Mould assessment following flooding

The problem

Following a hailstorm in Victoria, water entered a residence at roof level in several locations, cascading down from an upper floor to a lower floor, and resulting in water damage both in the living spaces and inside the walls. Lack of a timely response by the insurer resulted in fungal growth as the water was not properly collected and the wall cavities dried. A consultant sent out by the insurer failed to recognize the extent of damage, and the settlement offer was financially inadequate to cover the appropriate remediation costs. A second opinion was requested.

The outcome

Destructive testing of the plasterboard to reveal the back side of the plasterboard within the wall cavities revealed massive fungal growth that wasn’t otherwise visible. Sampling documented the true extent of damage resulting from the flooding, and a new settlement offer was negotiated that better represented the true extent of the loss.