Part 1 - Eliminate Confusion: The Damage Determination

1.The Fury of the Storm: Assessing Hurricane Damages

2.Broken Panes and Bent Frames: Coping with Window and Door Damage

Part 2 - Clarity: The Damage Assessment

3.The Search for Answers: Understanding the Cause and Effects of Damage

The GCI Way

4.The Precision of Meteorology: Site Specific Reports for Your Location

5.The Price of Exposure: Examining Damages to Windows and Doors

Storm Shutters

6.Breaking Point: Exploring the Vulnerability of Glass in High Winds

7.Who’ll Stop the Rain?

Part 3 - Resolution: The Expert Advantage

8.The Road to Recovery: Filing and Resolving Insurance Claims

The Benefits and Risks of Including Windows and Doors in Your Insurance Claim

9.The Help You Need: Navigating the Insurance Claims Process

10.Connecting the Dots: Proving Damage and Outcomes

11.Coming Out Stronger: Moving Forward After Settling Your Insurance Claim

Conclusion

Notes

About The Author

Acknowledgements

Introduction

From Confusion to Clarity and Resolution

Hurricane season brings a humbling reminder that, despite our technologies, most of nature remains unpredictable.

—Diane Ackerman

It all started with a phone call in 2007. An inquiry about examining a high-rise condominium in Naples, Florida that had suffered damages during the wrath of Hurricane Wilma in 2005. As a seasoned investigator with years of experience in handling insurance claims and inspecting damages, I was intrigued. I hit the road and made the three-hour trek from Palm Beach Gardens to Naples, eager to see what lay ahead.

Upon arrival, I met a public adjuster representing the condominium association in an insurance claim for the hurricane damage. At that point, I was still in the dark about what a public adjuster did, but I was about to get a crash course. The adjuster explained that the insurance company had agreed to cover the entire building, including its old windows and doors, for windstorms and specifically for named storms such as Hurricane Wilma. To my surprise, the policy even included replacement cost coverage, meaning that if any damage could not be repaired, the insurance company would pay to replace the damaged materials with new, code-compliant systems.

At the time, I understood that an insurance policy was a contract and coverage was provided as described in the policy. I got it. It made sense. I did wonder why an insurance carrier would provide coverage for these old and vulnerable windows and sliding glass doors, but the property owner did pay significant premiums over the years leading up to Hurricane Wilma, to mitigate their risk.

The surprising takeaway for me was how vulnerable 30- to 40-year-old windows and sliding glass doors were to a major hurricane with 100 plus mile per hour long duration winds. And, I found other types of damage beyond broken glass and windows blown out of their openings (more about this in chapter 10).

I agreed to take on the assignment. With the help of my team, we inspected every window and sliding glass door in the building. We walked around, took notes, and photographed every instance of damage we observed. Then we presented our findings in a written report. That was the extent of the assignment. I later learned that our public adjuster client took the report, presented it at an insurance appraisal hearing (more on that later also) and was awarded new windows and doors for the entire building.

And so began my journey into the complex world of windows, doors, and insurance claims. Over the years, I have worked on over two hundred large losses from Hurricane Wilma alone,