"Formal ratings can be too polished sometimes... I'd rather trust real experiences, even if they feed into my anxiety a bit!"
This totally resonates with me. When we had our bathroom redone a couple years back, I found this contractor who was highly rated everywhere—official sites, awards, the works. But then I happened on a random forum thread where someone mentioned their insurance company refused to cover water damage caused by an improperly sealed shower. It wasn't even the contractor's fault directly, but the insurance dragged their feet for months.
Made me wonder about how clear those policies really are. You never think about insurance fine print until something goes sideways. Luckily, our renovation went smoothly—but it definitely made me more cautious.
Has anyone here had to deal directly with builder or contractor insurance claims? Curious how messy (or smooth) that turned out...
Had a similar situation last year when our kitchen remodel went sideways—contractor accidentally cracked a granite slab during install. Some quick notes from my experience:
- Contractor's liability insurance did cover replacement, but only after weeks of paperwork and back-and-forth.
- Insurance adjuster initially tried to claim it was a "pre-existing flaw" (seriously?).
- Policy wording was pretty vague—lots of room for interpretation.
Bottom line: insurance claims are doable but definitely not fun...and yeah, those polished ratings never mention this stuff.
"Insurance adjuster initially tried to claim it was a 'pre-existing flaw' (seriously?)."
Ha, sounds about right...had something similar happen on a build a couple years back. Adjuster argued that water damage from a burst pipe was due to "improper installation," even though the plumbing passed inspection months earlier. Took forever to sort out. Makes me wonder, has anyone dealt with builder's risk policies specifically—are they any clearer, or just as vague?
I've dealt with builder's risk policies a couple of times, and honestly, they're just as murky as regular homeowner's insurance. A few quick points from my experience:
- Builder's risk coverage is supposed to protect against damage during construction, but there's always some fine print lurking around. Had a friend whose roof partially collapsed after a storm mid-build, and the adjuster tried to argue it was due to "faulty temporary bracing." Took months of back-and-forth before they finally covered it.
- Policies usually exclude things like faulty workmanship or poor materials, which sounds reasonable until you realize how broadly insurers interpret those terms. Anything remotely questionable can become a drawn-out debate.
- Documentation is your best friend. Photos, inspection reports, permits—keep everything. The more evidence you have that things were done correctly and inspected properly, the less wiggle room they have to deny claims.
"Adjuster argued that water damage from a burst pipe was due to 'improper installation,' even though the plumbing passed inspection months earlier."
Yeah, that sounds painfully familiar. Had something similar happen when a window leaked during heavy rain. Adjuster insisted it was installed incorrectly, even though we had inspection records and photos proving otherwise. Eventually got sorted out, but only after we brought in an independent inspector to back us up.
Bottom line: builder's risk insurance isn't necessarily clearer or easier to deal with than standard homeowner's policies. It's still insurance...meaning they'll always look for ways to minimize payouts. Best you can do is document thoroughly, be persistent, and maybe keep a sense of humor handy—you're gonna need it dealing with these guys.
Completely agree on documentation—it's saved me more than once. A couple extra points from my angle:
- Watch out for exclusions around "environmental" issues. Had a client whose claim got denied because mold developed after construction delays. Insurers love to argue mold is a maintenance issue, not construction-related damage.
- Also, keep an eye on policy expiration dates. Projects often run longer than expected, and insurers won't hesitate to deny claims if coverage lapses mid-build. Learned that one the hard way...
