For those that recall the trials and tribulations of my flint wall (and it's collapse after flooding in the highway)...progress is slow but steady. I am now appealing for help/suggestions.
Whilst litigation against a developer continues, I have been appealing my insurers decision to reject the claim. It has been surprisingly difficult to pin them down on exactly what basis they are refusing the claim, but it boils down to one of the following (or a combination of them all)
1. The wall was in a poor state of repair and this was the cause of the collapse, not the flooding
2. No wall of this nature could collapse as a result of the flood and therefore, the cause must be 'weathering' ie. gradually operating cause
Insurers have appointed an 'independant' structural engineer (paid for by them), who will be coming to survey on Thursday this week. I believe it should be relatively straightforward for me to prove that the wall was in a reasonable state of repair. I believe that things will hinge upon the surveyors opinion on whether it is possible for a flood to have caused the damage or if there must have been some 'weathering'. I don't know if he has any specific experience of flint walls or traditional building techniques.
Essentially I am trying to find 2 things:-
1. Any reference materials or pamphlets which can demonstrate the construction of a flint/rubble wall (flint facings, rubble core) and which ideally comment on the risk to the integrity of the wall if the flint facings are disturbed. (My view is that once 2-3 flints became dislodged and the rubble core exposed, the degradation of the wall from this point is very rapid with water being splashed constantly...and being a retaining wall, once the centre of the panel became weakened, collapse was always likely)
2. Assuming the worst, this surveyor (who is being paid by my insurers) will agree with his clients and not find in may favour. I will then need to instruct my own surveyor before taking the case to the ombudsman. Ideally, I would like to instruct someone with specific knowledge experience of flint/rubble...because if it comes to a battle of the surveyors, it's probably good to have someone 'expert' writing my report to the FOS.
Please, please, please....any suggestions or recommendations on either of the above? If I am successful in getting my insurers to honour the claim (as I feel they should), it will be beers & lamb at our place
Whilst litigation against a developer continues, I have been appealing my insurers decision to reject the claim. It has been surprisingly difficult to pin them down on exactly what basis they are refusing the claim, but it boils down to one of the following (or a combination of them all)
1. The wall was in a poor state of repair and this was the cause of the collapse, not the flooding
2. No wall of this nature could collapse as a result of the flood and therefore, the cause must be 'weathering' ie. gradually operating cause
Insurers have appointed an 'independant' structural engineer (paid for by them), who will be coming to survey on Thursday this week. I believe it should be relatively straightforward for me to prove that the wall was in a reasonable state of repair. I believe that things will hinge upon the surveyors opinion on whether it is possible for a flood to have caused the damage or if there must have been some 'weathering'. I don't know if he has any specific experience of flint walls or traditional building techniques.
Essentially I am trying to find 2 things:-
1. Any reference materials or pamphlets which can demonstrate the construction of a flint/rubble wall (flint facings, rubble core) and which ideally comment on the risk to the integrity of the wall if the flint facings are disturbed. (My view is that once 2-3 flints became dislodged and the rubble core exposed, the degradation of the wall from this point is very rapid with water being splashed constantly...and being a retaining wall, once the centre of the panel became weakened, collapse was always likely)
2. Assuming the worst, this surveyor (who is being paid by my insurers) will agree with his clients and not find in may favour. I will then need to instruct my own surveyor before taking the case to the ombudsman. Ideally, I would like to instruct someone with specific knowledge experience of flint/rubble...because if it comes to a battle of the surveyors, it's probably good to have someone 'expert' writing my report to the FOS.
Please, please, please....any suggestions or recommendations on either of the above? If I am successful in getting my insurers to honour the claim (as I feel they should), it will be beers & lamb at our place